2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” 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 Great Lakes region, there were 1,457 culinary arts/chef training graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 566 culinary arts/chef training graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,508 and $17,812 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 32 colleges that offered a degree in culinary arts/chef training. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent culinary arts/chef training programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the culinary arts/chef training program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Featured schools near , edit
One Size Does Not Fit All
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 Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 32 schools in the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Elgin Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. ECC is a public institution located in Elgin, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
ECC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Elgin Community College is $3,717 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Out of the 32 schools in the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Cincinnati State is a medium-sized public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 33 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.
Cincinnati State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is $4,292 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Madison Area Technical College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Madison Area Technical College is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 15 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Madison College, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Madison College is $8,584 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Madison College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Joliet Junior College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Joliet, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 58 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training students in 2019-2020.
Joliet Junior College also took the #4 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Joliet Junior College is $4,134 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Joliet Junior College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Oakland Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Bloomfield Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.
Oakland Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Oakland Community College is $1,614 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Oakland Community College
Cuyahoga Community College District ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cuyahoga Community College District is a fairly large public school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 23 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cuyahoga Community College District, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cuyahoga Community College District is $4,996 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Cuyahoga Community College District
Henry Ford College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Dearborn, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Henry Ford College, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Henry Ford College is $3,039 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Northwestern Michigan College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Traverse City, Michigan, this small public school handed out 14 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training students in 2019-2020.
NMC also took the #18 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern Michigan College is $8,547 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training students in 2019-2020.
MATC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Milwaukee Area Technical College is $8,353 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Milwaukee Area Technical College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southwest Tech is a public institution located in Fennimore, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Southwest Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $9,037 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Southwest Wisconsin Technical College.
The low student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Kennedy-King College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Kennedy-King College is $5,764 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Kennedy-King College
With a ranking of #12, Grand Rapids Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 22 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.
Grand Rapids Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Rapids Community College is $7,267 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Grand Rapids Community College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report
Sinclair Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. Sinclair Community College is a public institution located in Dayton, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Sinclair Community College is $3,113 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Sinclair Community College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report
Blackhawk Technical College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Janesville, Wisconsin, this small public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $30-$48k list, BTC has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,198 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend BTC.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Schoolcraft College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. Schoolcraft College is a medium-sized school located in Livonia, Michigan that handed out 16 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Schoolcraft College, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Schoolcraft College is $7,455 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Gateway Technical College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Gateway Technical College is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to qualified students.
Gateway Technical College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Gateway Technical College is $9,005 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Gateway Technical College
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Fox Valley Technical College is located in Appleton, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at FVTC, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for FVTC is $9,371 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Richland 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 Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Decatur, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.
Richland Community College also took the #22 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $3,900 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Richland Community College.
Full Richland Community College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report
Triton College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Triton College is located in River Grove, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $30-$48k list, Triton College has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,579 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Triton College.
Chippewa Valley Technical College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public institution located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 8 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
CVTC also took the #9 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CVTC is $9,051 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Chippewa Valley Technical College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report
Stark State College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in North Canton, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training students in 2019-2020.
Stark State College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Stark State College is $4,978 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Stark State College
National Louis University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. National Louis University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 45 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $30-$48k list, NLU has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for National Louis University is $14,403 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Mott Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Mott Community College is a public institution located in Flint, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Mott Community College is $7,332 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $30-$48k.
The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Mott Community College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report
Rend Lake College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Rend Lake College is a public institution located in Ina, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Rend Lake College is $5,283 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $30-$48k.
Lakeshore Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. Lakeshore Technical College is a small school located in Cleveland, Wisconsin that handed out 7 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $9,534 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend LTC.
Full Lakeshore Technical College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report
Narrow Results by Region
Southeast
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $30-$48k) in the Southeast Region
Rocky Mountains
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
Middle Atlantic
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region
Southwest
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region
New England
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $30-$48k) in the New England Region
Plains States
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Far Western US
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Great Lakes
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
Narrow Results by State
Indiana
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $30-$48k) in Indiana
Wisconsin
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $30-$48k) in Wisconsin
Illinois
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Similar Major
Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
Institutional Food Workers
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Institutional Food Workers (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Culinary Arts/Chef Training students in the Great Lakes Region
Most Focused Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training in the Great Lakes Region
Culinary Arts/Chef Training students in the Great Lakes Region
Most Popular Associate Degree Online Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools
Culinary Arts/Chef Training students in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Culinary Arts/Chef Training students with family income less than $30k in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
Culinary Arts/Chef Training students with family income $48-$75k in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income Over $110k) in the Great Lakes Region
Culinary Arts/Chef Training students with family income exceeding $110k in the Great Lakes Region
Highest Paid Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training Graduates in the Great Lakes Region
Culinary Arts/Chef Training students in the Great Lakes Region
Most Popular Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training in the Great Lakes Region
Culinary Arts/Chef Training students in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
Culinary Arts/Chef Training students getting aid in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
Culinary Arts/Chef Training students with family income $30-$48k in the Great Lakes Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region
Culinary Arts/Chef Training students with family income $75-$110k in the Great Lakes Region
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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to U.S. Army Europe Images.
Featured Culinary Arts Schools
Request Info |
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |