Culinary and hospitality programs by state
900 culinary and hospitality programs in 2 fields of food and hospitality, with costs, results and funding that can make them free
435 schools offer these programs in 36 states and 2 territories, and each state on this page approved its programs for workforce funding. Compare the 2 fields below, or pick a state on the map or in the table to see its programs side by side.
These programs cover kitchens, hotels and restaurants: culinary school and baking on one side, hospitality management for hotels, restaurants and events on the other. Most are certificates; some are two-year degrees.
Compare culinary and hospitality programs across the US: cost, pay and results
606 programs in 44 states and 3 territories
- Most cost
- $3,334 to $9,866
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $25,100
- Working 6 months later
- 71%
- Finished
- 62%
294 programs in 38 states and 2 territories
- Most cost
- $2,272 to $7,406
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $28,100
- Working 6 months later
- 70%
- Finished
- 50%
Each figure is the middle program of that field across the US. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted. How these figures are made
Culinary and hospitality programs by state: cost, pay and results
| State | Programs | Most cost | Earned a year, estimated | Working 6 months later | Finished |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 9 | $4,800 to $9,000 | about $20,400 | 86% | 74% |
| Arizona | 9 | $3,645 to $7,356 | about $10,600 | 63% | Not enough data |
| Arkansas | 13 | $4,000 to $7,000 | about $23,500 | 54% | 52% |
| California | 90 | $782 to $2,760 | Not enough data | 75% | 88% |
| Colorado | 45 | $4,880 to $6,410 | about $49,500 | 57% | 35% |
| Connecticut | 6 | $4,147 to $5,652 | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Florida | 59 | $2,830 to $5,761 | about $24,400 | 55% | 64% |
| Georgia | 35 | $4,109 to $7,695 | about $19,600 | 74% | 30% |
| Hawaii | 8 | $4,196 to $8,686 | about $27,000 | 75% | 42% |
| Illinois | 34 | Left out | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Indiana | 20 | $3,401 to $7,346 | about $19,300 | 75% | 60% |
| Iowa | 18 | $2,055 to $13,136 | about $23,000 | 80% | 46% |
| Louisiana | 13 | $5,606 to $13,934 | about $16,800 | Left out | Left out |
| Maine | 7 | $3,050 to $4,896 | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Maryland | 16 | $3,793 to $8,500 | about $19,500 | 73% | 69% |
| Michigan | 33 | $4,851 to $15,224 | about $27,900 | 72% | 39% |
| Minnesota | 29 | $3,021 to $9,905 | about $24,700 | 74% | 69% |
| Mississippi | 12 | $4,100 to $7,135 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Missouri | 41 | $3,889 to $7,930 | Left out | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Nebraska | 10 | $4,987 to $7,495 | about $26,700 | 74% | 26% |
| Nevada | 19 | $995 to $4,260 | Not enough data | Left out | 82% |
| New Jersey | 4 | Too few figures to show | |||
| New Mexico | 10 | $2,125 to $5,962 | Not enough data | Not enough data | Left out |
| New York | 6 | $1,709 to $10,600 | Left out | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| North Carolina | 20 | $3,946 to $5,822 | about $31,700 | 76% | 28% |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 4 | Too few figures to show | |||
| Ohio | 55 | $3,467 to $11,615 | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Oklahoma | 2 | Not enough data | Not enough data | Left out | Not enough data |
| Pennsylvania | 6 | $3,762 to $12,018 | Not enough data | Left out | Not enough data |
| Puerto Rico | 34 | $6,880 to $12,327 | about $13,900 | Left out | Left out |
| South Dakota | 3 | Too few figures to show | |||
| Tennessee | 15 | $4,164 to $9,906 | about $24,500 | 79% | 54% |
| Texas | 16 | $2,995 to $7,785 | about $24,100 | 67% | 89% |
| Utah | 12 | $2,554 to $8,262 | Not enough data | Left out | 46% |
| Virginia | 22 | $2,598 to $9,117 | Not enough data | 55% | 88% |
| Washington | 61 | $3,464 to $10,822 | about $30,600 | 69% | 73% |
| Wisconsin | 54 | $4,606 to $10,038 | about $25,400 | 72% | 48% |
| Wyoming | 9 | $4,836 to $9,420 | Not reported | Not reported | Not enough data |
Each figure is the middle program in that state, all food and hospitality fields together. Open a state to compare its fields.
Other job training by line of work
- Trade school programs13,156
- IT certification programs7,854
- Business and office training7,270
- Medical certification programs7,167
- Nursing and patient care programs4,782
- Allied health programs3,572
- Transportation and logistics training3,558
- First responder training2,561
- Child care and social services training1,952
- Beauty school1,043
Programs approved across the US in each line of work.
Where the culinary and hospitality numbers come from
Which programs are counted?
Programs approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) in the fields listed above. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).5 They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing.
What the figures mean
Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, it says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means). Some states' figures carry a note on their own pages.
Sources for the funding facts about culinary and hospitality programs
Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources
- US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
- US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
- Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
- US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
- US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List