Each year, approximately 0.3% of Pennsylvania graduates receive degrees in culinary arts. In other words, every year an estimated 1,024 chefs graduate from Pennsylvania's 31 culinary schools.

Top Schools

Drexel University, which is located in Philadelphia, is the top-ranked school in Pennsylvania that has a culinary program. It received a ranking of 24th in the country in 2010. 10 students graduated with a degree in culinary from Drexel University in 2010. Drexel University charged in-state students $33,000 in tuition fees per year.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus, which is located in Indiana, is the second-ranked school in Pennsylvania that has a culinary program. It received a ranking of 38th in the country in 2010. The tuition rate at Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus was $7,571 per year.

Mercyhurst College, which was ranked 38th nationwide in 2010, is the third-ranked school in Pennsylvania that has a culinary program. It is located in Erie. 0 students graduated with degree in culinary from Mercyhurst College in 2010. Mercyhurst College charged in-state students $26,346 in tuition fees per year.

Cost

Tuition at Pennsylvania's culinary schools ranges from $33,000 per year to $2,700 per year. But, the average tuition is $10,035 per year. In 2010, the culinary schools that charged the highest tuition rates in Pennsylvania were:

1. Drexel University - located in Philadelphia, students are charged $33,000 per year
2. Delaware Valley College - located in Doylestown, students are charged $29,284 per year
3. Mercyhurst College - located in Erie, students are charged $26,346 per year

The lowest tuition rates at Pennsylvania culinary schools were charged at the following schools:

1. Westmoreland County Community College - located in Youngwood, students are charged $2,700 per year
2. Community College of Allegheny County - located in Pittsburgh, students are charged $2,720 per year
3. Community College of Beaver County - located in Monaca, students are charged $2,796 per year

A culinary degree from a Pennsylvania school... what next?

The highest percentage of culinary graduates in Pennsylvania pursue careers as a chef. In 2010, there were 3,680 chefs working in Pennsylvania. The following counties have the largest number of Pennsylvania chefs:

1. Bucks County - 1,210 chefs
2. Allegheny County - 650 chefs
3. Lancaster County - 210 chefs

Projected Growth

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2018, an estimated 4,400 chefs will be working in Pennsylvania state. This would require the number of chefs to grow by 4%.

Salary

A chef in Pennsylvania makes an average of $41,630 per year. However, this number is only an average. chefs in Pennsylvania had varying salaries from $16,940 to $70,710 per year in 2010. On average a chef earns the most in the following Pennsylvania counties:

1. Warren County - $46,860 per year
2. Adams County - $46,630 per year
3. Bucks County - $45,280 per year

The following counties in Pennsylvania have the lowest average salaries for chefs:

1. Blair County - $27,400 per year
2. York County - $33,430 per year
3. Lebanon County - $35,110 per year

More Information

Take a look at the graphs and charts below for additional Pennsylvania statistics regarding a career in culinary arts and to compare salaries with a variety of related fields such as pastry or culinary.