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2023 Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree 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.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. This report analyzed 147 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value associate degree programs for culinary arts students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Top 15% Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools
Our analysis found Johnson County Community College to be the best value school for culinary arts students who want to pursue a associate degree in the United States. Located in the city of Overland Park, JCCC is a public college with a large student population.
JCCC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,472 in tuition and fees each year.
In addition to its great value ranking, JCCC is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools list.
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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Chippewa Valley Technical College is a great value for culinary arts students working on their associate degree. Located in the small city of Eau Claire, CVTC is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at CVTC are $6,793 a year.
CVTC also claimed a spot on our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
Full Culinary Arts at Chippewa Valley Technical College Report
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Out of the 147 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Saint Paul College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Saint Paul College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul.
Saint Paul College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,318 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that culinary arts majors at Saint Paul College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $11,696.
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Out of the 147 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Southeast Community College Area landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southeast Community College are $3,864 per year. On average, culinary arts graduates from Southeast Community College take out $14,745 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Southeast Community College also is in the top 15% of our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking.
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The excellent associate degree programs at Clover Park Technical College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value culinary arts schools in the United States. Located in the small city of Lakewood, CPTC is a public school with a small student population.
CPTC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,979 in tuition and fees each year.
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Lee College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Lee College are $4,302 a year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Lee College is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools list.
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With a ranking of #7, El Centro College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for culinary arts students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a public college with a very large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at El Centro College are $6,000 a year. Culinary Arts majors at El Centro College take out an average of $9,985 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
In addition to its great value ranking, El Centro College is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools list.
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Madison Area Technical College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Madison, Madison College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Madison College are $6,812 per year. On average, culinary arts graduates from Madison College take out $12,211 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
In addition to its great value ranking, Madison College is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools list.
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Waukesha County Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for culinary arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, WCTC is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCTC are $6,722 per year. After completing their Associate Degree, culinary arts graduates from WCTC carry an average student debtload of $20,902.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, WCTC also is in the top 15% of our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking.
Full Culinary Arts at Waukesha County Technical College Report
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Gwinnett Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for culinary arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, GTC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at GTC are $5,686 a year.
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With a ranking of #11, Athens Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for culinary arts students working on their associate degree. Athens Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Athens.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Athens Technical College are $5,462 per year.
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University of Hawaii Maui College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree culinary arts programs. Located in the small city of Kahului, UH Maui College is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UH Maui College are $8,420 per year.
UH Maui College also claimed a spot on our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
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Delgado Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of New Orleans, Delgado Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Delgado Community College are $4,679 per year. On average, culinary arts graduates from Delgado Community College take out $24,673 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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With a ranking of #14, Oakland Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for culinary arts students working on their associate degree. Located in the large suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Oakland Community College are $5,400 a year.
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Gateway Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for culinary arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #15 on the list. Gateway Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Kenosha.
Gateway Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,917 in tuition and fees each year.
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Fox Valley Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for culinary arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #16 on the list. FVTC is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at FVTC are $6,977 a year.
FVTC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools list.
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With a ranking of #17, Schoolcraft College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for culinary arts students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Schoolcraft College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,652 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Associate Degree, culinary arts majors at Schoolcraft College accumulate an average of around $14,643 in student debt.
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South Plains College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
South Plains College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,857 in tuition and fees each year.
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Georgia Northwestern Technical College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rome.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Georgia Northwestern Technical College are $5,512 per year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools list.
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Cerritos College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cerritos College are $10,324 a year.
Cerritos College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools list.
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Wiregrass Georgia Technical College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a small public school located in the small suburb of Valdosta.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College are $5,562 a year.
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Kapiolani Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Honolulu, Kapiolani CC is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Kapiolani CC are $8,420 per year. While working on their Associate Degree, culinary arts majors at Kapiolani CC accumulate an average of around $11,265 in student debt.
In addition to its great value ranking, Kapiolani CC is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools list.
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These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Southern Maine Community College | South Portland, ME |
| 24 | Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids, IA |
| 25 | Grayson College | Denison, TX |
| 26 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | Cincinnati, OH |
| 27 | San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena, TX |
| 28 | Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee, WI |
| 29 | Ogeechee Technical College | Statesboro, GA |
Culinary Arts by Region
View the Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree 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 |
Culinary Arts Related Majors for Culinary Arts
One of 4 majors within the trade school area of study, culinary arts has other similar majors worth exploring.
Culinary Arts Focus Areas
Most Popular Majors Related to Culinary Arts
| 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.
- 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.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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