2027 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools in the Southeast Region
[Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 112 schools to find the best return on investment for culinary arts students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the culinary arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Culinary Arts Schools
For return on investment in culinary arts, no school beat South Georgia Technical College this year. Set in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,202. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $10,423 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from South Georgia Technical College generally make around $40,497. Set against $10,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Trident Technical College one of the best values for culinary arts. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $15,000. Culinary Arts graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $50,166 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts will find it at Wilkes Community College, which ranked #3. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. Students from in state pay about $2,572 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Students borrow a median of $9,125 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Wilkes Community College earn a median of $36,341 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts will find it at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,480, compared with $6,048 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $10,864 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $40,452. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indian River State College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. Students from in state pay about $2,764 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $44,082. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Piedmont Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $27,127 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Atlanta Technical College landed the #7 spot for culinary arts value this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,382, compared with $5,950 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $17,655 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Atlanta Technical College generally make around $35,441. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pensacola State College came in at #8 for value in culinary arts this year. Pensacola State College is a large public school located in the city of Pensacola. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,361, while out-of-state students pay about $9,463. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the culinary arts program here. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $45,811. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
Spartanburg Community College placed #9 among the best values for culinary arts. Located in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,071, compared with $10,135 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,148 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Spartanburg Community College earn a median of $41,598 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,148 median debt.
Hillsborough Community College landed the #10 spot for culinary arts value this year. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,657 to complete the culinary arts program here. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $29,451. That is a strong return on a $19,657 median debt.
West Georgia Technical College came in at #11 for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,410, with out-of-state students paying around $5,978. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from West Georgia Technical College generally make around $39,922. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Fayetteville Technical Community College landed the #12 spot for culinary arts value this year. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,772. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $16,909. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Coahoma Community College came in at #13 for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the rural area of Clarksdale, Coahoma Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,490. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $11,745 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $29,600. Set against $11,745 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State College At Jacksonville earned the #14 position for value in culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $46,748 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Albemarle landed the #15 spot for culinary arts value this year. College Of The Albemarle is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Elizabeth City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,242, compared with $7,652 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $10,240 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from College Of The Albemarle generally make around $50,506. That is a strong return on a $10,240 median debt.
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earned the #16 position for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,068 to complete the culinary arts program here. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $42,892. That is a strong return on a $12,068 median debt.
Sandhills Community College landed the #17 spot for culinary arts value this year. Set in the rural area of Pinehurst, Sandhills Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $6,648. Students borrow a median of $9,238 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Sandhills Community College generally make around $46,492. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbus Technical College came in at #18 for value in culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,052, while out-of-state students pay about $7,262. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $15,845. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $37,936. Set against $15,845 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hinds Community College placed #19 among the best values for culinary arts. Located in the rural area of Raymond, Hinds Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,300. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $12,169. Culinary Arts graduates of Hinds Community College earn a median of $34,003 early in their careers. Set against $12,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Manatee Technical College earned the #20 position for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of Bradenton, Manatee Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $9,726. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Manatee Technical College generally make around $27,210. That is a strong return on a $9,726 median debt.
Miami Dade College placed #21 among the best values for culinary arts. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $10,882. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $31,101. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rappahannock Community College landed the #22 spot for culinary arts value this year. Set in the rural area of Glenns, Rappahannock Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,102, with out-of-state students paying around $11,540. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $8,997. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $43,398. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Horry Georgetown Technical College landed the #23 spot for culinary arts value this year. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Conway. In-state tuition and fees average $5,518, while out-of-state students pay about $10,978. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Horry Georgetown Technical College generally make around $24,466. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Georgia Technical College earned the #24 position for value in culinary arts this year. Set in the rural area of Clarkesville, North Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,330, compared with $5,898 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $12,279. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $17,383. Set against $12,279 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gulf Coast State College earned the #25 position for value in culinary arts this year. Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Panama City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,370, while out-of-state students pay about $8,635. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $8,286. Culinary Arts graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $49,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,286 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s culinary arts value ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 112 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 112 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
