Culinary Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 627 schools to find the best for culinary arts students.
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Choosing a Great Culinary Arts School
Where you study culinary arts matters for your future. To help, we created our Best Culinary Arts Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Culinary Arts Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Drexel University, our #1 school for culinary arts. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $67,556. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete this degree.
See the full culinary arts program report for Drexel University
Suffolk County Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts, ranking #2. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. About 25 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent year. Culinary Arts graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,246 to complete this degree.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Suffolk County Community College
A rank of #3 makes Boston University one of the top schools for culinary arts. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Culinary Arts graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans.
See the full culinary arts program report for Boston University
Madison Area Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. There were roughly 71 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $44,279 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,812 to complete this degree.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Madison Area Technical College
Students looking for a strong culinary arts program will find one at Fox Valley Technical College, which ranked #5. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. Fox Valley Technical College awarded about 52 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Fox Valley Technical College earn around $34,736 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete this degree.
Get the full culinary arts details for Fox Valley Technical College
Culinary Institute Of America earned the #6 position for culinary arts this year. Set in the suburb of Hyde Park, Culinary Institute Of America is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Culinary Institute Of America awarded about 756 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Culinary Institute Of America generally make around $35,929. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Culinary Institute Of America
Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. There were roughly 63 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans.
Get the full culinary arts details for Santa Rosa Junior College
Capital Community College placed #8 among the best culinary arts schools. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. About 51 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Capital Community College in the most recent year. Culinary Arts graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $43,086 early in their careers. Capital Community College graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Capital Community College
Texas Womans University landed the #9 spot for culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. Texas Womans University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 10 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Texas Womans University in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $54,611 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,211 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Texas Womans University
Johnson County Community College landed the #10 spot for culinary arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Overland Park. Johnson County Community College awarded about 43 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Johnson County Community College earn around $38,977 in the first couple years of their career. Johnson County Community College graduates carry a median of $13,532 in student loans.
See the full culinary arts program report for Johnson County Community College
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus came in at #11 for culinary arts this year. Set in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 64 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn around $29,155 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus
Salt Lake Community College came in at #12 for culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public university. Salt Lake Community College awarded about 18 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of Salt Lake Community College earn a median of $31,788 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,855 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Salt Lake Community College
Delaware Technical Community College Terry ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Dover. There were roughly 29 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Delaware Technical Community College Terry in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Delaware Technical Community College Terry generally make around $26,031. Typical student debt for the program is $11,154.
See the full culinary arts program report for Delaware Technical Community College Terry
Nassau Community College came in at #14 for culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. Nassau Community College awarded about 18 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $38,734 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,850 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Nassau Community College
El Centro College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. El Centro College awarded about 161 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $31,127 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,218 to complete this degree.
Read more about the culinary arts program at El Centro College
Chippewa Valley Technical College came in at #16 for culinary arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Eau Claire. About 24 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Chippewa Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Chippewa Valley Technical College generally make around $45,531. Chippewa Valley Technical College graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Chippewa Valley Technical College
Des Moines Area Community College earned the #17 position for culinary arts this year. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. Des Moines Area Community College awarded about 28 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $26,913 in their early career. Des Moines Area Community College graduates carry a median of $11,167 in student loans.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Des Moines Area Community College
Miami Dade College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. About 149 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Miami Dade College in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Miami Dade College earn around $31,101 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,882.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Miami Dade College
Johnson And Wales University Providence earned the #19 position for culinary arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. About 50% of students finish within six years. Johnson And Wales University Providence awarded about 395 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $30,145 in their early career. Johnson And Wales University Providence graduates carry a median of $20,873 in student loans.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Johnson And Wales University Providence
Austin Community College District landed the #20 spot for culinary arts this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. There were roughly 37 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Austin Community College District in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. Austin Community College District graduates carry a median of $14,519 in student loans.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Austin Community College District
Spokane Community College earned the #21 position for culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Spokane Community College awarded about 34 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $23,529 in their early career. Spokane Community College graduates carry a median of $16,486 in student loans.
See the full culinary arts program report for Spokane Community College
Kapiolani Community College placed #22 among the best culinary arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Honolulu. There were roughly 82 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Kapiolani Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Kapiolani Community College generally make around $26,882. Students borrow a median of $10,087 to complete this degree.
See the full culinary arts program report for Kapiolani Community College
Brookdale Community College earned the #23 position for culinary arts this year. Set in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a large public institution. Brookdale Community College awarded about 22 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Brookdale Community College earn around $37,374 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,651.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Brookdale Community College
Lee College came in at #24 for culinary arts this year. Lee College is a large public school located in the city of Baytown. About 94 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Lee College in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Lee College earn around $53,448 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Lee College
Iowa Western Community College placed #25 among the best culinary arts schools. Located in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 45 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Iowa Western Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Iowa Western Community College generally make around $43,444. Typical student debt for the program is $15,153.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Iowa Western Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Culinary Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s culinary arts ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 627 schools evaluated.
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).
