by our College Data Analytics Team
[Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find where culinary arts graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose culinary arts graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in culinary arts, no school beat Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg this year. Located in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a public institution. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg make a median of around $39,335 per year.
Luzerne County Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Luzerne County Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Nanticoke. Culinary Arts graduates of Luzerne County Community College earn a median of about $38,333 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earned it the #3 place for culinary arts. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Indiana. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $29,155.
Montgomery County Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in culinary arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Montgomery County Community College typically earn about $30,370 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in culinary arts will find them at Yti Career Institute York, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of York, Yti Career Institute York is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $32,225.
The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College is a private for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Early-career culinary arts graduates from The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College make a median of around $37,694 per year.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology earned the #7 position for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Pennsylvania College Of Technology typically earn about $32,090 annually.
Jna Institute Of Culinary Arts ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Jna Institute Of Culinary Arts is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Jna Institute Of Culinary Arts typically earn about $18,774 annually.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their culinary arts graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 8 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.