by our College Data Analytics Team
[Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for culinary arts students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in culinary arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in culinary arts, no school beat Somerset Community College this year. Located in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $13,722. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $35,340. That is a strong return on a $13,722 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Ashland Community And Technical College one of the best values for culinary arts. Located in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $13,485. Culinary Arts graduates of Ashland Community And Technical College earn a median of $37,826 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,485 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Kentucky Community And Technical College earned it the #3 place for culinary arts. Located in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $10,778. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $31,903. That is a strong return on a $10,778 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts will find it at Maysville Community And Technical College, which ranked #4. Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Maysville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $13,031 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of Maysville Community And Technical College earn a median of $37,769 early in their careers. Set against $13,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jefferson Community And Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Students borrow a median of $13,917 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Jefferson Community And Technical College generally make around $44,346. That is a strong return on a $13,917 median debt.
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Sullivan University came in at #6 for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Louisville, Sullivan University is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $15,265. Culinary Arts graduates of Sullivan University earn a median of $24,292 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,265 median debt.
This list is compiled 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.