[General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/cooking-and-related-culinary-arts-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 52 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general cooking & related culinary arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is San Diego Mesa College, our #1 best value for general cooking & related culinary arts in California. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from San Diego Mesa College generally make around $29,852. Set against $6,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes College Of The Sequoias one of the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. In-state tuition and fees average $1,394, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Students borrow a median of $10,288 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $37,749 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
Cerritos College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $11,306. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes College Of The Canyons one of the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $9,776. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Grossmont College earned it the #5 place for general cooking & related culinary arts. Grossmont College is a large public school located in the suburb of El Cajon. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,628 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,309.
Mt San Antonio College earned the #6 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts 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, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $44,391. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saddleback College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. In-state tuition and fees average $1,432, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $15,890. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Ana College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $39,633 early in their careers. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Riverside City College landed the #9 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts value this year. Riverside City College is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. 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. That is a strong return on a $8,767 median debt.
American River College earned the #10 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public institution. 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.
Cypress College placed #11 among the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. Cypress College is a very large public school located in the city of Cypress. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,150, compared with $12,379 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,533 ten years after entry.
Woodland Community College came in at #12 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the suburb of Woodland, Woodland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,124, with out-of-state students paying around $7,656. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,042.
Allan Hancock College earned the #13 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $9,892. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,786.
Orange Coast College placed #14 among the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,392, while out-of-state students pay about $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. That is a strong return on a $8,978 median debt.
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #15 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $14,692. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.
Long Beach City College earned the #16 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, Long Beach City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,556 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,544. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Median earnings reach $38,870 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Mission College landed the #17 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts value this year. Mission College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Clara. In-state tuition and fees average $1,438, compared with $12,500 for out-of-state students. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $17,223 in student loans. Median earnings reach $50,936 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bakersfield College placed #18 among the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. Bakersfield College is a very large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. In-state tuition and fees average $1,430, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Students borrow a median of $9,419 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $86,312. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Diablo Valley College came in at #19 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. Students from in state pay about $1,312 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $9,205. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Diablo Valley College earn a median of $27,813 early in their careers. Set against $9,205 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chaffey College landed the #20 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts value this year. Chaffey College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,184, with out-of-state students paying around $11,120. Students borrow a median of $6,952 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $23,532. That is a strong return on a $6,952 median debt.
City College Of San Francisco placed #21 among the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. Set in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,696, while out-of-state students pay about $14,656. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $10,332. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $100,031. Set against $10,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Hills College Lemoore earned the #22 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the rural area of Lemoore, West Hills College Lemoore is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,384 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,954 for out-of-state students. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $9,687 in student loans. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of West Hills College Lemoore earn a median of $40,499 early in their careers. Set against $9,687 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Bernardino Valley College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. San Bernardino Valley College is a large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,196, compared with $4,528 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $19,500. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $69,642. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Joaquin Delta College earned the #24 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $65,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Los Angeles Trade Technical College came in at #25 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $14,833. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $53,553. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general cooking & related culinary arts value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 52 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
