2026 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in Wisconsin
[Culinary Arts/Chef Training](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/culinary-arts-chef-training/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong culinary arts/chef training education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for culinary arts/chef training students.
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2026 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in Wisconsin
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the culinary arts/chef training degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools
Lakeshore Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among culinary arts/chef training schools in Wisconsin. Located in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,844, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Students borrow a median of $11,582 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Lakeshore Technical College generally make around $41,252. Set against $11,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gateway Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts/chef training, landing the #2 spot this year. Gateway Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Kenosha. Students from in state pay about $4,956 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,199. Students borrow a median of $14,829 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Gateway Technical College earn a median of $42,410 early in their careers. Set against $14,829 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Milwaukee Area Technical College one of the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,184, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $19,386 in student loans. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of $25,304 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts/chef training will find it at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,960, with out-of-state students paying around $7,203. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $14,997 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $42,016. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts/chef training will find it at Blackhawk Technical College, which ranked #5. Blackhawk Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Janesville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,747, with out-of-state students paying around $6,803. Students borrow a median of $13,715 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Blackhawk Technical College generally make around $44,256. Set against $13,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox Valley Technical College earned the #6 position for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $34,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Chippewa Valley Technical College generally make around $45,531. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madison Area Technical College came in at #8 for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $4,977 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,141. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $16,812 in student loans. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $44,279 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
