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2026 Best Culinary Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Culinary Arts bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 550 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Trade College reviewed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Culinary Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than Culinary Institute Of America this year in the United States. Set in Hyde Park, NY, Culinary Institute Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,670. Typical Culinary Arts student debt is $19,500. Read more about Culinary Institute Of America
A rank of #2 makes National Louis University one of the top choices in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. Roughly 30% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. National Louis University Culinary Arts students take on a median of $17,500 in debt. More on National Louis University
The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College came in at #3 on this year's Culinary Arts ranking in the United States. The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College is a private for-profit school based in Philadelphia, PA. In-state tuition and fees average $29,499. Graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Read more about The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College
You'll be in good company at Pennsylvania College Of Technology, which ranked #4 this year. Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a public school based in Williamsport, PA. Pennsylvania College Of Technology graduates 45% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,940, compared with $25,680 for out-of-state students. Typical Culinary Arts student debt is $16,000. Read more about Pennsylvania College Of Technology
Johnson And Wales University Providence ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Providence, RI. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,982. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $20,873. Read more about Johnson And Wales University Providence
Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science did well this year, earning the #7 position. Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science is a private not-for-profit school based in Paul Smiths, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. In-state tuition and fees average $33,009. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Located in Delhi, NY, Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. Students from in state pay about $8,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,762 for out-of-state students. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $20,303. Get the full Suny College Of Technology At Delhi report
Nicholls State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. This public school is set in Thibodaux, LA. Nicholls State University graduates 54% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,149, with out-of-state students paying around $9,242. Nicholls State University Culinary Arts students take on a median of $26,063 in debt. More on Nicholls State University
Universidad Del Este ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Based in Carolina, PR, Universidad Del Este is a private not-for-profit institution. Universidad Del Este graduates 32% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $7,750 in tuition and fees. Typical Culinary Arts student debt is $10,988. See the full Universidad Del Este profile
Berkshire Community College landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Berkshire Community College
Ecpi University
Ecpi University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Ecpi University
Gateway Community College Central City ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Get the full Gateway Community College Central City report
Truckee Meadows Community College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Get the full Truckee Meadows Community College report
Charlotte Technical College landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Charlotte Technical College
Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. See the full Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus profile
Lindsey Hopkins Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Read the full report on Lindsey Hopkins Technical College
Niagara County Community College placed #17 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. More on Niagara County Community College
Cornell University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. More on Cornell University
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Read the full report on Keiser University Ft Lauderdale
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
Southwest Minnesota State University did well this year, earning the #21 position. See the full Southwest Minnesota State University profile
Spokane Community College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full Spokane Community College report
Trident Technical College placed #23 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Trident Technical College
Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Chippewa Valley Technical College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Culinary Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Somerset County Technology Center placed #26 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Somerset County Technology Center
Eastwick College Hackensack came in at #27 in this year's ranking. More on Eastwick College Hackensack
El Centro College came in at #28 in this year's ranking. Read more about El Centro College
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. More on Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla
Mountwest Community And Technical College came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Read more about Mountwest Community And Technical College
Hacienda La Puente Adult Education landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. See the full Hacienda La Puente Adult Education profile
Copiah Lincoln Community College landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Copiah Lincoln Community College report
Finger Lakes Community College did well this year, earning the #33 position. More on Finger Lakes Community College
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Ocean County Vocational Technical School landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. More on Ocean County Vocational Technical School
Central Carolina Community College did well this year, earning the #36 position. More on Central Carolina Community College
Ozarka College
Ozarka College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. More on Ozarka College
Tulsa Technology Center placed #38 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. See the full Tulsa Technology Center profile
Sullivan County Community College placed #39 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. See the full Sullivan County Community College profile
Cumberland County College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. See the full Cumberland County College profile
Northern Essex Community College came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Get the full Northern Essex Community College report
Cet San Jose
Cet San Jose came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Cet San Jose
Fayetteville Technical Community College did well this year, earning the #43 position. Read the full report on Fayetteville Technical Community College
Clover Park Technical College placed #44 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Clover Park Technical College report
Mississippi State University did well this year, earning the #45 position. See the full Mississippi State University profile
Texarkana College landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Texarkana College report
Jna Institute Of Culinary Arts did well this year, earning the #47 position. See the full Jna Institute Of Culinary Arts profile
Savannah Technical College placed #48 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Read more about Savannah Technical College
Community College Of Philadelphia landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Community College Of Philadelphia report
Anne Arundel Community College did well this year, earning the #50 position. More on Anne Arundel Community College
Related Culinary Arts Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Culinary Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best Culinary Arts Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Culinary Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Culinary Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Culinary Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Culinary Arts Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Culinary Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 550 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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