by our College Data Analytics Team
[Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value culinary arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in culinary arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Ozarka College, our #1 best value for culinary arts in Arkansas. Set in the rural area of Melbourne, Ozarka College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,820, while out-of-state students pay about $6,820. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $11,778. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $48,116. Set against $11,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts will find it at Northwest Arkansas Community College, which ranked #2. Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bentonville. Students from in state pay about $3,342 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,238. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Northwest Arkansas Community College generally make around $26,011. That is a strong return on a $12,500 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Arkansas State University Newport one of the best values for culinary arts. Set in the rural area of Newport, Arkansas State University Newport is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,312 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,752 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $10,925. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Arkansas State University Newport generally make around $44,500. That is a strong return on a $10,925 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Arkansas Tech University one of the best values for culinary arts. Located in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,674 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $23,257. Culinary Arts graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of $45,115 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,257 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pulaski Technical College earned it the #5 place for culinary arts. Located in the city of North Little Rock, Pulaski Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,300, with out-of-state students paying around $9,450. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $19,250. Culinary Arts graduates of Pulaski Technical College earn a median of $25,597 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,250 median debt.
This list is compiled 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.