by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools in the Plains States Region to determine which ones were the best for culinary arts students pursuing a associate degree. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 309 associate degrees in culinary arts during the 2022-2023 academic year.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
Your choice of culinary arts for getting your associate degree school matters. Important measures of a quality culinary arts program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To take this into account we include a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their associate degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for culinary arts students working on their associate degree.
When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list to help you make the college decision.
Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for culinary arts students seeking a an associate degree.
Saint Paul College is a great decision for individuals interested in an associate degree in culinary arts. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a associate in culinary arts from Saint Paul College
Johnson County Community College is one of the best schools in the country for getting an associate degree in culinary arts. JCCC is a fairly large public college located in the medium-sized city of Overland Park.
Culinary Arts associate degree recipients from Johnson County Community College receive an earnings boost of around $11,836 over the average income of culinary arts majors.
More information about a associate in culinary arts from Johnson County Community College
Des Moines Area Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting an associate degree in culinary arts. DMACC is a very large public college located in the suburb of Ankeny.
Associate students who receive their degree from the culinary arts program earn an average of $26,913 for their early career.
More information about a associate in culinary arts from Des Moines Area Community College
It is hard to beat Kirkwood Community College if you want to pursue an associate degree in culinary arts. Kirkwood Community College is a fairly large public college located in the midsize city of Cedar Rapids.
Students who graduate with their associate from the culinary arts program state that they receive average early career wages of $21,391.
More information about a associate in culinary arts from Kirkwood Community College
Southeast Community College is a medium-sized public college located in the city of Lincoln.
Students who graduate with their associate from the culinary arts program report average early career wages of $26,446.
More information about a associate in culinary arts from Southeast Community College Area
Located in the city of Omaha, MCC is a public college with a large student population.More information about a associate in culinary arts from Metropolitan Community College
Located in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Soon after graduating, culinary arts associate recipients usually earn an average of $26,318 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a associate in culinary arts from Saint Louis Community College
Western Iowa Tech Community College is a medium-sized public college located in the city of Sioux City.
Associate students who receive their degree from the culinary arts program make about $24,061 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a associate in culinary arts from Western Iowa Tech Community College
Located in the midsize city of Springfield, OTC is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Associate graduates who receive their degree from the culinary arts program make an average of $25,879 for their early career.
More information about a associate in culinary arts from Ozarks Technical Community CollegeExplore the best culinary arts schools for a specific state in the Plains States Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 151 | 37 |
| Kansas | 146 | 39 |
| Missouri | 117 | 64 |
| Iowa | 116 | 85 |
| Nebraska | 98 | 66 |
| South Dakota | 93 | 2 |
| North Dakota | 92 | 4 |
One of 4 majors within the Personal & Culinary Services area of study, Culinary Arts has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cosmetology | 82 |
| Funeral & Mortuary Science | 60 |
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