by our College Data Analytics Team
[Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 70 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for culinary arts students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the culinary arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Moraine Valley Community College earned the #1 spot for value among culinary arts schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $11,149. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $43,844. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lake Land College earned it the #2 place for culinary arts. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, with out-of-state students paying around $14,301. Students borrow a median of $5,163 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Lake Land College generally make around $14,366. Set against $5,163 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $14,636 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $39,394 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,636 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Kalamazoo Valley Community College one of the best values for culinary arts. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,144, compared with $9,094 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $14,382 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $26,843. That is a strong return on a $14,382 median debt.
Henry Ford Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,144 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $36,247. Set against $19,144 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Triton College landed the #6 spot for culinary arts value this year. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,070, compared with $15,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $12,994. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $43,278. That is a strong return on a $12,994 median debt.
Northwestern Michigan College earned the #7 position for value in culinary arts this year. Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Traverse City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,860, with out-of-state students paying around $13,476. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $14,199. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $26,586. That is a strong return on a $14,199 median debt.
Oakland Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $5,560. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $15,865. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $43,205. That is a strong return on a $15,865 median debt.
Richland Community College earned the #9 position for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Decatur, Richland Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,680, with out-of-state students paying around $17,070. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $9,562. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Richland Community College generally make around $46,233. That is a strong return on a $9,562 median debt.
Lincoln Land Community College landed the #10 spot for culinary arts value this year. Lincoln Land Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $3,744, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $11,272 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $43,834. That is a strong return on a $11,272 median debt.
Schoolcraft College placed #11 among the best values for culinary arts. Set in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,799, while out-of-state students pay about $6,501. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of Schoolcraft College earn a median of $27,248 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Joliet Junior College placed #12 among the best values for culinary arts. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,375 to complete the culinary arts program here. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $28,252. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College came in at #13 for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College came in at #14 for value in culinary arts this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $7,986. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College generally make around $19,447. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $12,492. Culinary Arts graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $26,952 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sinclair Community College came in at #16 for value in culinary arts this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $15,834. Culinary Arts graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $28,037 early in their careers. Set against $15,834 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Macomb Community College came in at #17 for value in culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $20,701. That is a strong return on a $9,862 median debt.
College Of Lake County placed #18 among the best values for culinary arts. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. That is a strong return on a $9,785 median debt.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College came in at #19 for value in culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,517, while out-of-state students pay about $10,044. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $12,145 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College generally make around $36,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #20 position for value in culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $11,889. Culinary Arts graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,889 median debt.
Kaskaskia College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, compared with $12,570 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $7,875. Culinary Arts graduates of Kaskaskia College earn a median of $45,658 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mott Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Mott Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. Students from in state pay about $6,845 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $20,645 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $37,989. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stark State College earned the #23 position for value in culinary arts this year. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,790, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $17,349. Culinary Arts graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.
Columbus State Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,488, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete the culinary arts program here. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
Lakeshore Technical College placed #25 among the best values for culinary arts. Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $11,582. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $41,252. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s culinary arts value ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 70 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.