2026 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in Texas
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 27 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 Texas
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
Leading the list is El Centro College, our #1 best value for culinary arts/chef training in Texas. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $9,218 in student loans. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $31,127 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,218 median debt.
South Texas College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts/chef training, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $24,084. 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 Alvin Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,906, with out-of-state students paying around $4,402. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $8,600 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Alvin Community College generally make around $55,057. That is a strong return on a $8,600 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Del Mar College one of the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,500 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,050. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $7,476. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes El Paso Community College one of the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $29,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Philips College came in at #6 for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $15,653. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from St Philips College generally make around $45,185. Set against $15,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grayson College placed #7 among the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,000, compared with $6,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $11,627. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Grayson College earn a median of $42,487 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Austin Community College District came in at #8 for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $14,519. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $44,895. Set against $14,519 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tarrant County College District came in at #9 for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $15,148. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $45,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Laredo Community College landed the #10 spot for culinary arts/chef training value this year. Laredo Community College is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $5,748. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $41,354. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kilgore College came in at #11 for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kilgore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,160, with out-of-state students paying around $5,256. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $16,734 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $44,322. Set against $16,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Houston Community College landed the #12 spot for culinary arts/chef training value this year. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $26,217. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $26,419. Set against $26,217 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texarkana College placed #13 among the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Set in the city of Texarkana, Texarkana College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,476 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,332. Students borrow a median of $11,686 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Texarkana College earn a median of $19,284 early in their careers. Set against $11,686 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Plains College earned the #14 position for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. South Plains College is a large public school located in the town of Levelland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,733, with out-of-state students paying around $5,157. Students borrow a median of $13,788 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of South Plains College earn a median of $30,949 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lee College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,520 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $10,941. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $53,448. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #16 spot for culinary arts/chef training value this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,490 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $38,107. Set against $11,376 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Galveston College placed #17 among the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Galveston College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Galveston. In-state tuition and fees average $2,726, while out-of-state students pay about $6,176. Students borrow a median of $15,183 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Galveston College earn a median of $51,165 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Collin County Community College District ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Collin County Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of McKinney. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,014, while out-of-state students pay about $6,064. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $9,716 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Collin County Community College District generally make around $42,177. Set against $9,716 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Odessa College landed the #19 spot for culinary arts/chef training value this year. Odessa College is a large public school located in the city of Odessa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,688, with out-of-state students paying around $4,926. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $9,087. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Odessa College generally make around $47,856. Set against $9,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texas State Technical College placed #20 among the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Texas State Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,212, with out-of-state students paying around $11,812. Students borrow a median of $10,861 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Texas State Technical College generally make around $24,036. That is a strong return on a $10,861 median debt.
Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Austin ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the city of Austin, Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Austin is a small private for-profit university. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $16,491 in student loans. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Austin earn a median of $25,743 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,491 median debt.
The Culinary School Of Fort Worth landed the #22 spot for culinary arts/chef training value this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, The Culinary School Of Fort Worth is a small private for-profit institution. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from The Culinary School Of Fort Worth generally make around $21,608. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
