Culinary Arts at Sullivan University

Sullivan University's Culinary Arts associate's degree shows an interesting split: while it trails the national median by about $2,000 in starting salary, it actually performs above average for Kentucky, ranking at the 60th percentile statewide. With debt of $15,265 and first-year earnings of $24,292, graduates face a manageable debt burden—they'd owe about 63 cents for every dollar earned in that first year. The 22% earnings bump from year one to year four (reaching $29,730) suggests graduates gain traction as they establish themselves in Louisville's culinary scene.

The more challenging reality is that even with that growth, these earnings lag behind what culinary graduates achieve nationally, where the median sits around $26,500. Starting at $24,000 means tight finances those first few years, and even the four-year mark doesn't deliver the kind of income that makes loan repayment comfortable. The program serves a largely non-Pell population (89% receive no Pell grants), which may indicate students have family support to offset the modest earnings trajectory.

For families evaluating this program, the calculation depends heavily on local job connections and whether your child plans to stay in Louisville. The debt load isn't extreme, but culinary careers require passion and realistic expectations about income—this isn't a path to quick financial stability. If your child is committed to the industry and has strong restaurant connections in Kentucky, the program delivers competitive local preparation. Without that commitment or a financial cushion, the earnings trajectory makes this a high-risk investment.