[General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/cooking-and-related-culinary-arts-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general cooking & related culinary arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Trident Technical College the best value for a degree in general cooking & related culinary arts in the Southeast Region. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. Students from in state pay about $4,546 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general cooking & related culinary arts will find it at Coahoma Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the rural area of Clarksdale, Coahoma Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,490 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,745 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $29,600. Set against $11,745 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hinds Community College earned it the #3 place for general cooking & related culinary arts. Located in the rural area of Raymond, Hinds Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,250, compared with $7,300 for out-of-state students. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $12,169 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Hinds Community College generally make around $34,003. That is a strong return on a $12,169 median debt.
North Georgia Technical College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. North Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Clarkesville. Students from in state pay about $3,330 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,898. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $12,279 in student loans. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $17,383. That is a strong return on a $12,279 median debt.
Rappahannock Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general cooking & related culinary arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Glenns, Rappahannock Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,102, compared with $11,540 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,997 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $43,398. That is a strong return on a $8,997 median debt.
Albany Technical College landed the #6 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts value this year. Albany Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Albany. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,364, with out-of-state students paying around $5,932. Students borrow a median of $16,321 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Albany Technical College earn a median of $35,895 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Virginia Western Community College came in at #7 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,400, with out-of-state students paying around $11,838. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $13,715. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Virginia Western Community College generally make around $36,245. That is a strong return on a $13,715 median debt.
Pellissippi State Community College came in at #8 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,786, while out-of-state students pay about $17,770. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $8,951. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Pellissippi State Community College earn a median of $43,816 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earned the #9 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,718 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $16,131. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College generally make around $36,965. Set against $16,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Holmes Community College landed the #10 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts value this year. Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Goodman. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,710, while out-of-state students pay about $6,610. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $13,191 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Holmes Community College generally make around $32,145. Set against $13,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jones County Junior College earned the #11 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Jones County Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Ellisville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,700, with out-of-state students paying around $5,700. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $9,559. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Jones County Junior College generally make around $33,655. Set against $9,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Meridian Community College placed #12 among the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. Located in the town of Meridian, Meridian Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,078, while out-of-state students pay about $6,478. Students borrow a median of $10,368 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Meridian Community College generally make around $34,846. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Arkansas Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Bentonville, Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,342, with out-of-state students paying around $5,238. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $12,500. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Northwest Arkansas Community College generally make around $26,011. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Virginia Community College placed #14 among the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Central Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,157, with out-of-state students paying around $11,595. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $10,384. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $32,309. Set against $10,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College placed #15 among the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,850. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $11,653. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $34,214. That is a strong return on a $11,653 median debt.
Pierpont Community And Technical College placed #16 among the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. Pierpont Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fairmont. In-state tuition and fees average $5,762, while out-of-state students pay about $13,660. Students borrow a median of $16,268 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Pierpont Community And Technical College generally make around $26,399. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Mississippi Community College earned the #17 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the town of Booneville, Northeast Mississippi Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,470, while out-of-state students pay about $7,750. Students borrow a median of $12,566 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $41,228. Set against $12,566 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tidewater Community College earned the #18 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Tidewater Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. Students from in state pay about $5,858 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,296 for out-of-state students. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $19,671 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Tidewater Community College generally make around $23,653. That is a strong return on a $19,671 median debt.
Arkansas Tech University earned the #19 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. In-state tuition and fees average $8,674, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $23,257. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Arkansas Tech University generally make around $45,115. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Sullivan University landed the #20 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts value this year. Sullivan University is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $15,265 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Sullivan University generally make around $24,292. Set against $15,265 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Nossi College Of Art ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Nossi College Of Art is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,350. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $46,500 in student loans. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $24,497. That is a strong return on a $46,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Helms College came in at #22 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Helms College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Augusta. Students from in state pay about $17,056 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $16,938. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Helms College generally make around $22,332.
Remington College Memphis Campus earned the #23 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Remington College Memphis Campus is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,083. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Remington College Memphis Campus generally make around $25,389. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale placed #24 among the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,056. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Keiser University Ft Lauderdale generally make around $28,159. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale admits about 97% of applicants.
Florida Education Institute ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida Education Institute is a small private for-profit institution. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Florida Education Institute generally make around $20,531. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.
