Culinary Arts (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Dallas College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$30,484

95th percentile

80th percentile in Texas

Median Debt

$9,218

21% below national median

Analysis

Dallas College's culinary certificate graduates earn $30,484 in their first year—40% above the national median and significantly higher than any other culinary program in Texas. That 80th percentile ranking among Texas schools means they're outearning four out of five comparable programs statewide, including well-known culinary institutes. At roughly $9,200 in debt, graduates face a manageable 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio that's better than most certificate programs in any field.

The catch? This data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances could be skewing the numbers higher than what's typical. However, even if actual outcomes vary somewhat, the gap between Dallas College and other Texas culinary programs is substantial enough to suggest something real—whether it's stronger employer connections in the Dallas metro area, more rigorous training, or both.

For families considering culinary training in Texas, this program appears to offer significantly better earning potential than alternatives at less than $10,000 in debt. The small sample size means you'll want to talk directly with recent graduates about job placement, but the earnings advantage over competing programs is too large to dismiss as statistical noise.

Where Dallas College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Dallas College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Culinary Arts certificate's programs at peer institutions in Texas (27 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Dallas CollegeDallas	$2,370	$30,484	—	$9,218	0.30
Remington College-Dallas CampusDallas	$23,785	$25,389	—	$9,500	0.37
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-AustinAustin	—	$24,873	$23,682	$13,300	0.53
The Culinary School of Fort WorthFort Worth	—	$21,608	—	$9,500	0.44
Culinary Institute IncHouston	$18,539	$21,239	$25,952	$12,458	0.59
Texas State Technical CollegeWaco	$7,192	$21,144	$20,027	$10,721	0.51
National Median	—	$21,718	—	$11,634	0.54

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 Dallas College, approximately 23% 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 27 graduates with reported earnings and 31 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.