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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general cooking & related culinary arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Trident Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among general cooking & related culinary arts schools in the Southeast Region. 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. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $50,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hinds Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general cooking & related culinary arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Hinds Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Raymond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,300. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $12,169 in student loans. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $34,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Coahoma Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Set in the rural area of Clarksdale, Coahoma Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,490. Students borrow a median of $11,745 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $29,600. That is a strong return on a $11,745 median debt.
Albany Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general cooking & related culinary arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Albany, Albany Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,364, with out-of-state students paying around $5,932. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $16,321. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Albany Technical College earn a median of $35,895 early in their careers. Set against $16,321 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Georgia Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. North Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Clarkesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,330, with out-of-state students paying around $5,898. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $12,279. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $17,383. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Pellissippi State Community College placed #6 among the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. Located in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,786, with out-of-state students paying around $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.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College landed the #7 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, compared with $11,718 for out-of-state students. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earn a median of $36,965 early in their careers. Set against $16,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Arkansas Community College came in at #8 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Bentonville, Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Northwest Arkansas Community College generally make around $26,011. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rappahannock Community College placed #9 among the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. Rappahannock Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Glenns. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,102, while out-of-state students pay about $11,540. Students borrow a median of $8,997 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Rappahannock Community College earn a median of $43,398 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Virginia Western Community College came in at #10 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. In-state tuition and fees average $5,400, with out-of-state students paying around $11,838. Students borrow a median of $13,715 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. 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.
Southside Virginia Community College came in at #11 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the rural area of Alberta, Southside Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,007, while out-of-state students pay about $11,445. Students borrow a median of $7,467 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $29,666. Set against $7,467 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Meridian Community College landed the #12 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts value this year. Located in the town of Meridian, Meridian Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,078, while out-of-state students pay about $6,478. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $10,368 in student loans. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Meridian Community College earn a median of $34,846 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jones County Junior College placed #13 among the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. Jones County Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Ellisville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,700, compared with $5,700 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $9,559. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Jones County Junior College earn a median of $33,655 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,559 median debt.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College came in at #14 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,250, compared with $7,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $11,653. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College generally make around $34,214. That is a strong return on a $11,653 median debt.
Tidewater Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,858 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,296. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $19,671 in student loans. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $23,653. That is a strong return on a $19,671 median debt.
[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general cooking & related culinary arts education at a price that pays off.
