Culinary Arts (Associate's Degree) at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$19,447

10th percentile

25th percentile in Illinois

Median Debt

$6,285

58% below national median

Analysis

Starting at under $20,000 annually, Kennedy-King's culinary program delivers the lowest first-year earnings among Illinois culinary schools—roughly $6,000 below the state median and in the bottom 10% nationally. Even among Chicago's community colleges, this stands out as concerning. While the $6,285 debt load is manageable (and well below state and national averages), graduates are earning barely above minimum wage in a major metropolitan area with a robust restaurant industry.

The comparison to nearby alternatives is stark. College of DuPage graduates earn $26,952 their first year, while Joliet Junior College—also a community college—sees graduates at $28,252. That's nearly $9,000 more annually, a difference that compounds significantly over time. Even accounting for Kennedy-King's low debt, the earnings gap means graduates face years of financial constraint that peers from other programs avoid.

For families considering this program, the 38% Pell Grant rate shows Kennedy-King serves students who need education to be an economic springboard. Unfortunately, these outcomes suggest it's not functioning that way. Unless a student has compelling reasons to attend this specific campus—perhaps geographic constraints or family obligations—exploring other Chicago-area culinary programs would likely yield substantially better financial returns. The debt is low, but so is the ceiling.

Where City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all culinary arts associates's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Culinary Arts associates's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (19 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeChicago	$4,380	$19,447	—	$6,285	0.32
Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet	$4,530	$28,252	—	$16,375	0.58
College of DuPageGlen Ellyn	$4,320	$26,952	—	—	—
National Louis UniversityChicago	$12,345	$24,786	$35,560	$17,500	0.71
National Median	—	$26,446	—	$15,125	0.57

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with culinary arts graduates

Food Scientists and Technologists

Use chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and other sciences to study the principles underlying the processing and deterioration of foods; analyze food content to determine levels of vitamins, fat, sugar, and protein; discover new food sources; research ways to make processed foods safe, palatable, and healthful; and apply food science knowledge to determine best ways to process, package, preserve, store, and distribute food.

$78,770/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Food Service Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.

$65,310/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Chefs and Head Cooks

Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.

$60,990/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Butchers and Meat Cutters

Cut, trim, or prepare consumer-sized portions of meat for use or sale in retail establishments.

$38,960/yrJobs growth:No formal educational credential

Bakers

Mix and bake ingredients to produce breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, pies, pastries, or other baked goods.

$36,650/yrJobs growth:No formal educational credential

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.

$35,760/yrJobs growth:

Cooks, Private Household

Prepare meals in private homes. Includes personal chefs.

$35,760/yrJobs growth:

Cooks, Restaurant

Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.

$35,760/yrJobs growth:

Cooks, All Other

All cooks not listed separately.

$35,760/yrJobs growth:

Bartenders

Mix and serve drinks to patrons, directly or through waitstaff.

$33,530/yrJobs growth:No formal educational credential

Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products

Buy merchandise or commodities, other than farm products, for resale to consumers at the wholesale or retail level, including both durable and nondurable goods. Analyze past buying trends, sales records, price, and quality of merchandise to determine value and yield. Select, order, and authorize payment for merchandise according to contractual agreements. May conduct meetings with sales personnel and introduce new products. May negotiate contracts. Includes assistant wholesale and retail buyers of nonfarm products.

Postsecondary Teachers, All Other

All postsecondary teachers not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College, approximately 38% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 34 graduates with reported earnings and 22 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.