[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general cooking & related culinary arts students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general cooking & related culinary arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Pima Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,442 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $10,655. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $40,977 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at El Paso Community College earned it the #2 place for general cooking & related culinary arts. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central New Mexico Community College earned it the #3 place for general cooking & related culinary arts. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $10,112. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $23,139. Set against $10,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Arizona College earned it the #4 place for general cooking & related culinary arts. Located in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,250, compared with $4,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,635 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $48,826. That is a strong return on a $11,635 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Metro Technology Centers one of the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Metro Technology Centers is a small public institution. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $15,833. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Metro Technology Centers earn a median of $48,236 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cochise College came in at #6 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Cochise College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sierra Vista. In-state tuition and fees average $2,280, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $12,013. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $40,712. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indian Capital Technology Center Muskogee came in at #7 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the town of Muskogee, Indian Capital Technology Center Muskogee is a mid-sized public institution. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $28,526. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Yavapai College earned the #8 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,948, with out-of-state students paying around $9,486. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $14,087. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Yavapai College generally make around $52,087. That is a strong return on a $14,087 median debt.
Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Located in the rural area of Choctaw, Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center is a small public university. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,311.
Kiamichi Technology Center Mcalester earned the #10 position for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the town of McAlester, Kiamichi Technology Center Mcalester is a mid-sized public university. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $7,992 in student loans. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Kiamichi Technology Center Mcalester earn a median of $23,377 early in their careers. Set against $7,992 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee came in at #11 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the town of Okmulgee, Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,774, while out-of-state students pay about $11,384. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $12,500. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $52,354. That is a strong return on a $12,500 median debt.
Northeast Technology Center System Office landed the #12 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts value this year. Located in the town of Pryor, Northeast Technology Center System Office is a small public university. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Northeast Technology Center System Office generally make around $35,262.
Francis Tuttle Technology Center landed the #13 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts value this year. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Francis Tuttle Technology Center is a mid-sized public university. Typical student debt for general cooking & related culinary arts graduates is $14,859. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Francis Tuttle Technology Center generally make around $20,284. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Remington College Houston Southeast Campus ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Located in the suburb of League City, Remington College Houston Southeast Campus is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,926. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $25,389. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Remington College Dallas Campus placed #15 among the best values for general cooking & related culinary arts. Located in the city of Dallas, Remington College Dallas Campus is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,876. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the general cooking & related culinary arts program here. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Remington College Dallas Campus earn a median of $25,389 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Culinary Institute Inc came in at #16 for value in general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Culinary Institute Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $18,803 in tuition and fees. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $20,144 in student loans. Early-career general cooking & related culinary arts graduates make about $24,664. Set against $20,144 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
