by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2025, College Factual analyzed 28 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 1,462 associate degrees in culinary arts during the 2022-2023 academic year.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
Your choice of culinary arts for getting your associate degree school matters. Important measures of a quality culinary arts program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To take this into account we consider a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their associate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their associate degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for culinary arts students working on their associate degree.
The culinary arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region.
Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for culinary arts students seeking a an associate degree.
Sullivan University is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting an associate degree in culinary arts. Located in the city of Louisville, Sullivan University is a private for-profit university with a small student population.
Associate graduates who receive their degree from the culinary arts program earn an average of $24,292 in their early career salary.
More information about a associate in culinary arts from Sullivan University
Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte is a good choice for individuals interested in an associate degree in culinary arts. JWU Charlotte is a small private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Charlotte.
Associate recipients from the culinary arts major at Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte get $2,111 above the standard college graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a associate in culinary arts from Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte
It's difficult to beat Valencia College if you wish to pursue an associate degree in culinary arts. Valencia College is a fairly large public college located in the city of Orlando.
Associate graduates who receive their degree from the culinary arts program earn an average of $25,227 for their early career.
More information about a associate in culinary arts from Valencia College
ECPI University is a great decision for students pursuing an associate degree in culinary arts. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, ECPI University is a private for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Students who graduate with their associate from the culinary arts program report average early career wages of $23,320.
More information about a associate in culinary arts from ECPI University
Located in the midsize city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.
Associate recipients from the culinary arts program at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale earn $2,756 above the average graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a associate in culinary arts from Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale
Savannah Tech is a small public college located in the city of Savannah.More information about a associate in culinary arts from Savannah Technical College
FSCJ is a fairly large public college located in the city of Jacksonville.More information about a associate in culinary arts from Florida State College at Jacksonville
MDC is a very large public college located in the city of Miami.
Associate recipients from the culinary arts degree program at Miami Dade College get $5,698 above the standard college graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a associate in culinary arts from Miami Dade College
Wake Technical Community College is a very large public college located in the suburb of Raleigh.More information about a associate in culinary arts from Wake Technical Community College
A-B Tech is a moderately-sized public college located in the small city of Asheville.
Associate recipients from the culinary arts degree program at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College earn $7,199 more than the standard graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a associate in culinary arts from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeExplore the best culinary arts colleges for a specific state in the Southeast Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 143 | 89 |
| Georgia | 121 | 184 |
| Florida | 121 | 294 |
| North Carolina | 120 | 401 |
| Arkansas | 105 | 53 |
| Tennessee | 102 | 36 |
| Virginia | 97 | 250 |
| West Virginia | 92 | 33 |
| Kentucky | 90 | 109 |
| Louisiana | 80 | 90 |
| South Carolina | 77 | 85 |
| Alabama | 69 | 63 |
One of 4 majors within the Personal & Culinary Services area of study, Culinary Arts has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Funeral & Mortuary Science | 468 |
| Cosmetology | 460 |
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