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

2 Colleges in the United States
3,773 Culinary Arts Degrees Awarded
$42,280 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 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best culinary arts schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Culinary Arts in Colorado

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
Colorado Mountain College crest
Colorado Mountain College
Glenwood Springs, CO

Leading the list is Colorado Mountain College, our #1 school for culinary arts. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Glenwood Springs. About 14% of students finish within six years. About 42 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Colorado Mountain College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $48,694 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,953. Read more about the culinary arts program at Colorado Mountain College

2

Students looking for a strong culinary arts program will find one at Red Rocks Community College, which ranked #2. This large public university is located in the suburb of Lakewood. Red Rocks Community College awarded about 45 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Red Rocks Community College generally make around $76,340. Red Rocks Community College graduates carry a median of $14,471 in student loans. More information about a degree in culinary arts from Red Rocks Community College

3
Mesa State College crest
Mesa State College
Grand Junction, CO

Mesa State College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts, ranking #3. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. There were roughly 61 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Mesa State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Mesa State College earn around $43,617 in the first couple years of their career. Mesa State College graduates carry a median of $22,310 in student loans. See the full culinary arts program report for Mesa State College

4
Pikes Peak Community College crest
Pikes Peak Community College
Colorado Springs, CO

Pikes Peak Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Pikes Peak Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Colorado Springs. About 91 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Pikes Peak Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College generally make around $41,037. Pikes Peak Community College graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans. Read more about the culinary arts program at Pikes Peak Community College

5

Students looking for a strong culinary arts program will find one at Pueblo Community College, which ranked #5. Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Pueblo. About 25 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Pueblo Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $42,377 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,106. Get the full culinary arts details for Pueblo Community College

6

Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Boulder ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Boulder, Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Boulder is a large private for-profit institution. Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Boulder awarded about 3,456 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $27,953 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,198. Read more about the culinary arts program at Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Boulder

7

Pickens Technical College landed the #7 spot for culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Aurora, Pickens Technical College is a small public university. Pickens Technical College awarded about 28 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $35,622 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete this degree. Get the full culinary arts details for Pickens Technical College

8

Emily Griffith Technical College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Denver. There were roughly 25 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Emily Griffith Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $22,599 in their early career. Emily Griffith Technical College graduates carry a median of $9,960 in student loans. See the full culinary arts program report for Emily Griffith Technical College

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 9 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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