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Culinary & Personal Services · Culinary Arts Rank #12 of 12

Culinary Artsat Walnut Hill College

Graduates earn $27,593/yr in their first year — about 4.0% below the national Culinary Arts average. Base-case 10-year earnings $445K; scenarios range from $423K to $445K depending on AI disruption.

Philadelphia, PA Private for-profit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
34 AT RISK
35
Optimistic
34
Pessimistic
Earnings
$27,593
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.8x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$445K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Low
24% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Walnut Hill College

Walnut Hill College offers a direct pathway into Philadelphia's vibrant and diverse culinary scene. Your initial earnings reflect the common reality of entry-level positions in this demanding industry, where hands-on experience and long hours are the norm. The city's extensive restaurant, hotel, and catering landscape, from casual eateries to fine dining establishments, provides numerous opportunities to build foundational skills, often starting as line cooks, pastry assistants, or banquet staff.

However, this program's value truly emerges as you gain experience and leverage the college’s local connections. Many graduates find themselves moving into management roles, specializing as head chefs, or even transitioning into food science or education, as reflected in the varied career paths available. Your growth trajectory will depend heavily on networking, continuous skill development, and a willingness to specialize or take on leadership. Be sure to actively seek out internships and entry-level positions in the specific culinary niche that excites you most, as this early focus can significantly shape your long-term career and earning potential.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$423K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score34/100
Earnings Multiple4.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$445K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score34/100
Earnings Multiple4.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$445K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score35/100
Earnings Multiple4.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Walnut Hill College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Culinary Arts graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Food scientists and technologists
+6.5% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$85,310/yr
Moderate
2
Postsecondary teachers, all other
+1.8% 10-yr growth · 13,500 openings/yr
$78,490/yr
Low
3
Food service managers
+6.4% 10-yr growth · 42,000 openings/yr
$65,310/yr
Moderate
4
Chefs and head cooks
+7.1% 10-yr growth · 24,400 openings/yr
$60,990/yr
Low
5
Cooks, private household
+5.1% 10-yr growth · 5,300 openings/yr
$44,530/yr
Low
6
First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
+6.0% 10-yr growth · 183,900 openings/yr
$42,010/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Culinary Arts

How Walnut Hill College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Culinary Institute of America
NY · Private nonprofit
50
DW Score
$44K
1-yr earn
1.9x
ROI
Southern New Hampshire University
NH · Private nonprofit
46
DW Score
$36K
1-yr earn
5.8x
ROI
University of North Alabama
AL · Public
47
DW Score
$34K
1-yr earn
6.1x
ROI
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
RI · Private nonprofit
36
DW Score
$33K
1-yr earn
1.4x
ROI
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
NC · Private nonprofit
36
DW Score
$33K
1-yr earn
1.4x
ROI
Also at Walnut Hill College

Other top programs at Walnut Hill College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Walnut Hill College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Culinary Arts offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Culinary Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Culinary Arts at Walnut Hill College

What does a 34/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Culinary Arts at Walnut Hill College?

At 34/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Culinary Arts programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.