2026 Best Value Restaurant/Food Services Management Associate’s Degree Schools
[Restaurant/Food Services Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/hospitality-management/restaurant-food-services-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong restaurant/food services management education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 83 schools to find the best return on investment for restaurant/food services management students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Restaurant/Food Services Management Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the restaurant/food services management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Restaurant/Food Services Management Schools
Cuny Laguardia Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value restaurant/food services management schools in the United States. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,218 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,098. Students borrow a median of $5,461 to complete the restaurant/food services management program here. Early-career restaurant/food services management graduates make about $27,031. That is a strong return on a $5,461 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in restaurant/food services management will find it at Sinclair Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Typical student debt for restaurant/food services management graduates is $5,500. Early-career restaurant/food services management graduates make about $22,960. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Southern Nevada earned it the #3 place for restaurant/food services management. College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. In-state tuition and fees average $4,358, while out-of-state students pay about $13,024. Restaurant/food Services Management graduates carry a median of $17,450 in student loans. Early-career restaurant/food services management graduates make about $23,035. Set against $17,450 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in restaurant/food services management will find it at Guam Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Mangilao, Guam Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,414 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,614. Early-career restaurant/food services management graduates make about $14,091.
A rank of #5 makes Central Texas College one of the best values for restaurant/food services management. Set in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,750, while out-of-state students pay about $7,500. Students borrow a median of $11,290 to complete the restaurant/food services management program here. Restaurant/food Services Management graduates of Central Texas College earn a median of $53,086 early in their careers. Set against $11,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Houston Community College earned the #6 position for value in restaurant/food services management this year. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for restaurant/food services management graduates is $19,223. Restaurant/food Services Management graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $40,365 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,223 median debt.
Valencia College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value restaurant/food services management schools. Located in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $9,576. Typical student debt for restaurant/food services management graduates is $14,433. Early-career restaurant/food services management graduates make about $42,786. That is a strong return on a $14,433 median debt.
Northampton County Area Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value restaurant/food services management schools. Set in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,550 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,270. Restaurant/food Services Management graduates carry a median of $18,900 in student loans. Restaurant/food Services Management graduates of Northampton County Area Community College earn a median of $37,199 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,900 median debt.
Highline Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value restaurant/food services management schools. Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Des Moines. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,772, compared with $5,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,958 to complete the restaurant/food services management program here. Soon after graduation, restaurant/food services management degree recipients from Highline Community College generally make around $55,459. Set against $8,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Scottsdale Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value restaurant/food services management schools. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for restaurant/food services management graduates is $13,084. Early-career restaurant/food services management graduates make about $48,039. Set against $13,084 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Broward College landed the #11 spot for restaurant/food services management value this year. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,830, while out-of-state students pay about $8,952. Restaurant/food Services Management graduates carry a median of $13,110 in student loans. Early-career restaurant/food services management graduates make about $51,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Other Restaurant/Food Services Management Degree Levels
Explore the best-value restaurant/food services management schools at other degree levels:
View All Restaurant/Food Services Management Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 83 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
