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

2 Colleges in the United States
560 Culinary Arts Degrees Awarded
$35,157 Avg Early-Career Salary

Culinary Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their culinary arts programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 12 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 Louisiana

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

Leading the list is Nicholls State University, our #1 school for culinary arts. 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 37 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Nicholls State University in the most recent year. Culinary Arts graduates of Nicholls State University earn a median of $23,038 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,063. Get the full culinary arts details for Nicholls State University

2

Students looking for a strong culinary arts program will find one at South Louisiana Community College, which ranked #2. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Lafayette. There were roughly 101 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at South Louisiana Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from South Louisiana Community College generally make around $38,854. South Louisiana Community College graduates carry a median of $12,435 in student loans. Read more about the culinary arts program at South Louisiana Community College

3

Baton Rouge Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Baton Rouge. Baton Rouge Community College awarded about 21 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Baton Rouge Community College generally make around $43,394. Baton Rouge Community College graduates carry a median of $17,624 in student loans. Get the full culinary arts details for Baton Rouge Community College

4

Sowela Technical Community 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 Lake Charles. Sowela Technical Community College awarded about 98 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Sowela Technical Community College generally make around $45,827. Sowela Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $7,391 in student loans. See the full culinary arts program report for Sowela Technical Community College

5

A rank of #5 makes Nunez Community College one of the top schools for culinary arts. Nunez Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Chalmette. About 134 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Nunez Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Nunez Community College earn around $40,200 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000. More information about a degree in culinary arts from Nunez Community College

6

Northshore Technical Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Located in the rural area of Lacombe, Northshore Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 34 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Northshore Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Northshore Technical Community College earn around $31,601 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,815. Get the full culinary arts details for Northshore Technical Community College

7

Bossier Parish Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Bossier City. About 21 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Bossier Parish Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $43,661 in their early career. Bossier Parish Community College graduates carry a median of $20,593 in student loans. More information about a degree in culinary arts from Bossier Parish Community College

8

Delgado Community College earned the #8 position for culinary arts this year. Located in the city of New Orleans, Delgado Community College is a large public university. Delgado Community College awarded about 41 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Delgado Community College generally make around $36,073. Delgado Community College graduates carry a median of $32,125 in student loans. See the full culinary arts program report for Delgado Community College

9

Louisiana Culinary Institute placed #9 among the best culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Baton Rouge, Louisiana Culinary Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Louisiana Culinary Institute awarded about 47 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the culinary arts program at Louisiana Culinary Institute

10

Crescent City Bartending School ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Set in the city of New Orleans, Crescent City Bartending School is a small private for-profit institution. Crescent City Bartending School awarded about 26 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Crescent City Bartending School generally make around $13,763. Typical student debt for the program is $3,167. More information about a degree in culinary arts from Crescent City Bartending School

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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 · 12 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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