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Best Schools for Culinary Arts in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall culinary arts education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Culinary Arts
Our analysis ranked Johnson County Community College the best school in the country for a degree in culinary arts. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. Johnson County Community College awarded about 43 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $38,977 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,532 to complete this degree.
Get the full culinary arts details for Johnson County Community College
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Ankeny. About 28 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $26,913 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,167.
See the full culinary arts program report for Des Moines Area Community College
Students looking for a strong culinary arts program will find one at Iowa Western Community College, which ranked #3. Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Council Bluffs. There were roughly 45 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Iowa Western Community College in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of Iowa Western Community College earn a median of $43,444 early in their careers. Iowa Western Community College graduates carry a median of $15,153 in student loans.
See the full culinary arts program report for Iowa Western Community College
Students looking for a strong culinary arts program will find one at Hennepin Technical College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Hennepin Technical College awarded about 48 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Hennepin Technical College generally make around $52,059. Hennepin Technical College graduates carry a median of $17,887 in student loans.
See the full culinary arts program report for Hennepin Technical College
Metropolitan Community College Area is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts, ranking #5. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. Metropolitan Community College Area awarded about 42 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $45,583 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete this degree.
See the full culinary arts program report for Metropolitan Community College Area
Kirkwood Community College placed #6 among the best culinary arts schools. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Kirkwood Community College awarded about 36 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Kirkwood Community College earn around $21,391 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,375.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Kirkwood Community College
Central Community College earned the #7 position for culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 17 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Central Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Central Community College earn around $43,218 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,277.
Get the full culinary arts details for Central Community College
Southeast Community College Area placed #8 among the best culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public university. About 52 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Southeast Community College Area in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Southeast Community College Area generally make around $31,590. Students borrow a median of $19,146 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Southeast Community College Area
Saint Louis Community College placed #9 among the best culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 44 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis Community College in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of Saint Louis Community College earn a median of $26,318 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,424 to complete this degree.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Saint Louis Community College
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. About 31 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $32,478 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
See the full culinary arts program report for Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College
Central Lakes College Brainerd placed #11 among the best culinary arts schools. Located in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public university. About 12 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Central Lakes College Brainerd in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Central Lakes College Brainerd generally make around $44,264. Typical student debt for the program is $14,479.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Central Lakes College Brainerd
Western Iowa Tech Community College came in at #12 for culinary arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Sioux City. About 36 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Western Iowa Tech Community College earn around $24,061 in the first couple years of their career. Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $12,530 in student loans.
See the full culinary arts program report for Western Iowa Tech Community College
Kansas City Kansas Community College placed #13 among the best culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 70 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Kansas City Kansas Community College in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of Kansas City Kansas Community College earn a median of $43,216 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,129.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Kansas City Kansas Community College
Ozarks Technical Community College landed the #14 spot for culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public university. Ozarks Technical Community College awarded about 27 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Ozarks Technical Community College generally make around $25,879. Students borrow a median of $10,501 to complete this degree.
Get the full culinary arts details for Ozarks Technical Community College
Butler Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of El Dorado. There were roughly 22 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Butler Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $39,404 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,670 to complete this degree.
Get the full culinary arts details for Butler Community College
Eastern Iowa Community College District ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public school located in the city of Davenport. About 19 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Eastern Iowa Community College District in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $41,510 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,995 to complete this degree.
See the full culinary arts program report for Eastern Iowa Community College District
East Central College came in at #17 for culinary arts this year. East Central College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Union. East Central College awarded about 13 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from East Central College generally make around $37,925. Students borrow a median of $12,062 to complete this degree.
See the full culinary arts program report for East Central College
Narrow Culinary Arts Schools by State
