Culinary Arts at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College

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.