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2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

39 Ranked Colleges
814 Degrees Awarded
$5,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Culinary Arts 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 Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Culinary Arts is the 80th most popular major in the country with 21,906 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, culinary arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $23,822 and had an average of $19,004 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,698 culinary arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $24,767 and $19,400 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 814 culinary arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,508 and $17,812 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 39 colleges that offer a degree in culinary arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great culinary arts programs and 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 program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Culinary Arts Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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 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 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 students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Moraine Valley Community College

Palos Hills, Illinois

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Moraine Valley Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. MVCC is located in Palos Hills, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 associates’s culinary arts degrees to qualified students.

MVCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $1,513 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Moraine Valley Community College.

Full Moraine Valley Community College Culinary Arts Report

#2

Elgin Community College

Elgin, Illinois

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Culinary Arts 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 #2 spot on the list. ECC is a medium-sized school located in Elgin, Illinois that handed out 18 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

ECC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Culinary Arts 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 students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full ECC Culinary Arts Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 49 associates’s culinary arts degrees to qualified students.

Cincinnati State also took the #3 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cincinnati State is $4,292 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

#4

Madison Area Technical College

Madison, Wisconsin

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Madison Area Technical College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Madison Area Technical College is a fairly large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 15 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Madison College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,584 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Madison Area Technical College.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Madison Area Technical College

#5

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Joliet Junior College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Joliet, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts degrees to 58 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, Joliet Junior College has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts 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 students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Joliet Junior College

#6

Oakland Community College

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Oakland Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Oakland Community College is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 associates’s culinary arts degrees to qualified students.

Oakland Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland Community College is $1,614 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Oakland Community College

#7

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois

With a ranking of #7, College of Lake County did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Grayslake, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 20 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at College of Lake County, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for College of Lake County is $4,136 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full College of Lake County Culinary Arts Report

Cuyahoga Community College District ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large public school awarded 23 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cuyahoga Community College District, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cuyahoga Community College District is $4,996 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Cuyahoga Community College District

Waukesha County Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. This medium-sized school is located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 21 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, WCTC has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WCTC is $8,190 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Waukesha County Technical College Culinary Arts Report

#10

Henry Ford College

Dearborn, Michigan

Henry Ford College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Henry Ford College is a fairly large school located in Dearborn, Michigan that handed out 9 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Henry Ford College is $3,039 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Henry Ford College

#11

Washtenaw Community College

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Washtenaw Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Washtenaw Community College is a fairly large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 25 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Washtenaw Community College is $1,562 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Washtenaw Community College

#12

Northwestern Michigan College

Traverse City, Michigan

Northwestern Michigan College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. NMC is a small public school situated in Traverse City, Michigan. It awarded 14 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, NMC has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NMC is $8,547 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Northwestern Michigan College

#13

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Area Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. MATC is a fairly large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 29 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

MATC also took the #8 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MATC is $8,353 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at MATC

#5 in overall quality

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a small public school situated in Fennimore, Wisconsin. It awarded 6 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Southwest Tech also made our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Southwest Tech is $9,037 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Southwest Tech Culinary Arts Report

#15

Southwestern Illinois College

Belleville, Illinois

Southwestern Illinois College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. SWIC is a medium-sized school located in Belleville, Illinois that handed out 10 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

SWIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SWIC is $6,762 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Southwestern Illinois College

With a ranking of #16, City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 16 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Kennedy-King College is $5,764 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Kennedy-King College

#17

Grand Rapids Community College

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Grand Rapids Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Grand Rapids Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 22 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, Grand Rapids Community College has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Rapids Community College is $7,267 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Grand Rapids Community College Culinary Arts Report

Sinclair Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 15 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,113 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Sinclair Community College.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Sinclair Community College

#19

Blackhawk Technical College

Janesville, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #19, Blackhawk Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. BTC is a public institution located in Janesville, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

BTC also made our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $8,198 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Blackhawk Technical College.

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.

Full BTC Culinary Arts Report

#20

Western Technical College

La Crosse, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #20, Western Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this small public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.

Western Technical College also made our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $7,938 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Western Technical College.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Western Technical College Culinary Arts Report

#21

Schoolcraft College

Livonia, Michigan

Schoolcraft College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. This medium-sized school is located in Livonia, Michigan, and it awarded 16 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Schoolcraft College also took the #21 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts 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 students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Schoolcraft College

#22

Gateway Technical College

Kenosha, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #22, Gateway Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Gateway Technical College is a medium-sized school located in Kenosha, Wisconsin that handed out 11 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Gateway Technical College also made our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for Gateway Technical College is $9,005 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Gateway Technical College Culinary Arts Report

#23

Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, Wisconsin

Fox Valley Technical College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Fox Valley Technical College is a fairly large school located in Appleton, Wisconsin that handed out 19 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

FVTC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for FVTC is $9,371 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at FVTC

#24

Richland Community College

Decatur, Illinois

With a ranking of #24, Richland Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Decatur, Illinois, this small public school awarded 13 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,900 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Richland Community College.

Full Richland Community College Culinary Arts Report

#25

Triton College

River Grove, Illinois

Triton College landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Triton College is a public institution located in River Grove, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Triton College is $4,579 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Triton College

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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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