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2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

28 Ranked Colleges
998 Degrees Awarded
$7,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 Southwest region, there were 2,671 culinary arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $23,641 and $21,214 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 998 culinary arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,605 and $16,886 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 28 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the culinary arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. 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 Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts in the Southwest Region (With Aid)

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Austin Community College District. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid. Austin Community College District is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 16 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid list, Austin Community College District has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Community College District is $6,861 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Austin Community College District

#2

El Centro College

Dallas, Texas

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, El Centro College landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Dallas, Texas, this large public school awarded 36 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.

El Centro College also made our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend El Centro College is $4,373 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Full El Centro College Culinary Arts Report

#3

Houston Community College

Houston, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Houston Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Houston, Texas, this large public school awarded 53 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.

Houston Community College also took the #8 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Houston Community College is $5,272 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Houston Community College

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology is a small school located in Okmulgee, Oklahoma that handed out 29 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

OSU Institute of Technology also made our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology is $6,500 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid.

Full OSU Institute of Technology Culinary Arts Report

#5

St Philip's College

San Antonio, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Philip’s College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. St Philip’s College is a fairly large public school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 38 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

St Philip’s College also took the #5 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $6,250 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid per year to attend St Philip’s College.

Read more about Culinary Arts at St Philip’s College

#6

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Central New Mexico Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this large public school awarded 27 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.

CNM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Central New Mexico Community College is $3,429 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Full CNM Culinary Arts Report

#7

South Plains College

Levelland, Texas
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, South Plains College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Levelland, Texas, and it awarded 12 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

South Plains College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend South Plains College is $7,600 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Full South Plains College Culinary Arts Report

#8

El Paso Community College

El Paso, Texas

El Paso Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. El Paso Community College is a public institution located in El Paso, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 40 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

El Paso Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend El Paso Community College is $4,594 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Full El Paso Community College Culinary Arts Report

Collin County Community College District landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. McKinney, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

Collin County Community College District did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Collin County Community College District is $6,293 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Full Collin County Community College District Culinary Arts Report

#10

Lee College

Baytown, Texas
#12 in overall quality

Lee College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Lee College is a medium-sized public school situated in Baytown, Texas. It awarded 21 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Lee College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Lee College is $7,732 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Lee College

#11

Grayson College

Denison, Texas
#14 in overall quality

Grayson College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Denison, Texas, and it awarded 6 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid list, Grayson College has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $7,877 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid per year to attend Grayson College.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Grayson College

#12

Tarrant County College District

Fort Worth, Texas

With a ranking of #12, Tarrant County College District did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, this large public school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.

Tarrant County College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Tarrant County College is $5,434 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Tarrant County College District

San Jacinto Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. San Jacinto College is a public institution located in Pasadena, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 26 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jacinto College also took the #6 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jacinto Community College is $8,692 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid.

Read more about Culinary Arts at San Jacinto Community College

#14

Del Mar College

Corpus Christi, Texas
#16 in overall quality

Del Mar College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and it awarded 8 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at DMC, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Del Mar College is $5,738 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Full Del Mar College Culinary Arts Report

#15

Pima Community College

Tucson, Arizona

Pima Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Tucson, Arizona, and it awarded 18 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Pima County Community College District also took the #22 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $3,583 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid per year to attend Pima County Community College District.

Full Pima County Community College District Culinary Arts Report

With a ranking of #16, Texas State Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. Texas State Technical College is a public institution located in Waco, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 33 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at TSTC, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas State Technical College is $10,114 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at TSTC

#17

Scottsdale Community College

Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Scottsdale Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Scottsdale, Arizona. It awarded 28 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Scottsdale Community College also made our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Scottsdale Community College is $10,397 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid.

Full Scottsdale Community College Culinary Arts Report

#18

Texarkana College

Texarkana, Texas
#20 in overall quality

Texarkana College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Texarkana College is a small school located in Texarkana, Texas that handed out 10 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Texarkana College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $6,394 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid per year to attend Texarkana College.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Texarkana College

#19

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

Las Cruces, New Mexico

With a ranking of #19, New Mexico State University - Dona Ana did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid list. NMSU 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 degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NMSU Dona Ana, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend New Mexico State University - Dona Ana is $5,539 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Full NMSU Dona Ana Culinary Arts Report

#20

Odessa College

Odessa, Texas
#18 in overall quality

Odessa College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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 #18 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Odessa College is $5,963 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Odessa College

Estrella Mountain Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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 degrees to qualified students.

Estrella Mountain Community College also made our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for Estrella Mountain Community College is $9,200 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Estrella Mountain Community College

#22

Northeast Texas Community College

Mount Pleasant, Texas
#23 in overall quality

Northeast Texas Community College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Mount Pleasant, Texas, this small public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NTCC, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northeast Texas Community College is $8,110 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Full NTCC Culinary Arts Report

#23

Mohave Community College

Kingman, Arizona

Mohave Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Kingman, Arizona is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid list, MCC has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mohave Community College is $8,986 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Mohave Community College

The Art Institute of Houston came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Houston, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s culinary arts degrees to 44 students in 2019-2020.

Ai Houston also took the #1 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $22,844 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts students with aid per year to attend Ai Houston.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at The Art Institute of Houston

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Austin landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Escoffier - Austin is a private for-profit institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 233 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Escoffier - Austin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Escoffier - Austin is $15,267 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - 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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