2026 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Culinary Arts/Chef Training](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/culinary-arts-chef-training/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 28 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools.
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2026 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in the The Plains States Region
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
For return on investment in culinary arts/chef training, no school beat Metropolitan Community College Area this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,375, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $12,799 in student loans. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $45,583 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt.
Saint Louis Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts/chef training, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $11,424 in student loans. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Saint Louis Community College earn a median of $26,318 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Ozarks Technical Community College one of the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, with out-of-state students paying around $7,040. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $10,501 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $25,879. That is a strong return on a $10,501 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts/chef training will find it at Kirkwood Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $15,375. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $21,391 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Iowa Tech Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts/chef training, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,186, while out-of-state students pay about $5,330. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $12,530 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $24,061. That is a strong return on a $12,530 median debt.
Eastern Iowa Community College District earned the #6 position for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,848, compared with $6,456 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $15,995 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Eastern Iowa Community College District generally make around $41,510. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hennepin Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,940. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $17,887 in student loans. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $52,059 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,887 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College placed #8 among the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,790, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $11,167 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $26,913. Set against $11,167 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Iowa Western Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,930, compared with $7,080 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $15,153 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Iowa Western Community College generally make around $43,444. That is a strong return on a $15,153 median debt.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College landed the #10 spot for culinary arts/chef training value this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,326. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $17,500. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College earn a median of $32,478 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt.
East Central College placed #11 among the best values for culinary arts/chef training. East Central College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Union. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,272, while out-of-state students pay about $7,680. Students borrow a median of $12,062 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from East Central College generally make around $37,925. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Lakes College Brainerd landed the #12 spot for culinary arts/chef training value this year. Set in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,249. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $14,479. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Central Lakes College Brainerd generally make around $44,264. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Johnson County Community College placed #13 among the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, while out-of-state students pay about $5,688. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $13,532. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Johnson County Community College generally make around $38,977. That is a strong return on a $13,532 median debt.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
