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2023 Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools
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 Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 426 schools in the United States to see which associate degree programs were the most popular for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Culinary Arts program at each school on the list.
2023 Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the United States
Check out the culinary arts associate degree programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.
Top 25 Most Popular Trade Schools for an Associate in Culinary Arts
Our 2023 rankings named Culinary Institute of America the most popular school in the United States for culinary arts students working on their associate degree. The Culinary Institute of America is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Hyde Park.
Of the 564 students majoring in culinary arts at The Culinary Institute of America, 53% are male and 47% are female.
The average amount in student loans that culinary arts majors at The Culinary Institute of America take out while working on their Associate Degree is $12,958. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $504, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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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 associate degree. Located in the city of Boulder, Escoffier - Boulder is a private for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
Women make up 62% of the culinary arts majors at the school.
After completing their Associate Degree, culinary arts graduates from Escoffier - Boulder carry an average student debt load of $15,323. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $224.
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Johnson & Wales University - Providence is a great place for culinary arts students working on their associate degree. JWU Providence is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Providence.
Women make up 70% of the culinary arts majors at the school.
While working on their Associate Degree, culinary arts majors at JWU Providence accumulate an average of around $16,236 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $348.
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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Austin is a great place for culinary arts students working on their associate degree. Located in the large city of Austin, Escoffier - Austin is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Of the 211 students majoring in culinary arts at Escoffier - Austin, 44% are male and 56% are female.
The average amount in student loans that culinary arts majors at Escoffier - Austin take out while working on their Associate Degree is $16,342. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $144.
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The in-demand associate degree programs at Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular culinary arts schools in the United States. Located in the large city of Charlotte, JWU Charlotte is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Women make up 76% of the culinary arts majors at the school.
Culinary Arts majors at JWU Charlotte take out an average of $16,236 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $348.
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ECPI University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools list. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, ECPI University is a private for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
About 58% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 42% are male.
The average amount in student loans that culinary arts majors at ECPI University take out while working on their Associate Degree is $16,992. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $151, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #7, Sullivan University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for culinary arts students working on their associate degree. Sullivan University is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Louisville.
About 58% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 42% are male.
While working on their Associate Degree, culinary arts majors at Sullivan University accumulate an average of around $14,715 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $320, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Miami Dade College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree culinary arts programs. Located in the large city of Miami, MDC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Of the 51 students majoring in culinary arts at MDC, 43% are male and 57% are female.
After completing their Associate Degree, culinary arts graduates from MDC carry an average student debt load of $15,167.
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Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking. Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Fort Lauderdale.
Women make up 54% of the culinary arts majors at the school.
On average, culinary arts graduates from Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale take out $20,082 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $271, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #10, The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for culinary arts students working on their associate degree. Located in the large city of Philadelphia, The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Women make up 66% of the culinary arts majors at the school.
After completing their Associate Degree, culinary arts graduates from The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College carry an average student debt load of $14,784. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $423, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Pikes Peak Community College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree culinary arts programs. PPCC is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Colorado Springs.
Of the 25 students majoring in culinary arts at PPCC, 28% are male and 72% are female.
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Culinary Institute Inc came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking. Culinary Institute LeNotre is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Houston.
Of the 68 students majoring in culinary arts at Culinary Institute LeNotre, 49% are male and 51% are female.
After completing their Associate Degree, culinary arts graduates from Culinary Institute LeNotre carry an average student debt load of $24,379. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $227.
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Valencia College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Orlando, Valencia College is a public school with a very large student population.
Of the 83 students majoring in culinary arts at Valencia College, 25% are male and 75% are female.
On average, culinary arts graduates from Valencia College take out $16,761 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Kapiolani Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree culinary arts programs. Located in the large city of Honolulu, Kapiolani CC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
About 67% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 33% are male.
After completing their Associate Degree, culinary arts graduates from Kapiolani CC carry an average student debt load of $11,265.
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Louisiana Culinary Institute ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools list. Located in the suburb of Baton Rouge, Louisiana Culinary Institute is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Women make up 48% of the culinary arts majors at the school.
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Niagara County Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking. Located in the rural area of Sanborn, Niagara County Community College is a public college with a small student population.
About 69% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 31% are male.
Culinary Arts majors at Niagara County Community College take out an average of $11,787 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree culinary arts programs. Kennedy-King College is a small public school located in the city of Chicago.
About 77% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 23% are male.
On average, culinary arts graduates from Kennedy-King College take out $8,350 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Helms College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for culinary arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Macon, Helms College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Of the 27 students majoring in culinary arts at Helms College, 41% are male and 59% are female.
While working on their Associate Degree, culinary arts majors at Helms College accumulate an average of around $18,351 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $120.
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College of Southern Nevada landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree culinary arts programs. Located in the large city of Las Vegas, CSN is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Of the 59 students majoring in culinary arts at CSN, 29% are male and 71% are female.
While working on their Associate Degree, culinary arts majors at CSN accumulate an average of around $13,419 in student debt.
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Houston Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for culinary arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #21 on the list. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston.
About 89% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 11% are male.
The average amount in student loans that culinary arts majors at Houston Community College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $19,775.
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National Louis University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for culinary arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in the large city of Chicago, NLU is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.
About 56% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 44% are male.
After completing their Associate Degree, culinary arts graduates from NLU carry an average student debt load of $13,165.
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Hinds Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking. Hinds Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the fringe town of Raymond.
About 69% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 31% are male.
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Baker College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking. Located in the town of Owosso, Baker College is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
About 67% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 33% are male.
On average, culinary arts graduates from Baker College take out $13,531 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $205, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Culinary Arts at Baker College Report
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Monroe College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree culinary arts programs. Monroe College is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in the large city of Bronx.
Women make up 61% of the culinary arts majors at the school.
On average, culinary arts graduates from Monroe College take out $13,753 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $168.
Full Culinary Arts at Monroe College Report
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Additional Award Winners
This list represents the remainder of the colleges awarded a Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 426 different United States culinary arts schools we analyzed.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | The Art Institute of Atlanta | Atlanta, GA |
| 51 | Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology | Okmulgee, OK |
| 54 | National University College | Bayamon, PR |
| 54 | Kingsborough Community College | Brooklyn, NY |
| 54 | El Paso Community College | El Paso, TX |
| 54 | Utah Valley University | Orem, UT |
| 54 | Pittsburgh Technical College | Oakdale, PA |
| 54 | Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids, IA |
| 54 | Suffolk County Community College | Selden, NY |
| 54 | Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh, NC |
| 54 | Bristol Community College | Fall River, MA |
| 54 | Guam Community College | Mangilao, GU |
Honorable Mentions
Here are some additional popular schools for Culinary Arts students that almost earned our Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Trade Schools award.
Culinary Arts by Region
View the Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree 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 |
Majors Related to 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 26 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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