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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 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.
Wichita Area Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among culinary arts schools in Kansas. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,237. Students borrow a median of $11,828 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Wichita Area Technical College earn a median of $35,358 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,828 median debt.
Johnson County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $13,532. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $38,977. Set against $13,532 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kansas City Kansas Community College earned it the #3 place for culinary arts. Located in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,996, while out-of-state students pay about $6,482. Students borrow a median of $13,129 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Kansas City Kansas Community College earn a median of $43,216 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The ranking above is published 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.