Culinary Arts at Emily Griffith Technical College

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.