2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2019-2020, 21,906 people earned their degree in culinary arts, making the major the 80th most popular in the United States. 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.
At the associate degree level specifically, there were 7,304 culinary arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,082 and $17,678 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking analyzed 211 colleges that offered a degree in culinary arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent culinary arts programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the culinary arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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More Ways to Rank Culinary Arts Schools
The culinary arts 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 Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k”.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts (Income $75-$110k)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Valencia College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k. This large school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 102 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Valencia College also took the #3 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Valencia College is $8,976 for associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $75-$110k.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Georgia Technical College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k. Located in Americus, Georgia, this small public school awarded 16 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.
Read more about Culinary Arts at South Georgia Technical College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Kapiolani Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k list. Kapiolani Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Honolulu, Hawaii. It awarded 61 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Kapiolani CC also made our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Kapiolani CC is $9,998 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $75-$110k.
Read full report on Culinary Arts at Kapiolani Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Elgin Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k. This medium-sized school is located in Elgin, Illinois, and it awarded 18 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
ECC also claimed a top spot on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. It costs about $7,348 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend ECC.
Read full report on Culinary Arts at Elgin Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Florida State College at Jacksonville. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k. Florida State College at Jacksonville is located in Jacksonville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 associates’s culinary arts degrees to qualified students.
FSCJ also made our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #23. The estimated yearly cost for Florida State College at Jacksonville is $8,713 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $75-$110k.
Read full report on Culinary Arts at Florida State College at Jacksonville
Joliet Junior College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Joliet, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 58 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $75-$110k list, Joliet Junior College has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking.
Niagara County Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Niagara County Community College is a small public school situated in Sanborn, New York. It awarded 82 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Niagara County Community College, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Niagara County Community College is $9,531 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $75-$110k.
Read full report on Culinary Arts at Niagara County Community College
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Central Piedmont Community College is a public institution located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 32 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $8,682 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Central Piedmont Community College.
Full Central Piedmont Community College Culinary Arts Report
Madison Area Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k 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 also took the #2 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Madison College is $12,959 for associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $75-$110k.
Manchester Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k list. Manchester, Connecticut is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.
MCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Manchester Community College is $8,882 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $75-$110k.
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this medium-sized public school handed out 49 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.
Cincinnati State also took the #12 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $9,670 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Cincinnati State.
Read full report on Culinary Arts at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
With a ranking of #12, Metropolitan Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school handed out 27 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, MCC also did well on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. It costs about $8,132 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Metropolitan Community College.
With a ranking of #13, Nassau Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Garden City, New York, this fairly large public school handed out 15 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.
Nassau Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $9,455 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Nassau Community College.
Miami Dade College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in Miami, Florida, this large public school awarded 33 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.
MDC excels when it comes to culinary arts quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Miami Dade College is $9,129 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $75-$110k.
Vance-Granville Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. This small school is located in Henderson, North Carolina, and it awarded 5 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
El Centro College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #16. El Centro College is a public institution located in Dallas, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 36 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, El Centro College also did well on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $9,474 for associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend El Centro College.
With a ranking of #17, Leeward Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k list. Leeward CC is a medium-sized school located in Pearl City, Hawaii that handed out 15 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Leeward CC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Leeward Community College is $10,549 for associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $75-$110k.
Ogeechee Technical College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k list. Ogeechee Technical College is a public institution located in Statesboro, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $4,607 for associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Ogeechee Technical College.
With a ranking of #19, Oakland Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k list. Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. It awarded 12 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Oakland Community College is $8,342 for associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $75-$110k.
With a ranking of #20, SUNY Schenectady County Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k list. SUNY Schenectady is a small school located in Schenectady, New York that handed out 46 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
SUNY Schenectady excels when it comes to culinary arts quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for SUNY Schenectady County Community College is $10,780 for associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $75-$110k.
Delaware Technical Community College - Terry did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #21. Delaware Tech is a public institution located in Dover, Delaware. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 27 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Delaware Tech is also in the top of our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Delaware Technical Community College - Terry is $10,692 for associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $75-$110k.
Cuyahoga Community College District did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #22. This fairly large school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 23 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Cuyahoga Community College District is $8,784 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $75-$110k.
Read more about Culinary Arts at Cuyahoga Community College District
NorthWest Arkansas Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #23. NWACC is located in Bentonville, Arkansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 associates’s culinary arts degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend NorthWest Arkansas Community College is $10,103 for associate degree culinary arts students whose families make $75-$110k.
Salt Lake Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Salt Lake Community College is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 associates’s culinary arts degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Salt Lake Community College is $10,126 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $75-$110k.
Moraine Valley Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. 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.
It costs about $9,395 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Moraine Valley Community College.
Rest of the Best 32 in Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate For Those Making $75-$110k
Not only did these schools make the top 32 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts (Income $75-$110k) in the Southeast Region
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Middle Atlantic
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts (Income $75-$110k) in the Middle Atlantic Region
Southwest
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts (Income $75-$110k) in the Southwest Region
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Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region
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General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts (Income $75-$110k)
Culinary Arts/Chef Training
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $75-$110k)
Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant (Income $75-$110k)
Institutional Food Workers
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Institutional Food Workers (Income $75-$110k)
Other Culinary Arts & Related Services
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Other Culinary Arts & Related Services (Income $75-$110k)
Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef (Income $75-$110k)
Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager (Income $75-$110k)
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Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Food Service, Waiter/Waitress, & Dining Room Management/Manager (Income $75-$110k)
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Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Wine Steward/Sommelier (Income $75-$110k)
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Culinary Arts students with family income $75-$110k
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.
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