Culinary Arts at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

Cincinnati State's culinary program posts first-year earnings of $36,330—nearly $10,000 above the national median and $4,000 ahead of Ohio's state median. That 95th percentile national ranking tells parents this program is doing something right in graduate placement, though finishing at the 60th percentile statewide suggests Ohio's culinary programs generally perform well. The $12,145 in median debt is manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.33.

The challenge is what happens next. By year four, earnings drop to $30,252, a 17% decline that's puzzling for a field where experience typically commands higher pay. This could reflect graduates shifting to irregular schedules, pursuing entrepreneurial ventures with uneven early returns, or leaving kitchen work altogether. Still, even at that lower mark, earnings remain above national averages for culinary graduates.

For parents, the math works: graduates start strong with reasonable debt, putting them in position to build savings or invest in their career early. The earnings dip is worth monitoring, but given the program's strong placement record and low debt burden, graduates have flexibility to navigate the notoriously demanding restaurant industry or pivot if needed.