by our College Data Analytics TeamCulinary Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 97 schools to find the best for culinary arts students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall culinary arts education in the Far Western Region.
Leading the list is Santa Rosa Junior College, our #1 school for culinary arts. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. About 63 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $80,047 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,692. Read more about the culinary arts program at Santa Rosa Junior College
A rank of #2 makes Spokane Community College one of the top schools for culinary arts. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Spokane. Spokane Community College awarded about 34 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Spokane Community College generally make around $23,529. Students borrow a median of $16,486 to complete this degree. Get the full culinary arts details for Spokane Community College
A rank of #3 makes Kapiolani Community College one of the top schools for culinary arts. Set in the city of Honolulu, Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. 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. Kapiolani Community College graduates carry a median of $10,087 in student loans. Read more about the culinary arts program at Kapiolani Community College
Clover Park Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Lakewood. Clover Park Technical College awarded about 53 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Clover Park Technical College generally make around $42,209. Typical student debt for the program is $15,154. Get the full culinary arts details for Clover Park Technical College
Students looking for a strong culinary arts program will find one at Renton Technical College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Renton, Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 32 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Renton Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Renton Technical College earn around $80,411 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,582 to complete this degree. See the full culinary arts program report for Renton Technical College
Orange Coast College landed the #6 spot for culinary arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Costa Mesa. Orange Coast College awarded about 90 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Orange Coast College generally make around $46,306. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete this degree. See the full culinary arts program report for Orange Coast College
Cuesta College earned the #7 position for culinary arts this year. Cuesta College is a large public school located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. Cuesta College awarded about 45 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Cuesta College generally make around $64,492. Students borrow a median of $18,958 to complete this degree. See the full culinary arts program report for Cuesta College
Diablo Valley College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public institution. About 31 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Diablo Valley College in the most recent year. Culinary Arts graduates of Diablo Valley College earn a median of $27,813 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,205. See the full culinary arts program report for Diablo Valley College
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 20 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Lake Washington Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earn a median of $60,000 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,695 to complete this degree. See the full culinary arts program report for Lake Washington Institute Of Technology
Seattle Community College South Campus earned the #10 position for culinary arts this year. Seattle Community College South Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Seattle. Seattle Community College South Campus awarded about 18 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in culinary arts from Seattle Community College South Campus
Seattle Community College Central Campus landed the #11 spot for culinary arts this year. Seattle Community College Central Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Seattle. About 58 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Seattle Community College Central Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $53,048 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,699 to complete this degree. Read more about the culinary arts program at Seattle Community College Central Campus
Southwestern Oregon Community College placed #12 among the best culinary arts schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Coos Bay. About 40 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Southwestern Oregon Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $27,791 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the culinary arts program at Southwestern Oregon Community College
Cypress College landed the #13 spot for culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. About 40 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Cypress College in the most recent year. See the full culinary arts program report for Cypress College
Grossmont College landed the #14 spot for culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. About 71 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Grossmont College in the most recent year. See the full culinary arts program report for Grossmont College
College Of Southern Nevada landed the #15 spot for culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public university. There were roughly 44 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at College Of Southern Nevada in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from College Of Southern Nevada generally make around $22,428. College Of Southern Nevada graduates carry a median of $9,980 in student loans. Get the full culinary arts details for College Of Southern Nevada
Mission College came in at #16 for culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Mission College is a large public institution. There were roughly 22 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Mission College in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $17,223 to complete this degree. Get the full culinary arts details for Mission College
Los Angeles Harbor College came in at #17 for culinary arts this year. Los Angeles Harbor College is a large public school located in the city of Wilmington. There were roughly 66 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Los Angeles Harbor College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Los Angeles Harbor College earn around $91,233 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,488. Read more about the culinary arts program at Los Angeles Harbor College
Bellingham Technical College placed #18 among the best culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Bellingham, Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 27 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Bellingham Technical College in the most recent data year. Get the full culinary arts details for Bellingham Technical College
College Of The Canyons ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. About 42 culinary arts degrees were awarded at College Of The Canyons in the most recent year. Culinary Arts graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. College Of The Canyons graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Get the full culinary arts details for College Of The Canyons
University Of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #20 for culinary arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Fairbanks. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. University Of Alaska Fairbanks awarded about 23 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from University Of Alaska Fairbanks generally make around $50,963. Students borrow a median of $23,439 to complete this degree. Get the full culinary arts details for University Of Alaska Fairbanks
Santa Ana College earned the #21 position for culinary arts this year. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. Santa Ana College awarded about 21 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $39,633 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,196. See the full culinary arts program report for Santa Ana College
University Of Hawaii Maui College earned the #22 position for culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Kahului, University Of Hawaii Maui College is a mid-sized public university. University Of Hawaii Maui College graduates 8% of students within six years. About 48 culinary arts degrees were awarded at University Of Hawaii Maui College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from University Of Hawaii Maui College generally make around $24,669. Typical student debt for the program is $11,824. More information about a degree in culinary arts from University Of Hawaii Maui College
Mt San Antonio College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Mt San Antonio College awarded about 29 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $44,391 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,384. Get the full culinary arts details for Mt San Antonio College
Cabrillo College placed #24 among the best culinary arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Aptos. Cabrillo College awarded about 45 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $47,750 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,425 to complete this degree. See the full culinary arts program report for Cabrillo College
City College Of San Francisco came in at #25 for culinary arts this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public institution. There were roughly 22 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at City College Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from City College Of San Francisco generally make around $100,031. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete this degree. Get the full culinary arts details for City College Of San Francisco
These schools also placed among the best for culinary arts this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 97 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.