Culinary Arts and Related Services at Michigan Career and Technical Institute

Plainwell, MI · Public · Certificate

a smaller institution with 118 students in Plainwell, MI.

Program Analysis

At $15,195 per year, Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates from Michigan Career and Technical Institute earn below the $23,994 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 31.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Culinary Arts and Related Services programs nationally.

The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 20% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates.

Ranked #104 of 137 Culinary Arts and Related Services programs, Michigan Career and Technical Institute falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $25,371 show a 67% jump from the $15,195 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

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

56 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
51
Low End
56
Score
56
High End
Earnings $15,195/yr (-37% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$267K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
32.1x
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)
$8,300
Out-of-state: $12,048
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$25,371
67% growth from Year 1

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

Culinary Arts and Related Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at Michigan Career and Technical Institute

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Michigan Career and Technical Institute's Culinary Arts and Related Services program score?
A score of 56/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Michigan Career and Technical Institute trails the majority of Culinary Arts and Related Services programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Will AI replace Culinary Arts and Related Services jobs?
This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Culinary Arts and Related Services work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Our model rates it "AI-Proof" overall.
Is Michigan Career and Technical Institute a good choice for Culinary Arts and Related Services despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Michigan Career and Technical Institute's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates?
There are 17 registered apprenticeships connected to Culinary Arts and Related Services occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Culinary Arts and Related Services workers?
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 →