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Best Schools for Culinary Arts in Virginia
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
Leading the list is Ecpi University, our #1 school for culinary arts. Ecpi University is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. The six-year graduation rate is 28%. About 136 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Ecpi University in the most recent year. Culinary Arts graduates of Ecpi University earn a median of $21,480 early in their careers. Ecpi University graduates carry a median of $13,744 in student loans.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Ecpi University
Tidewater Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public institution. Tidewater Community College awarded about 39 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $23,653 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,671 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Tidewater Community College
Rappahannock Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Rappahannock Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Glenns. About 26 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Rappahannock Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Rappahannock Community College earn around $43,398 in the first couple years of their career. Rappahannock Community College graduates carry a median of $8,997 in student loans.
See the full culinary arts program report for Rappahannock Community College
Southside Virginia Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Southside Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Alberta. There were roughly 19 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Southside Virginia Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Southside Virginia Community College earn around $29,666 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,467 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Southside Virginia Community College
Virginia Western Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Roanoke. Virginia Western Community College awarded about 20 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $36,245 in their early career. Virginia Western Community College graduates carry a median of $13,715 in student loans.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Virginia Western Community College
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earned the #6 position for culinary arts this year. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. About 22 culinary arts degrees were awarded at J Sargeant Reynolds Community College in the most recent year. Culinary Arts graduates of J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earn a median of $36,965 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,131 to complete this degree.
Get the full culinary arts details for J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Columbia College Fairfax landed the #7 spot for culinary arts this year. Set in the suburb of Vienna, Columbia College Fairfax is a small private for-profit institution. There were roughly 15 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Columbia College Fairfax in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of Columbia College Fairfax earn a median of $18,780 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $4,665.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Columbia College Fairfax
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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