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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in North Carolina

5 Colleges in the United States
870 Culinary Arts/Chef Training Degrees Awarded
$38,188 Avg Early-Career Salary

Culinary Arts/Chef Training is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for culinary arts/chef training students pursuing a degree.

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Best Schools for Culinary Arts/Chef Training in North Carolina

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall culinary arts/chef training education in North Carolina.

Top Schools in Culinary Arts/Chef Training

1

Leading the list is Johnson And Wales University Charlotte, our #1 school for culinary arts/chef training. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Charlotte. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. Johnson And Wales University Charlotte awarded about 87 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Johnson And Wales University Charlotte earn a median of $30,145 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,745 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in culinary arts/chef training from Johnson And Wales University Charlotte

2

A rank of #2 makes Fayetteville Technical Community College one of the top schools for culinary arts/chef training. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. About 114 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Fayetteville Technical Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Students borrow a median of $16,909 to complete this degree. Get the full culinary arts/chef training details for Fayetteville Technical Community College

3

Central Piedmont Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts/chef training, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Charlotte. About 284 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $27,127 in their early career. Central Piedmont Community College graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Get the full culinary arts/chef training details for Central Piedmont Community College

4

Wilkes Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts/chef training, ranking #4. Located in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public university. Wilkes Community College awarded about 22 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Wilkes Community College earn a median of $36,341 early in their careers. Wilkes Community College graduates carry a median of $9,125 in student loans. See the full culinary arts/chef training program report for Wilkes Community College

5

Students looking for a strong culinary arts/chef training program will find one at Wake Technical Community College, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Raleigh. About 31 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Wake Technical Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $38,673 in their early career. Wake Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $13,226 in student loans. Get the full culinary arts/chef training details for Wake Technical Community College

6

Guilford Technical Community College placed #6 among the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Set in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a large public institution. About 84 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Guilford Technical Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from Guilford Technical Community College earn around $14,813 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $32,169 to complete this degree. Read more about the culinary arts/chef training program at Guilford Technical Community College

7

Cape Fear Community College earned the #7 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public university. Cape Fear Community College awarded about 10 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $42,889 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,388. See the full culinary arts/chef training program report for Cape Fear Community College

8

Durham Technical Community College landed the #8 spot for culinary arts/chef training this year. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. There were roughly 22 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Durham Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Durham Technical Community College earn a median of $46,293 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,408. Read more about the culinary arts/chef training program at Durham Technical Community College

9

Coastal Carolina Community College landed the #9 spot for culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Coastal Carolina Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 42 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Coastal Carolina Community College in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Coastal Carolina Community College earn a median of $37,831 early in their careers. Coastal Carolina Community College graduates carry a median of $7,125 in student loans. Get the full culinary arts/chef training details for Coastal Carolina Community College

10

Alamance Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Graham. About 18 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Alamance Community College in the most recent year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Alamance Community College earn a median of $37,585 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete this degree. See the full culinary arts/chef training program report for Alamance Community College

11

Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College landed the #11 spot for culinary arts/chef training this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Asheville. Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College awarded about 56 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College earn around $32,602 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,883. See the full culinary arts/chef training program report for Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College

12

Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute came in at #12 for culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the suburb of Hudson, Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute is a mid-sized public university. Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute awarded about 16 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute earn around $44,734 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete this degree. See the full culinary arts/chef training program report for Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute

13
Nash Community College crest
Nash Community College
Rocky Mount, NC

Nash Community College earned the #13 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Rocky Mount. There were roughly 28 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Nash Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Nash Community College generally make around $45,512. Students borrow a median of $16,969 to complete this degree. Read more about the culinary arts/chef training program at Nash Community College

14
College Of The Albemarle crest
College Of The Albemarle
Elizabeth City, NC

College Of The Albemarle came in at #14 for culinary arts/chef training this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Elizabeth City. About 15 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at College Of The Albemarle in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from College Of The Albemarle earn around $50,506 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,240. Read more about the culinary arts/chef training program at College Of The Albemarle

15

Southwestern Community College Sylva landed the #15 spot for culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the town of Sylva, Southwestern Community College Sylva is a mid-sized public university. Southwestern Community College Sylva awarded about 18 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $36,418 in their early career. Southwestern Community College Sylva graduates carry a median of $13,708 in student loans. More information about a degree in culinary arts/chef training from Southwestern Community College Sylva

16
Carteret Community College crest
Carteret Community College
Morehead City, NC

Carteret Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the town of Morehead City, Carteret Community College is a mid-sized public university. About 23 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Carteret Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Carteret Community College generally make around $48,953. Students borrow a median of $5,566 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in culinary arts/chef training from Carteret Community College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 26 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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