Best Culinary Arts and Related Services Degrees in California by ROI
Colleges in California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in California
6
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$409,741
Across California programs
Average Annual Cost
$17,882
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Institute of Culinary Education | -$103,828 | $37,266 | N/A | $6,777 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Lemoore College
Grad rate: 41.3% |
-$394,279 | $23,192 | $18,119 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
CET-San Jose
Grad rate: 65.4% |
-$430,457 | $21,533 | $21,117 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Hacienda La Puente Adult Education
Grad rate: 87.2% |
-$445,068 | $20,230 | $9,668 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Institute of Technology
Grad rate: 72.7% |
-$445,124 | $21,815 | $28,599 | $9,500 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education
Grad rate: 53.6% |
-$639,690 | $10,611 | $11,910 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Culinary Arts and Related Services Degrees by State
Browse Culinary Arts and Related Services programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.