Culinary Arts (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Emily Griffith Technical College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$22,599

56th percentile

40th percentile in Colorado

Median Debt

$9,960

14% below national median

Analysis

Emily Griffith's culinary certificate comes with manageable debt under $10,000, but the earnings trajectory tells a tougher story. At $22,600 in the first year, graduates earn slightly above the national median yet fall into the bottom half among Colorado culinary programs—landing at just the 40th percentile statewide. That gap matters when Auguste Escoffier graduates in Boulder are starting $3,000 higher.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 looks reasonable on paper, suggesting graduates could pay off loans in under six months of gross earnings. However, Colorado's culinary market appears stronger than what this program delivers. The state median sits at $24,140, meaning half of Colorado culinary grads elsewhere earn more from day one. For a technical program in Denver—where restaurant wages should be competitive—underperforming the state average raises questions about placement support or employer connections.

One important caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers may not represent typical outcomes. If your child is passionate about culinary arts and prefers staying local, the low debt is a plus. But given Colorado has better-performing options at similar debt levels, it's worth understanding why this program lags behind state peers before committing.

Where Emily Griffith Technical College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Emily Griffith Technical College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Colorado

Culinary Arts certificate's programs at peer institutions in Colorado (8 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Emily Griffith Technical CollegeDenver	$22,599	—	$9,960	0.44
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-BoulderBoulder	$25,682	$30,240	$11,093	0.43
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 Emily Griffith Technical College, approximately 7% 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 17 graduates with reported earnings and 20 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.