2026 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong culinary arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 86 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value culinary arts schools.
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2026 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the culinary arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Culinary Arts Schools
Suffolk County Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
Nassau Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,330, with out-of-state students paying around $12,130. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $38,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Kingsborough Community College earned it the #3 place for culinary arts. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,252, with out-of-state students paying around $8,132. Students borrow a median of $7,858 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Cuny Kingsborough Community College generally make around $35,562. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Schenectady County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Schenectady, Schenectady County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,190, with out-of-state students paying around $8,974. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,902 ten years after entry.
Middlesex County College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Middlesex County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Edison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,764, while out-of-state students pay about $7,356. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $9,514. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Middlesex County College generally make around $37,975. That is a strong return on a $9,514 median debt.
Hudson County Community College landed the #6 spot for culinary arts value this year. Set in the city of Jersey City, Hudson County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,384, with out-of-state students paying around $9,248. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $12,900 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of Hudson County Community College earn a median of $26,170 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,900 median debt.
Burlington County College came in at #7 for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of Mount Laurel, Burlington County College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,990, while out-of-state students pay about $9,495. Students borrow a median of $12,488 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Burlington County College generally make around $52,240. That is a strong return on a $12,488 median debt.
Westmoreland County Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Located in the suburb of Youngwood, Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,306, with out-of-state students paying around $14,728. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the culinary arts program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,439 ten years after entry. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Niagara County Community College landed the #9 spot for culinary arts value this year. Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Sanborn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,894, compared with $12,030 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Niagara County Community College earn a median of $26,514 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delaware Technical Community College Terry ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Dover, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,763 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $11,154 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $26,031. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Monroe Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Monroe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rochester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,006, while out-of-state students pay about $11,056. Students borrow a median of $12,921 to complete the culinary arts program here. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $38,757. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Erie Community College landed the #12 spot for culinary arts value this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $6,439. Culinary Arts graduates of Erie Community College earn a median of $15,565 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Atlantic Cape Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Set in the rural area of Mays Landing, Atlantic Cape Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,594, compared with $8,350 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $31,639. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brookdale Community College landed the #14 spot for culinary arts value this year. Brookdale Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lincroft. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,270, while out-of-state students pay about $10,140. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $12,651. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $37,374. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Passaic County Community College placed #15 among the best values for culinary arts. Located in the suburb of Paterson, Passaic County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,300, with out-of-state students paying around $10,560. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $9,581 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $28,957. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Montgomery County Community College came in at #16 for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,690, while out-of-state students pay about $17,250. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $15,417 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $30,324. That is a strong return on a $15,417 median debt.
Monroe College Main Campus came in at #17 for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,464. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $13,364 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $18,256. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Prince Georges Community College came in at #18 for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of Largo, Prince Georges Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,034, with out-of-state students paying around $8,762. Students borrow a median of $13,949 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Prince Georges Community College earn a median of $56,960 early in their careers. Set against $13,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Adirondack Community College placed #19 among the best values for culinary arts. Adirondack Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Queensbury. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,844, with out-of-state students paying around $9,616. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $12,358. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $31,590. Set against $12,358 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northampton County Area Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Located in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $15,270. Students borrow a median of $18,900 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Northampton County Area Community College earn a median of $35,960 early in their careers. Set against $18,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Laurel Technical Institute landed the #21 spot for culinary arts value this year. Located in the rural area of Hermitage, Laurel Technical Institute is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,431. Students borrow a median of $14,143 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Laurel Technical Institute earn a median of $33,129 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred placed #22 among the best values for culinary arts. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Alfred. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,892, compared with $16,837 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earn a median of $26,598 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Anne Arundel Community College landed the #23 spot for culinary arts value this year. Anne Arundel Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Arnold. Students from in state pay about $4,322 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,522 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $13,947 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Anne Arundel Community College generally make around $59,894. That is a strong return on a $13,947 median debt.
Ocean County Vocational Technical School earned the #24 position for value in culinary arts this year. Ocean County Vocational Technical School is a small public school located in the suburb of Toms River. Culinary Arts graduates of Ocean County Vocational Technical School earn a median of $16,566 early in their careers.
Finger Lakes Community College placed #25 among the best values for culinary arts. Set in the rural area of Canandaigua, Finger Lakes Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,258 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,442 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $16,736. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $40,467. Set against $16,736 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 35 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for culinary arts this year:
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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 · 86 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
