ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Culinary Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools

6 Colleges in the United States
466 Culinary Arts Degrees Awarded
$34,266 Avg Early-Career Salary

Culinary Arts 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.

College Factual analyzed 627 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best culinary arts schools.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 1
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 12.05), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Trade & Vocational Programs (Culinary & Pastry)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Trade & Vocational Programs (Culinary & Pastry)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 1
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 1 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 1
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 1 offers with relevance >= 1.0

Best Schools for Culinary Arts in the United States

See the highest-ranked culinary arts schools offering a bachelor’s degree below.

Top Schools in Culinary Arts

1
Drexel University crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA

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. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. About 10 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $67,556 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete this degree. Read more about the culinary arts program at Drexel University

2

Culinary Institute Of America is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts, ranking #2. Culinary Institute Of America is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hyde Park. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 94 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Culinary Institute Of America in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Culinary Institute Of America generally make around $43,808. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in culinary arts from Culinary Institute Of America

3

Texas Womans University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts, ranking #3. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas Womans University awarded about 10 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of Texas Womans University earn a median of $54,611 early in their careers. Texas Womans University graduates carry a median of $24,211 in student loans. Read more about the culinary arts program at Texas Womans University

4

A rank of #4 makes Johnson And Wales University Providence one of the top schools for culinary arts. Johnson And Wales University Providence is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Johnson And Wales University Providence graduates 50% of students within six years. Johnson And Wales University Providence awarded about 156 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $32,775 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in culinary arts from Johnson And Wales University Providence

5

National Louis University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts, ranking #5. National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 30% of students complete a degree within six years here. National Louis University awarded about 33 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $24,786. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500. Get the full culinary arts details for National Louis University

6

Nicholls State University landed the #6 spot for culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Thibodaux, Nicholls State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Nicholls State University graduates 54% of students within six years. About 30 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Nicholls State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $23,038 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,063 to complete this degree. Read more about the culinary arts program at Nicholls State University

7

Suny College Of Technology At Delhi landed the #7 spot for culinary arts this year. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Delhi. About 38% of students finish within six years. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi awarded about 22 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Suny College Of Technology At Delhi earn around $20,213 in the first couple years of their career. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi graduates carry a median of $20,303 in student loans. More information about a degree in culinary arts from Suny College Of Technology At Delhi

8
Universidad Del Este crest
Universidad Del Este
Carolina, PR

Universidad Del Este placed #8 among the best culinary arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Carolina. The six-year graduation rate is 32%. Universidad Del Este awarded about 97 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $14,017 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000. Get the full culinary arts details for Universidad Del Este

9

The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College landed the #9 spot for culinary arts this year. The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. There were roughly 14 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $27,593 in their early career. The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the culinary arts program at The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College

Other Culinary Arts Degree Levels

Explore the best culinary arts schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Culinary Arts
Associate's Degrees in Culinary Arts
Master's Degrees in Culinary Arts
ADBLOCK #173
View All Culinary Arts Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options