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Culinary Arts and Related Services at Kennebec Valley Community College

Fairfield, ME · Public · Associate Degree

with a smaller student body of 1,538 in Fairfield, ME.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $28,893/yr, edging above the $23,994 national average for Culinary Arts and Related Services — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 42.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Culinary Arts and Related Services programs nationally.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 0% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

At #25 of 137 nationally, this is a top-5% Culinary Arts and Related Services program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Culinary Arts and Related Services offers 17 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

67 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
66
Low End
67
Score
67
High End
Earnings $28,893/yr (20% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$302K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
42.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
13 of 13
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$7,124
Out-of-state: $12,884

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Food scientists and technologists $85,310 +6.5% 65%
Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490 +1.8% 100%
Food service managers $65,310 +6.4% 58%
Food scientists and technologists
$85,310
+6.5% growth 65% AI-proof
Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78,490
+1.8% growth 100% AI-proof
Food service managers
$65,310
+6.4% growth 58% AI-proof

View all 13 career paths with full salary data →

About Culinary Arts and Related Services Careers

Your career will likely begin in the controlled chaos of a professional kitchen. As a restaurant cook, you'll spend your days prepping ingredients with precision and working the line during a busy service, mastering the grill, sauté pans, and fryer. This path is seeing incredible growth, with huge demand for skilled cooks.

Read the full Culinary Arts and Related Services career guide →

Compare & Explore

Culinary Arts and Related Services Overview

View all 137 schools offering Culinary Arts and Related Services →

Culinary Arts and Related Services at Other Schools

Johnson County Community College ($38,977) Southeast Community College Area ($36,734) Cincinnati State Technical and Community College ($36,330) Fox Valley Technical College ($34,736) Washtenaw Community College ($33,382) Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College ($32,602) Saint Paul College ($32,478) Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science ($32,023)

Other Majors at Kennebec Valley Community College

Electrical and Power Transmission Installers ($70,166) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($69,117) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($53,243) Electrical and Power Transmission Installers ($46,119) Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions ($39,351) Precision Metal Working ($38,884) Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services ($35,260) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($32,448)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Culinary Arts and Related Services degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 67/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Culinary Arts and Related Services at Kennebec Valley Community College?
A score of 67/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Culinary Arts and Related Services field.
How safe is Culinary Arts and Related Services from automation?
Highly resilient. Culinary Arts and Related Services careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Graduates retain 13 of 13 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
Is Kennebec Valley Community College one of the best schools for Culinary Arts and Related Services?
Among 137 Culinary Arts and Related Services programs, Kennebec Valley Community College's #25 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates?
Yes — 17 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Culinary Arts and Related Services career paths, including Baker (Bake Produce). Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
How many job openings are there for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates?
With approximately 789,200 annual openings across mapped careers, Culinary Arts and Related Services offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →