Culinary Arts at Remington College-Memphis Campus

Remington College-Memphis graduates out-earn both Tennessee's culinary program median ($23,608) and the national average ($21,718) by meaningful margins—roughly $1,800 and $3,600 respectively. That's notable in a field where first-year wages typically hover in the low $20,000s. The debt load of $9,500 is also below both state and national benchmarks, creating a manageable 0.37 ratio where graduates owe less than five months of earnings.

However, these figures come from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes can swing these numbers significantly. The school serves an overwhelmingly Pell-eligible population (91%), suggesting it's reaching students with limited financial resources who need the program to deliver on its promise. At 60th percentile statewide, this isn't the top culinary program in Tennessee, but it outperforms most of the state's options.

For parents, the core question is whether $25,000 annual earnings justifies even modest debt. If your child is entering this field, Remington's below-average debt gives them better odds of managing payments than most alternatives. But culinary careers often require years of low-wage kitchen work before higher earnings materialize, so having family support during those early years matters considerably.