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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong culinary arts education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for culinary arts students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the culinary arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Wilkes Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools in North Carolina. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,572, while out-of-state students pay about $8,716. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $9,125. Culinary Arts graduates of Wilkes Community College earn a median of $36,341 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,125 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts will find it at College Of The Albemarle, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Elizabeth City, College Of The Albemarle is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,242 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,652. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $10,240. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $50,506. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Piedmont Community College earned it the #3 place for culinary arts. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the culinary arts program here. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $27,127. That is a strong return on a $11,861 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts will find it at Fayetteville Technical Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $16,909. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $40,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts will find it at Sandhills Community College, which ranked #5. Sandhills Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Pinehurst. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,648 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $9,238. Culinary Arts graduates of Sandhills Community College earn a median of $46,492 early in their careers. Set against $9,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Carolina Community College earned the #6 position for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,711 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,855. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $10,266. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $38,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mitchell Community College landed the #7 spot for culinary arts value this year. Mitchell Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Statesville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,651, while out-of-state students pay about $8,795. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $6,313. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Mitchell Community College generally make around $40,450. That is a strong return on a $6,313 median debt.
Wake Technical Community College landed the #8 spot for culinary arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,254, while out-of-state students pay about $6,862. Students borrow a median of $13,226 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $38,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cape Fear Community College landed the #9 spot for culinary arts value this year. Located in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,748, while out-of-state students pay about $8,892. Students borrow a median of $12,388 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Cape Fear Community College earn a median of $42,889 early in their careers. Set against $12,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Carteret Community College came in at #10 for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the town of Morehead City, Carteret Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,310, compared with $8,222 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $5,566 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $48,953. Set against $5,566 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College came in at #11 for value in culinary arts this year. Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Asheville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,882, while out-of-state students pay about $9,026. Students borrow a median of $18,883 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College generally make around $32,602. That is a strong return on a $18,883 median debt.
Guilford Technical Community College earned the #12 position for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,320 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,696. Students borrow a median of $32,169 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Guilford Technical Community College generally make around $14,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Johnson And Wales University Charlotte ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Charlotte, Johnson And Wales University Charlotte is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,982. Students borrow a median of $20,873 to complete the culinary arts program here. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $30,145. Set against $20,873 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.