Culinary Arts at Tidewater Community College

Tidewater Community College's culinary certificate carries an unusual debt burden for a short-term credential—$19,066 is 64% higher than Virginia's typical culinary certificate debt and nearly double the national median. While first-year earnings of $21,368 beat most Virginia competitors (landing in the 60th percentile statewide), that advantage gets eroded by loan payments that will consume a meaningful chunk of take-home pay.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.89 means graduates face nearly a full year's salary in loans for what's meant to be a quick entry into the food service industry. Community college certificates typically run cheaper precisely because they're designed for fast workforce entry without the debt load of a bachelor's degree. Here, you're seeing debt levels that look more like a two-year associate program.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift considerably year to year, but they should still prompt questions about financial aid packaging and whether comparable training might be available through apprenticeships or employer training programs. Given that culinary careers often value hands-on experience over credentials, parents should carefully weigh whether this particular certificate justifies borrowing nearly $20,000 when earnings peak modestly above $21,000 in year one.