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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general cooking & related culinary arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Cerritos College earned the #1 spot for value among general cooking & related culinary arts schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $11,306. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Diego Mesa College earned it the #2 place for general cooking & related culinary arts. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $29,852. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general cooking & related culinary arts will find it at College Of The Canyons, which ranked #3. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general cooking & related culinary arts will find it at Grossmont College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $10,628. Median earnings reach $40,309 ten years out.
Trident Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general cooking & related culinary arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $15,000. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $50,166. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
ADBLOCK #101
Mt San Antonio College landed the #6 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts value this year. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #7 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $23,139. Set against $10,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kapiolani Community College landed the #8 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts value this year. Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Honolulu. In-state tuition and fees average $3,284, with out-of-state students paying around $8,420. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $10,087. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Kapiolani Community College generally make around $26,882. That is a strong return on a $10,087 median debt.
Orange Coast College landed the #9 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts value this year. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. Students from in state pay about $1,392 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $8,978. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cypress College earned the #10 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,150, with out-of-state students paying around $12,379. Median earnings reach $43,533 ten years out.
Riverside City College came in at #11 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $8,767. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Riverside City College earn a median of $37,102 early in their careers. Set against $8,767 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American River College earned the #12 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. American River College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Sacramento. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $14,105 in student loans. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of American River College earn a median of $76,077 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,105 median debt.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College placed #13 among the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. In-state tuition and fees average $5,252, compared with $8,132 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,858 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $35,562. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Long Beach City College earned the #14 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,556, with out-of-state students paying around $12,544. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,870. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Nassau Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,330, with out-of-state students paying around $12,130. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $11,850. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Nassau Community College generally make around $38,734. That is a strong return on a $11,850 median debt.
Bakersfield College landed the #16 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts value this year. Located in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,430 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $9,419 in student loans. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $86,312. Set against $9,419 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pellissippi State Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,786 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,770. Students borrow a median of $8,951 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Pellissippi State Community College generally make around $43,816. Set against $8,951 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College landed the #18 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts value this year. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Arkansas Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Bentonville, Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,342, while out-of-state students pay about $5,238. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $26,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage came in at #20 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. That is a strong return on a $12,492 median debt.
Diablo Valley College earned the #21 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,312, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Students borrow a median of $9,205 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Diablo Valley College generally make around $27,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hudson County Community College came in at #22 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Jersey City, Hudson County Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,384, with out-of-state students paying around $9,248. Students borrow a median of $12,900 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $26,170. Set against $12,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Virginia Western Community College earned the #23 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,400, while out-of-state students pay about $11,838. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $13,715. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Virginia Western Community College earn a median of $36,245 early in their careers. Set against $13,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chaffey College earned the #24 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,184 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,120. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $6,952 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Chaffey College generally make around $23,532. Set against $6,952 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
National University College Bayamon ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. National University College Bayamon is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Bayamon. Students from in state pay about $12,723 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,886. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $9,500. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of National University College Bayamon earn a median of $14,950 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in general cooking & related culinary arts:
Explore the best-value general cooking & related culinary arts schools at other degree levels:
[General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/cooking-and-related-culinary-arts-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
