Culinary Arts and Related Services at Utah Valley University

Orem, UT · Public · Associate Degree

serving a student body of 27,481 in Orem, UT.

Program Analysis

At $27,056 per year, Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates from Utah Valley University earn slightly above the $23,994 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 23.6x 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 5% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

Ranked #69 of 137 Culinary Arts and Related Services programs, Utah Valley University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $29,313 are relatively flat compared to the $27,056 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

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

60 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
58
Low End
60
Score
61
High End
Earnings $27,056/yr (13% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$297K
2.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
23.6x
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)
$12,540
Out-of-state: $35,660
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$29,313
8% 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 Utah Valley University

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 Utah Valley University's Culinary Arts and Related Services program score?
A score of 60/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Utah Valley University trails the majority of Culinary Arts and Related Services programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How AI-proof is a career in Culinary Arts and Related Services?
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.
Can I learn Culinary Arts and Related Services through an apprenticeship instead?
Culinary Arts and Related Services connects to 17 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
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 →