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Best Culinary Arts Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools

2023 Best Culinary Arts Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools

122 Colleges
$20,089 Avg Salary
$10,217 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Culinary Arts Undergraduate Certificate School for You

In 2021-2022, 22,075 people earned a degree or certificate in culinary arts, making the major the #11 most popular in the United States.

There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Culinary Arts Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 122 schools in the United States to see which undergraduate certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Culinary Arts Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the United States

Check out the culinary arts undergraduate certificate programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 15% Best Culinary Arts Undergraduate Certificate Schools

#1

Arizona Culinary Institute

Scottsdale, AZ

Our analysis found Arizona Culinary Institute to be the best school for culinary arts students who want to pursue a undergraduate certificate in the United States. Located in the medium-sized city of Scottsdale, Arizona Culinary Institute is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, culinary arts graduates from Arizona Culinary Institute carry an average student debtload of $7,868. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $213.

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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder is a great place for culinary arts students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the medium-sized city of Boulder, Escoffier - Boulder is a private for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

On average, culinary arts graduates from Escoffier - Boulder take out $8,986 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $87, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Lincoln Technical Institute - Shelton. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Culinary Arts Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Shelton, Lincoln Tech - Shelton is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Culinary Arts majors at Lincoln Tech - Shelton take out an average of $12,507 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $94.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Culinary Arts Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools list. IUP is a moderately-sized public school located in the distant town of Indiana.

Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $323.

Full Culinary Arts at Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus Report

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Out of the 122 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Culinary Institute of America landed the # 5 spot on the list. The Culinary Institute of America is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Hyde Park.

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With a ranking of #6, International Air and Hospitality Academy did quite well on this year’s best schools for culinary arts students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the medium-sized city of Vancouver, International Air and Hospitality Academy is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Culinary Arts majors at International Air and Hospitality Academy take out an average of $7,699 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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Madison Area Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for culinary arts students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the city of Madison, Madison College is a public college with a large student population.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, culinary arts graduates from Madison College carry an average student debtload of $12,047.

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#8

Saint Paul College

Saint Paul, MN

Saint Paul College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate culinary arts programs. Saint Paul College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, culinary arts graduates from Saint Paul College carry an average student debtload of $8,369.

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University of Hawaii Maui College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for culinary arts students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the small city of Kahului, UH Maui College is a public college with a small student population.

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Des Moines Area Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate culinary arts programs. Located in the large suburb of Ankeny, DMACC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

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#11

Grand Rapids Community College

Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids Community College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate culinary arts programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that culinary arts majors at Grand Rapids Community College take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $10,832.

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#12

El Centro College

Dallas, TX

El Centro College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Culinary Arts Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Dallas, El Centro College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that culinary arts majors at El Centro College take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $9,389.

Full Culinary Arts at El Centro College Report

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#13

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS

Johnson County Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Culinary Arts Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Overland Park, JCCC is a public school with a large student population.

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Waukesha County Technical College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Culinary Arts Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, WCTC is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

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With a ranking of #15, Clover Park Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for culinary arts students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the small city of Lakewood, CPTC is a public college with a small student population.

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#16

Culinary Institute Inc

Houston, TX

Culinary Institute Inc landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate culinary arts programs. Culinary Institute LeNotre is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Houston.

The average amount in student loans that culinary arts majors at Culinary Institute LeNotre take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $11,463.

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Tulsa Technology Center did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for culinary arts students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #17 on the list. Tulsa Tech is a small public school located in the large city of Tulsa.

Full Culinary Arts at Tulsa Technology Center Report

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#18

Davis Technical College

Kaysville, UT

Davis Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for culinary arts students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #18 on the list. Davis Tech is a small public school located in the suburb of Kaysville.

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Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Culinary Arts Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools award.

Rank College Location
19 Cerritos College Norwalk, CA
20 Atlantic Technical College Coconut Creek, FL
21 Dorsey College Roseville Campus (Culinary) Roseville, MI
22 Kansas City Kansas Community College Kansas City, KS
23 Lake Technical College Eustis, FL
24 First Coast Technical College Saint Augustine, FL

Culinary Arts by Region

View the Best Culinary Arts Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

One of 4 majors within the trade school area of study, culinary arts has other similar majors worth exploring.

Culinary Arts Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Culinary Arts/Chef Training 10,546
Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef 5,029
General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts 3,303
Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager 1,394
Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant 786
Other Culinary Arts & Related Services 335
Institutional Food Workers 204
Culinary Science/Culinology 203
Bartending/Bartender 157
Food Service, Waiter/Waitress, & Dining Room Management/Manager 82
Meat Cutting/Meat Cutter 28
Wine Steward/Sommelier 8

Related Major Annual Graduates
Cosmetology 124,611
Funeral & Mortuary Science 2,186
Casino Operations and Services 385
Other Personal & Culinary Services 95

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to U.S. Army Europe Images.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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