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2025 Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa

3 Colleges in Iowa
79 Associate Degrees
$24,122 Avg Early-Career Salary
Ranked #23 in popularity, culinary arts is one of the most sought-after associate degree programs in the nation. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.

In 2025, College Factual analyzed 3 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 79 associate degrees in culinary arts during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Culinary Arts School for Your Associate Degree

Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa The culinary arts associate degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.

A Great Overall School

The overall quality of a associate degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Early-Career Earnings

Average early-career salary of those graduating with their associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their associate degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for culinary arts students working on their associate degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Culinary Arts Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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 the Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in Iowa.

Best Schools for Associate Students to Study Culinary Arts in Iowa

Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for culinary arts students seeking a an associate degree.

Top Iowa Schools for an Associate in Culinary Arts

1

Des Moines Area Community College is a wonderful choice for individuals pursuing an associate degree in culinary arts. Located in the large suburb of Ankeny, DMACC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Associate recipients from the culinary arts program at Des Moines Area Community College make $2,791 above the average college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a associate in culinary arts from Des Moines Area Community College

2
Kirkwood Community College crest
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IA

Kirkwood Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting an associate degree in culinary arts. Located in the midsize city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Students who graduate with their associate from the culinary arts program state that they receive average early career income of $21,391.

More information about a associate in culinary arts from Kirkwood Community College

3

It is hard to beat Western Iowa Tech Community College if you want to pursue an associate degree in culinary arts. Located in the small city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Associate students who receive their degree from the culinary arts program make an average of $24,061 in their early career salary.

More information about a associate in culinary arts from Western Iowa Tech Community College

Best Culinary Arts Colleges in the Plains States Region

Explore all the Best Culinary Arts Colleges in the Plains States Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Minnesota 151 37
Kansas 146 39
Missouri 117 64
Nebraska 98 66
South Dakota 93 2
North Dakota 92 4

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Culinary Arts is one of 4 different types of Personal & Culinary Services programs to choose from.

Culinary Arts Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Culinary Arts/Chef Training 74
General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts 4
Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef 1

Majors Similar to Culinary Arts

Related Major Annual Graduates
Funeral & Mortuary Science 21
Cosmetology 6

Notes and References

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