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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong culinary arts education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 29 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for culinary arts students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in culinary arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
El Centro College tops our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools in Texas. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $9,218. Culinary Arts graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $31,127 early in their careers. Set against $9,218 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Mainland earned it the #2 place for culinary arts. Located in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,310, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $10,928. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from College Of The Mainland generally make around $40,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes South Texas College one of the best values for culinary arts. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $24,084. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lamar State College Port Arthur earned it the #4 place for culinary arts. Lamar State College Port Arthur is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Port Arthur. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,770, while out-of-state students pay about $8,070. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $33,385. Culinary Arts graduates of Lamar State College Port Arthur earn a median of $78,580 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $33,385 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Tarrant County College District one of the best values for culinary arts. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. Students from in state pay about $1,863 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Students borrow a median of $15,148 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. Set against $15,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
Del Mar College came in at #7 for value in culinary arts this year. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,500, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $7,476. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $40,661. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Philips College came in at #8 for value in culinary arts this year. St Philips College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,653 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of St Philips College earn a median of $45,185 early in their careers. Set against $15,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College landed the #10 spot for culinary arts value this year. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $26,217 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $26,419 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grayson College came in at #11 for value in culinary arts this year. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,000, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $11,627 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $42,487. Set against $11,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Laredo Community College placed #12 among the best values for culinary arts. Set in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, compared with $5,748 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Laredo Community College generally make around $41,354. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Odessa College placed #13 among the best values for culinary arts. Odessa College is a large public school located in the city of Odessa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,688, with out-of-state students paying around $4,926. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $9,087. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $47,856. That is a strong return on a $9,087 median debt.
Lee College came in at #14 for value in culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,520, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Lee College earn a median of $53,448 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Plains College placed #15 among the best values for culinary arts. Set in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,733, with out-of-state students paying around $5,157. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $13,788 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of South Plains College earn a median of $30,949 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Alvin Community College landed the #16 spot for culinary arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,906, while out-of-state students pay about $4,402. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $8,600 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $55,057. Set against $8,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Galveston College landed the #17 spot for culinary arts value this year. Located in the city of Galveston, Galveston College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,726, compared with $6,176 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,183 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Galveston College generally make around $51,165. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texarkana College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Texarkana, Texarkana College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,476 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,332. Students borrow a median of $11,686 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Texarkana College earn a median of $19,284 early in their careers. Set against $11,686 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Collin County Community College District came in at #19 for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,014, compared with $6,064 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $9,716 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Collin County Community College District generally make around $42,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tyler Junior College landed the #20 spot for culinary arts value this year. Located in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, while out-of-state students pay about $4,536. Students borrow a median of $14,869 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Tyler Junior College generally make around $43,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Jacinto Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $11,376 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $38,107. Set against $11,376 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texas State Technical College came in at #22 for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Waco, Texas State Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,212, with out-of-state students paying around $11,812. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $10,861 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $24,036. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar Institute Of Technology landed the #23 spot for culinary arts value this year. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,844, while out-of-state students pay about $12,924. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $14,278. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Lamar Institute Of Technology generally make around $50,068. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwest University At El Paso ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Southwest University At El Paso is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of El Paso. Students from in state pay about $16,000 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $34,055. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $42,219. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Austin landed the #25 spot for culinary arts value this year. Located in the city of Austin, Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Austin is a small private for-profit university. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $16,491 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Austin generally make around $25,743. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in culinary arts:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 29 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.