2026 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/restaurant-culinary-and-catering-management-manager/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools.
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2026 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager Schools
Leading the list is Suffolk County Community College, our #1 best value for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager in the Middle Atlantic Region. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $11,246. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Schenectady County Community College earned it the #2 place for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Located in the city of Schenectady, Schenectady County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,190, with out-of-state students paying around $8,974. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,902.
A rank of #3 makes Cuny Kingsborough Community College one of the best values for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,252, while out-of-state students pay about $8,132. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $7,858. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Cuny Kingsborough Community College earn a median of $35,562 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Nassau Community College earned it the #4 place for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. In-state tuition and fees average $6,330, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $38,734 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Erie Community College earned it the #5 place for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Erie Community College is a large public school located in the city of Buffalo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $6,439 in student loans. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Erie Community College earn a median of $37,069 early in their careers. Set against $6,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Niagara County Community College earned the #6 position for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Set in the rural area of Sanborn, Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,894, while out-of-state students pay about $12,030. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Niagara County Community College generally make around $36,258. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Anne Arundel Community College earned the #7 position for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Set in the suburb of Arnold, Anne Arundel Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,322 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,522. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $13,947. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Anne Arundel Community College earn a median of $59,894 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,947 median debt.
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi earned the #8 position for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Located in the rural area of Delhi, Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,772, while out-of-state students pay about $12,762. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $20,303 in student loans. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Delhi generally make around $48,647. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi admits about 89% of applicants.
Jna Institute Of Culinary Arts landed the #9 spot for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Jna Institute Of Culinary Arts is a small private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,575. Students borrow a median of $13,250 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $18,774. Set against $13,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lackawanna College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools. Located in the city of Scranton, Lackawanna College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,400. Students borrow a median of $21,168 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Lackawanna College generally make around $37,408. Set against $21,168 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- 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.