Find Trade Colleges

Most Popular Culinary Arts Basic Certificate Trade Schools

2023 Most Popular Culinary Arts Basic Certificate Trade Schools

329 Colleges

Finding the Best Culinary Arts Basic 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.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Most Popular Culinary Arts Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. This report analyzed 329 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular basic certificate programs 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.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Culinary Arts Basic Certificate Colleges.

Our 2023 rankings named Institute of Culinary Education the most popular school in the United States for culinary arts students working on their basic certificate. Institute of Culinary Education is a small private for-profit school located in the city of New York.

Of the 677 students majoring in culinary arts at Institute of Culinary Education, 42% are male and 58% are female.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Institute of Culinary Education

Request Information

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Institute of Culinary Education - Los Angeles is a great place for culinary arts students working on their basic certificate. Located in the medium-sized city of Pasadena, Institute of Culinary Education - Los Angeles is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Women make up 52% of the culinary arts majors at the school.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Institute of Culinary Education - Los Angeles

Request Information
#3

Valencia College

Orlando, FL

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Valencia College is a great place for culinary arts students working on their basic certificate. Located in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a public school with a very large student population.

About 72% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 28% are male.

Read More…

Request Information
#4

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Out of the 329 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Ivy Tech Community College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis.

Of the 162 students majoring in culinary arts at Ivy Tech Community College, 40% are male and 60% are female.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Ivy Tech Community College

Request Information
#5

Lee College

Baytown, TX

The in-demand basic certificate programs at Lee College 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 city of Baytown, Lee College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Of the 50 students majoring in culinary arts at Lee College, 72% are male and 28% are female.

Full Culinary Arts at Lee College Report

Request Information

With a ranking of #6, University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for culinary arts students working on their basic certificate. Located in the small city of North Little Rock, UA Pulaski Tech is a public college with a small student population.

Of the 59 students majoring in culinary arts at UA Pulaski Tech, 24% are male and 76% are female.

Full Culinary Arts at University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College Report

Request Information

Wake Technical Community College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate culinary arts programs. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh.

Women make up 60% of the culinary arts majors at the school.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Wake Technical Community College

Request Information
#8

Miami Dade College

Miami, FL

Miami Dade College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate culinary arts programs. Located in the large city of Miami, MDC is a public school with a very large student population.

Of the 137 students majoring in culinary arts at MDC, 47% are male and 53% are female.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Miami Dade College

Request Information
#9

Trident Technical College

Charleston, SC

Trident Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Culinary Arts Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Trident Technical College is a large public school located in the medium-sized city of Charleston.

Of the 102 students majoring in culinary arts at Trident Technical College, 36% are male and 64% are female.

Full Culinary Arts at Trident Technical College Report

Request Information
#10

El Centro College

Dallas, TX

El Centro College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for culinary arts students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

About 53% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 47% are male.

Full Culinary Arts at El Centro College Report

Request Information
#11

Central Georgia Technical College

Warner Robins, GA

Central Georgia Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for culinary arts students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #11 on the list. CGTC is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Warner Robins.

About 78% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 22% are male.

Read More…

Request Information

Pueblo Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Culinary Arts Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Pueblo Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the medium-sized city of Pueblo.

About 19% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 81% are male.

Read More…

Request Information
#13

St Philip's College

San Antonio, TX

St Philip’s College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Culinary Arts Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Philip's College is a public school with a large student population.

Women make up 81% of the culinary arts majors at the school.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at St Philip’s College

Request Information

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Culinary Arts Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the midsize city of Boulder, Escoffier - Boulder is a private for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.

Women make up 67% of the culinary arts majors at the school.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder

Request Information

Crescent City Bartending School ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Culinary Arts Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the large city of New Orleans, Crescent Schools is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

About 63% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 37% are male.

Full Culinary Arts at Crescent City Bartending School Report

Request Information
#16

College of Lake County

Grayslake, IL

College of Lake County came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Culinary Arts Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Grayslake, College of Lake County is a public college with a large student population.

About 84% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 16% are male.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at College of Lake County

Request Information

Elgin Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for culinary arts students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #16 on the list. ECC is a moderately-sized public school located in the midsize city of Elgin.

Women make up 58% of the culinary arts majors at the school.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Elgin Community College

Request Information

Southern Crescent Technical College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Culinary Arts Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of Griffin.

Of the 53 students majoring in culinary arts at Southern Crescent Technical College, 42% are male and 58% are female.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Southern Crescent Technical College

Request Information

West Georgia Technical College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Culinary Arts Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. West Georgia Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the rural area of Waco.

About 63% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 37% are male.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at West Georgia Technical College

Request Information

Central Piedmont Community College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate culinary arts programs. Located in the large city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 54 students majoring in culinary arts at Central Piedmont Community College, 19% are male and 81% are female.

Full Culinary Arts at Central Piedmont Community College Report

Request Information

With a ranking of #21, City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for culinary arts students working on their basic certificate. Kennedy-King College is a small public school located in the large city of Chicago.

About 76% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 24% are male.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College

Request Information

Central New Mexico Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Culinary Arts Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Located in the city of Albuquerque, CNM is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 70 students majoring in culinary arts at CNM, 47% are male and 53% are female.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Central New Mexico Community College

Request Information

South Georgia Technical College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Culinary Arts Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. South Georgia Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Americus.

Women make up 71% of the culinary arts majors at the school.

Full Culinary Arts at South Georgia Technical College Report

Request Information

Los Angeles Mission College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Culinary Arts Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Located in the city of Sylmar, Los Angeles Mission College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Of the 69 students majoring in culinary arts at Los Angeles Mission College, 39% are male and 61% are female.

Full Culinary Arts at Los Angeles Mission College Report

Request Information

Collin County Community College District did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for culinary arts students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #25 on the list. Collin County Community College District is a fairly large public school located in the midsize suburb of McKinney.

Of the 31 students majoring in culinary arts at Collin County Community College District, 23% are male and 77% are female.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Collin County Community College District

Request Information

#26

Somerset Community College

Somerset, KY
#27

Culinary Tech Center

White Plains, NY
#30

Pikes Peak Community College

Colorado Springs, CO
#31

Yavapai College

Prescott, AZ
#35

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA
#38

Delgado Community College

New Orleans, LA
#38

Francis Tuttle Technology Center

Oklahoma City, OK
#40

Lanier Technical College

Gainesville, GA
#44

Savannah Technical College

Savannah, GA
#46

Cerritos College

Norwalk, CA
#46

Metro Technology Centers

Oklahoma City, OK

Honorable Mentions

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

Rank College Location
51 Estrella Mountain Community College Avondale, AZ
52 Columbus Technical College Columbus, GA
52 Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN
54 South Plains College Levelland, TX
54 Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Austin Austin, TX
54 Athens Technical College Athens, GA
54 SOWELA Technical Community College Lake Charles, LA
58 Arizona Culinary Institute Scottsdale, AZ
58 Red Rocks Community College Lakewood, CO
58 Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI
58 Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, AZ
62 Remington College - Memphis Campus Memphis, TN
62 Central Community College Grand Island, NE
62 Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway, SC
65 Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NC
65 Kiamichi Technology Center-McAlester McAlester, OK
65 Grossmont College El Cajon, CA
65 Meridian Technology Center Stillwater, OK

Culinary Arts by Region

View the Most Popular Culinary Arts Basic 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.

  • 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.

Find Trade Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited trade schools across the U.S.