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
Culinary Arts is the #11 most popular major in the country with 19,784 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
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.
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2023 Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the United States
Check out the culinary arts associate degree programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.
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.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at JCCC are $5,352 per year. Culinary Arts majors at JCCC take out an average of $13,463 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, JCCC also did well on our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Culinary Arts at Johnson County Community College Report
The excellent associate degree programs at Chippewa Valley Technical College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value culinary arts schools in the United States. Located in the city of Eau Claire, CVTC is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
CVTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,683 in tuition and fees each year.
CVTC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools list.
Full Culinary Arts at Chippewa Valley Technical College Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Paul College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools list. Saint Paul College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Saint Paul College are $6,041 a year. After completing their Associate Degree, culinary arts graduates from Saint Paul College carry an average student debtload of $20,167.
The excellent associate degree programs at Southeast Community College Area helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value culinary arts schools in the United States. 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 $3,780 per year. After completing their Associate Degree, culinary arts graduates from Southeast Community College carry an average student debtload of $18,731.
Southeast Community 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.
Full Culinary Arts at Southeast Community College Area Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Clover Park Technical College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the small city of Lakewood, CPTC is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at CPTC are $5,740 a year.
Read full report on Culinary Arts at Clover Park Technical College
Lee College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the small city of Baytown, Lee College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Lee College are $4,302 per 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.
El Centro College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of Dallas, El Centro College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at El Centro College are $6,000 a year. On average, culinary arts graduates from El Centro College take out $22,807 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
El Centro College 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.
Madison Area 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 #8 on the list. Located in the city of Madison, Madison College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Madison College are $6,769 a year. On average, culinary arts graduates from Madison College take out $17,638 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Madison College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools list.
With a ranking of #9, Waukesha County Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for culinary arts students working on their associate degree. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, WCTC is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
WCTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,603 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Associate Degree, culinary arts majors at WCTC accumulate an average of around $16,964 in student debt.
WCTC 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.
Gwinnett Technical College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree culinary arts programs. Located in the large suburb of Lawrenceville, GTC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at GTC are $5,636 per year.
Read full report on Culinary Arts at Gwinnett Technical College
Athens Technical College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. Athens Technical College is a small public school located in the medium-sized city of Athens.
Athens Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,462 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Culinary Arts at Athens Technical College
University of Hawaii Maui College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Kahului, UH Maui College is a public school with a small student population.
UH Maui College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,414 in tuition and fees each year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UH Maui College also is in the top 15% of our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking.
With a ranking of #13, Delgado 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 city of New Orleans, Delgado Community College is a public college with a large student population.
Delgado Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,079 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Associate Degree, culinary arts majors at Delgado Community College accumulate an average of around $22,042 in student debt.
Oakland Community 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 #14 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Bloomfield Hills, Oakland Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Oakland Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,200 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Culinary Arts at Oakland Community College
With a ranking of #15, Gateway Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for culinary arts students working on their associate degree. Gateway Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Kenosha.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Gateway Technical College are $6,803 a year.
Read full report on Culinary Arts at Gateway Technical College
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. FVTC is a large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Appleton.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FVTC are $6,861 per year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, FVTC also did well on our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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 small city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Schoolcraft College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,574 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that culinary arts majors at Schoolcraft College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $21,172.
South Plains College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at South Plains College are $4,276 a year.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree culinary arts programs. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Rome.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Georgia Northwestern Technical College are $5,462 per year.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College 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.
Full Culinary Arts at Georgia Northwestern Technical College Report
Cerritos College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a public school with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cerritos College are $10,026 a year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Cerritos College also is in the top 15% of our Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking.
Wiregrass Georgia 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 #21 on the list. 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 $5,552 a year.
Read full report on Culinary Arts at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
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 college with a medium-sized student population.
Kapiolani CC undergraduate students pay an average of $8,420 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Associate Degree, culinary arts graduates from Kapiolani CC carry an average student debtload of $11,867.
Kapiolani CC 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.
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 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 |
| Great Lakes |
More Culinary Arts Rankings
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 | 107,895 |
| Funeral & Mortuary Science | 2,354 |
| Casino Operations and Services | 192 |
| Other Personal & Culinary Services | 81 |
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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