Culinary Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 627 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for culinary arts students pursuing a degree.
Suffolk County Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in culinary arts. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. About 21 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Suffolk County Community College earn around $35,667 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,246.
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Fox Valley Technical College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts, ranking #2. This large public university is located in the suburb of Appleton. About 40 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent 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. Typical student debt for the program is $14,234.
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Capital Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts, ranking #3. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. About 31 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. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong culinary arts program will find one at Culinary Institute Of America, which ranked #4. 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. About 727 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Culinary Institute Of America in the most recent year. Culinary Arts graduates of Culinary Institute Of America earn a median of $28,049 early in their careers. Culinary Institute Of America graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes Austin Community College District one of the top schools for culinary arts. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Austin Community College District awarded about 19 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $44,895. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete this degree.
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Salt Lake Community College came in at #6 for culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public university. About 18 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Salt Lake Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $31,788 in their early career. Salt Lake Community College graduates carry a median of $10,855 in student loans.
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Johnson County Community College placed #7 among the best culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 43 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Johnson County Community College 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.
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Delaware Technical Community College Terry came in at #8 for culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Dover, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public institution. About 29 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Delaware Technical Community College Terry in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Delaware Technical Community College Terry earn around $26,031 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,154 to complete this degree.
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Nassau Community College came in at #9 for culinary arts this year. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. About 18 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Nassau Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $38,734 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,850.
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Miami Dade College earned the #10 position for culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 95 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Miami Dade College in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $31,101 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,882.
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Des Moines Area Community College came in at #11 for culinary arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Ankeny. Des Moines Area Community College awarded about 22 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Des Moines Area Community College earn around $26,913 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,167 to complete this degree.
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Kapiolani Community College placed #12 among the best culinary arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Honolulu. There were roughly 54 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Kapiolani Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Kapiolani Community College earn around $26,882 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,087 to complete this degree.
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Spokane Community College landed the #13 spot for culinary arts this year. Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Spokane. There were roughly 34 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Spokane Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Spokane Community College earn around $23,529 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,486.
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Johnson And Wales University Providence came in at #14 for culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Providence, Johnson And Wales University Providence is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 261 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Johnson And Wales University Providence in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Johnson And Wales University Providence generally make around $27,514. Typical student debt for the program is $14,745.
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Brookdale Community College landed the #15 spot for culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a large public university. Brookdale Community College awarded about 21 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of Brookdale Community College earn a median of $37,374 early in their careers. Brookdale Community College graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans.
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Clover Park Technical College came in at #16 for culinary arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Lakewood. Clover Park Technical College awarded about 16 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $42,209 in their early career. Clover Park Technical College graduates carry a median of $15,154 in student loans.
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Metropolitan Community College Area landed the #17 spot for culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. Metropolitan Community College Area awarded about 30 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Metropolitan Community College Area earn around $45,583 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete this degree.
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El Centro College came in at #18 for culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. El Centro College awarded about 39 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $31,770 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,218.
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Cuny Kingsborough Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Cuny Kingsborough Community College awarded about 22 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $35,562 in their early career. Cuny Kingsborough Community College graduates carry a median of $7,858 in student loans.
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Hennepin Technical College landed the #20 spot for culinary arts this year. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Hennepin Technical College awarded about 25 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Hennepin Technical College generally make around $52,059. Typical student debt for the program is $17,887.
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Renton Technical College came in at #21 for culinary arts this year. Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Renton. There were roughly 18 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Renton Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Renton Technical College generally make around $80,411. Renton Technical College graduates carry a median of $18,582 in student loans.
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College Of Dupage ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. College Of Dupage awarded about 16 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $26,952. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete this degree.
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Utah Valley University came in at #23 for culinary arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Orem. About 40% of students finish within six years. About 73 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Utah Valley University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $27,056. Typical student debt for the program is $16,478.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Utah Valley University
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College came in at #24 for culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 43 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Cincinnati State Technical And Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $36,330 in their early career. Cincinnati State Technical And Community College graduates carry a median of $12,145 in student loans.
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National Louis University placed #25 among the best culinary arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 30% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 66 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at National Louis University in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $24,786 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Culinary Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for culinary arts this year:
This ranking is produced 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).
