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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region

22 Ranked Colleges
585 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 10,007 people earned their degree in culinary arts/chef training, making the major the 135th most popular in the United States.

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.

For this year’s “Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 22 colleges that offer 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The culinary arts/chef training school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 22 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region

#1

El Centro College

Dallas, Texas
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, El Centro College landed the #1 spot on the list. Dallas, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

El Centro College also made our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for El Centro College is $6,881 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full El Centro College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#2

Lee College

Baytown, Texas
#11 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Lee College landed the #2 spot on the list. Baytown, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

Lee College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Lee College is $8,858 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Lee College

#3

St Philip's College

San Antonio, Texas
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend St Philip’s College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k. St Philip’s College is a fairly large public school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 15 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

St Philip’s College also made our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for St Philip’s College is $8,285 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full St Philip’s College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#4

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#12 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Central New Mexico Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Central New Mexico Community College 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CNM, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $5,676 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Central New Mexico Community College.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at CNM

#5

Houston Community College

Houston, Texas
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Houston Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Houston Community College is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 39 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to qualified students.

Houston Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $7,595 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Houston Community College.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Houston Community College

#3 in overall quality

Austin Community College District ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 9 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

Austin Community College District not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Austin Community College District is $8,877 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

#7

South Plains College

Levelland, Texas
#10 in overall quality

South Plains College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Levelland, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Plains College, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Plains College is $9,476 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full South Plains College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#9 in overall quality

Collin County Community College District came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in McKinney, Texas, this large public school awarded 2 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training students in 2019-2020.

Collin County Community College District also took the #9 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Collin County Community College District is $7,898 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Collin County Community College District

#9

El Paso Community College

El Paso, Texas
#13 in overall quality

El Paso Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. El Paso Community College is a public institution located in El Paso, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

El Paso Community College also made our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for El Paso Community College is $7,230 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at El Paso Community College

#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, San Jacinto Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. San Jacinto College is a large public school situated in Pasadena, Texas. It awarded 13 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jacinto College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for San Jacinto Community College is $9,788 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full San Jacinto College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#11

Tarrant County College District

Fort Worth, Texas
#15 in overall quality

Tarrant County College District ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Tarrant County College is located in Fort Worth, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to qualified students.

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 estimated yearly cost for Tarrant County College is $7,048 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Tarrant County College District

#12

Del Mar College

Corpus Christi, Texas
#14 in overall quality

Del Mar College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. DMC is a public institution located in Corpus Christi, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 associates’s 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 yearly cost to attend DMC is $7,568 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at DMC

#13

Odessa College

Odessa, Texas
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Odessa College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Odessa, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

Odessa College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Odessa College is $7,936 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Odessa College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#6 in overall quality

Texas State Technical College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Waco, Texas, this fairly large public school handed out 33 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training students in 2019-2020.

TSTC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas State Technical College is $12,576 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at TSTC

#15

Texarkana College

Texarkana, Texas
#18 in overall quality

Texarkana College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Texarkana, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to 10 students 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. It costs about $7,849 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Texarkana College.

Full Texarkana College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#16

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

Las Cruces, New Mexico
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, New Mexico State University - Dona Ana did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. New Mexico State University - Dona Ana is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NMSU Dona Ana, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for New Mexico State University - Dona Ana is $8,013 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at NMSU Dona Ana

#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Estrella Mountain Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Estrella Mountain Community College is located in Avondale, Arizona and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Estrella Mountain Community College, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Estrella Mountain Community College is $10,721 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Estrella Mountain Community College

#18

Northeast Texas Community College

Mount Pleasant, Texas
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Northeast Texas Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Mount Pleasant, Texas, and it awarded 6 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

NTCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northeast Texas Community College is $9,117 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Northeast Texas Community College

#1 in overall quality

The Art Institute of Houston landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Houston, Texas, this small private for-profit school awarded 33 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training 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 $24,954 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend The Art Institute of Houston.

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

#21 in overall quality

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Austin did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #20. Escoffier - Austin is a small school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 176 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

Escoffier - Austin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Austin is $17,222 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Escoffier - Austin

#21

The Art Institute of San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas
#22 in overall quality

The Art Institute of San Antonio landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 8 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

Ai San Antonio not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ai San Antonio is $23,791 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Ai San Antonio Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, The Art Institute of Austin did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 7 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

Ai Austin also made our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for Ai Austin is $26,275 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Ai Austin

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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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