Culinary Institute of America vs Associated Beth Rivkah Schools: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Culinary Institute of America comes closer — median earnings $47,475 against a $72,226 total, vs $17,686 at Associated Beth Rivkah Schools. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Culinary Institute of America | Associated Beth Rivkah Schools |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,113 | $22,709 |
| Total net cost | $72,226 | $90,836 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,475 | $17,686 |
| Median debt | $15,750 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$89,926 | -$704,316 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Culinary Institute of America or Associated Beth Rivkah Schools?
Associated Beth Rivkah Schools, at $22,709 a year after aid versus $36,113 — a gap of $13,404 a year, or $18,610 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Culinary Institute of America or Associated Beth Rivkah Schools graduates earn more?
Culinary Institute of America graduates report a median $47,475 ten years after entry, $29,789 more than the $17,686 at Associated Beth Rivkah Schools. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which graduates more of its students?
77% of students finish at Associated Beth Rivkah Schools, against 63% at Culinary Institute of America. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.