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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Culinary Arts Schools in Pennsylvania

5 Colleges in the United States
296 Culinary Arts Degrees Awarded
$32,437 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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 31 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for culinary arts students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Culinary Arts in Pennsylvania

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the culinary arts degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Culinary Arts

1
Drexel University crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University tops our 2026 ranking of the best culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Drexel University graduates 78% of students within six years. About 11 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Culinary Arts graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $67,556 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete this degree. Read more about the culinary arts program at Drexel University

2

Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts, ranking #2. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Indiana. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 64 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $29,155 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree. Get the full culinary arts details for Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus

3

Students looking for a strong culinary arts program will find one at Montgomery County Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a large public university. Montgomery County Community College awarded about 31 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Montgomery County Community College earn around $30,324 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,417 to complete this degree. Get the full culinary arts details for Montgomery County Community College

4

Students looking for a strong culinary arts program will find one at Pennsylvania College Of Technology, which ranked #4. Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Williamsport. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania College Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Pennsylvania College Of Technology earn around $25,269 in the first couple years of their career. Pennsylvania College Of Technology graduates carry a median of $16,000 in student loans. See the full culinary arts program report for Pennsylvania College Of Technology

5

Students looking for a strong culinary arts program will find one at Northampton County Area Community College, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the suburb of Bethlehem. There were roughly 36 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Northampton County Area Community College in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of Northampton County Area Community College earn a median of $35,960 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,900 to complete this degree. Read more about the culinary arts program at Northampton County Area Community College

6

Westmoreland County Community College placed #6 among the best culinary arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Youngwood. About 17 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Westmoreland County Community College in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000. See the full culinary arts program report for Westmoreland County Community College

7
Lackawanna College crest
Lackawanna College
Scranton, PA

Lackawanna College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Lackawanna College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 10 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Lackawanna College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $37,408 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,168 to complete this degree. See the full culinary arts program report for Lackawanna College

8

The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College earned the #8 position for culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College is a small private for-profit institution. There were roughly 58 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College earn around $26,743 in the first couple years of their career. The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Read more about the culinary arts program at The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College

9

Laurel Technical Institute earned the #9 position for culinary arts this year. Laurel Technical Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the rural area of Hermitage. Laurel Technical Institute awarded about 11 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Laurel Technical Institute generally make around $33,129. Laurel Technical Institute graduates carry a median of $14,143 in student loans. See the full culinary arts program report for Laurel Technical Institute

10

Jna Institute Of Culinary Arts placed #10 among the best culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Jna Institute Of Culinary Arts is a small private for-profit university. Jna Institute Of Culinary Arts awarded about 18 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Jna Institute Of Culinary Arts earn around $18,774 in the first couple years of their career. Jna Institute Of Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $13,250 in student loans. Read more about the culinary arts program at Jna Institute Of Culinary Arts

11

Commonwealth Technical Institute landed the #11 spot for culinary arts this year. Commonwealth Technical Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Johnstown. Commonwealth Technical Institute awarded about 24 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of Commonwealth Technical Institute earn a median of $20,049 early in their careers. Read more about the culinary arts program at Commonwealth Technical Institute

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 31 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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