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Purdue study: Industry employs 90% of culinary school grads

Purdue study: Industry employs 90% of culinary school grads

WEST LAFAYETTE IND. —The restaurant industry continues to employ most of the graduates coming out of culinary schools, starting them off with a median salary of $24,000, according to an annual survey of culinary programs by Purdue University researchers here.

The 2007 National Survey of Post Secondary American Culinary Programs found that, once again, culinary schools remain a significant labor resource for foodservice employers. —The restaurant industry continues to employ most of the graduates coming out of culinary schools, starting them off with a median salary of $24,000, according to an annual survey of culinary programs by Purdue University researchers here.

More than 90 percent of graduates, who spent between $480 and $50,000 a year to attend culinary schools, find jobs in the industry. Their starting salaries range between $12,000 and $35,000 annually. —The restaurant industry continues to employ most of the graduates coming out of culinary schools, starting them off with a median salary of $24,000, according to an annual survey of culinary programs by Purdue University researchers here.

Now in its third year, the survey is an attempt to identify trends and changes in culinary education, said Joseph “Mick” La Lopa, associate professor in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Purdue. —The restaurant industry continues to employ most of the graduates coming out of culinary schools, starting them off with a median salary of $24,000, according to an annual survey of culinary programs by Purdue University researchers here.

E-mailed invitations to culinary school program directors resulted in greater participation in this year’s survey, La Lopa said. A total of 140 directors responded to the survey. After eliminating duplicate responses from some schools, the data were based on information from 115 program directors for the 2006 calendar year. —The restaurant industry continues to employ most of the graduates coming out of culinary schools, starting them off with a median salary of $24,000, according to an annual survey of culinary programs by Purdue University researchers here.

More than 80 percent of the programs were in public institutions. About 64 percent of the students earned an associate’s degree. Others earned certificates or pursued bachelor’s degrees. —The restaurant industry continues to employ most of the graduates coming out of culinary schools, starting them off with a median salary of $24,000, according to an annual survey of culinary programs by Purdue University researchers here.

In-state tuition was a mean of $6,320 a year, and nearly two-thirds of the students received financial aid. Scholarships also were available to students. The mean scholarship amount was $29,051. —The restaurant industry continues to employ most of the graduates coming out of culinary schools, starting them off with a median salary of $24,000, according to an annual survey of culinary programs by Purdue University researchers here.

Having a job placement program also benefited students. Those with a dedicated program had a placement rate of 94 percent, compared with an 82-percent placement at schools without a formal program. However, graduates from schools without placement programs tended to make more money—$26,000 versus $24,000. —The restaurant industry continues to employ most of the graduates coming out of culinary schools, starting them off with a median salary of $24,000, according to an annual survey of culinary programs by Purdue University researchers here.

The study showed some advantages to public programs over private schools. Public schools had lower tuition and higher student acceptance rates. Private schools, however, offered lower faculty-to-student ratios: 21-1 compared with 29-1 in public institutions. Private schools also yielded more scholarship dollars—$68,716 versus $22,220—and a better placement rate of 97 percent compared with 91 percent. —The restaurant industry continues to employ most of the graduates coming out of culinary schools, starting them off with a median salary of $24,000, according to an annual survey of culinary programs by Purdue University researchers here.

Other data from the survey showed the typical culinary student population is evenly split by gender, 66-percent white and mostly made up of state residents that are 26 years old by graduation. About 14 percent of students were black, 11 percent Hispanic, 5 percent Asian, 2 percent Native American and 2 percent “other.” —The restaurant industry continues to employ most of the graduates coming out of culinary schools, starting them off with a median salary of $24,000, according to an annual survey of culinary programs by Purdue University researchers here.

Students were required to obtain a median of 300 hours of work experience to graduate. Most of the schools also operated at least one commercial kitchen. —The restaurant industry continues to employ most of the graduates coming out of culinary schools, starting them off with a median salary of $24,000, according to an annual survey of culinary programs by Purdue University researchers here.

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