by our College Data Analytics Team
[Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their culinary arts graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find where culinary arts graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send culinary arts graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Grand Rapids Community College the top school for culinary arts graduate earnings in Michigan. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a public institution. Culinary Arts graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of about $42,557 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #2 makes Northwestern Michigan College one of the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Northwestern Michigan College is a public school located in the city of Traverse City. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Northwestern Michigan College typically earn about $38,650 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in culinary arts will find them at Schoolcraft College, which ranked #3. Schoolcraft College is a public school located in the city of Livonia. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Schoolcraft College typically earn about $35,743 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Baker College Of Flint earned it the #4 place for culinary arts. Located in the town of Owosso, Baker College Of Flint is a private not-for-profit institution. Culinary Arts graduates of Baker College Of Flint earn a median of about $37,278 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #5 makes Henry Ford Community College one of the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Henry Ford Community College is a public school located in the city of Dearborn. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $24,389.
Michigan Career And Technical Institute earned the #6 position for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Michigan Career And Technical Institute is a public school located in the rural area of Plainwell. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $25,371.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Located in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Kalamazoo Valley Community College typically earn about $26,843 annually.
Ferris State University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a public institution. Culinary Arts graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of about $26,692 a year early in their careers.
Macomb Community College earned the #9 position for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Macomb Community College typically earn about $26,273 annually.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries culinary arts graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 9 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.