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2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

23 Ranked Colleges
585 Degrees Awarded
$8,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Culinary Arts/Chef Training is the 135th most popular major in the country with 10,007 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Southwest region, there were 1,277 culinary arts/chef training graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 585 culinary arts/chef training graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,605 and $16,886 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 23 colleges that offered a degree in culinary arts/chef training. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality culinary arts/chef training programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the culinary arts/chef training program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 23 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Austin Community College District. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Austin Community College District is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 9 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

Austin Community College District also took the #3 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Community College District is $3,134 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Austin Community College District

#2

El Centro College

Dallas, Texas
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend El Centro College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. El Centro College is a large public school situated in Dallas, Texas. It awarded 21 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $0-$30k list, El Centro College has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend El Centro College is $3,454 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full El Centro College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#3

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central New Mexico Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. CNM is a public institution located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The school has a large population, and it awarded 23 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CNM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for CNM is $2,604 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at CNM

#4

Houston Community College

Houston, Texas
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Houston Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Houston Community College is a large school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 39 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Houston Community College, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Houston Community College is $4,562 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Houston Community College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#5

El Paso Community College

El Paso, Texas
#13 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend El Paso Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. El Paso Community College is located in El Paso, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $0-$30k list, El Paso Community College has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for El Paso Community College is $3,978 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full El Paso Community College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#6

Lee College

Baytown, Texas
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Lee College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Baytown, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $0-$30k list, Lee College has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $7,560 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lee College.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Lee College

#9 in overall quality

Collin County Community College District landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Collin County Community College District is located in McKinney, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to qualified students.

Collin County Community College District did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Collin County Community College District is $4,565 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Collin County Community College District

#8

St Philip's College

San Antonio, Texas
#4 in overall quality

St Philip’s College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 15 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training students in 2019-2020.

St Philip’s College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for St Philip’s College is $5,761 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at St Philip’s College

#9

South Plains College

Levelland, Texas
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, South Plains College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. South Plains College is located in Levelland, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to qualified students.

South Plains College also made our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for South Plains College is $6,211 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at South Plains College

#10

Del Mar College

Corpus Christi, Texas
#14 in overall quality

Del Mar College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. DMC is a fairly large public school situated in Corpus Christi, Texas. It awarded 5 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

DMC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for DMC is $4,638 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full DMC Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#11

Tarrant County College District

Fort Worth, Texas
#15 in overall quality

Tarrant County College District did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in Fort Worth, Texas, and it awarded 10 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tarrant County College, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tarrant County College District is $5,225 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Tarrant County College District Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#6 in overall quality

Texas State Technical College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Waco, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.

TSTC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $8,535 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend TSTC.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at TSTC

#5 in overall quality

San Jacinto Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Pasadena, Texas, and it awarded 13 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $0-$30k list, San Jacinto College has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Jacinto Community College is $8,232 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at San Jacinto College

#14

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

Las Cruces, New Mexico
#19 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. New Mexico State University - Dona Ana is a medium-sized school located in Las Cruces, New Mexico that handed out 11 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Dona Ana did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for NMSU Dona Ana is $4,942 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

#15

Odessa College

Odessa, Texas
#16 in overall quality

Odessa College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Odessa College is a public institution located in Odessa, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 12 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Odessa College also took the #16 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Odessa College is $5,380 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Odessa College

#16

Texarkana College

Texarkana, Texas
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Texarkana College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texarkana College is a public institution located in Texarkana, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Texarkana College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texarkana College is $5,854 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Texarkana College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#17

Scottsdale Community College

Scottsdale, Arizona
#8 in overall quality

Scottsdale Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Scottsdale Community College is a medium-sized school located in Scottsdale, Arizona that handed out 17 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

Scottsdale Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Scottsdale Community College is $8,963 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Scottsdale Community College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#18

Northeast Texas Community College

Mount Pleasant, Texas
#20 in overall quality

Northeast Texas Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. NTCC is a small public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Texas. It awarded 6 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

NTCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $7,484 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend NTCC.

Full NTCC Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#17 in overall quality

Estrella Mountain Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Estrella Mountain Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Avondale, Arizona. It awarded 8 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

Estrella Mountain Community College also made our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend Estrella Mountain Community College is $7,973 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Estrella Mountain Community College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#1 in overall quality

The Art Institute of Houston landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Houston, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ai Houston, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $21,248 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ai Houston.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Ai Houston

#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Austin did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Escoffier - Austin is a small private for-profit school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 176 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

Escoffier - Austin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Escoffier - Austin is $14,004 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Austin Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#22

The Art Institute of San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas
#22 in overall quality

The Art Institute of San Antonio came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in San Antonio, Texas, this small private for-profit school awarded 8 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training students in 2019-2020.

Ai San Antonio also made our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $20,988 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The Art Institute of San Antonio.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Ai San Antonio

#23 in overall quality

The Art Institute of Austin came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Austin, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ai Austin has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ai Austin is $21,877 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full The Art Institute of Austin Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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