General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 96 schools to find the best for general cooking & related culinary arts students.
Choosing a Great General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts School
The general cooking & related culinary arts program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general cooking & related culinary arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts
No school ranked higher than Madison Area Technical College this year for general cooking & related culinary arts. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. There were roughly 38 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $44,279 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,812 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general cooking & related culinary arts program at Madison Area Technical College
Cabrillo College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Located in the suburb of Aptos, Cabrillo College is a large public university. Cabrillo College awarded about 76 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Cabrillo College earn a median of $47,750 early in their careers. Cabrillo College graduates carry a median of $10,425 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general cooking & related culinary arts from Cabrillo College
Utah Valley University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general cooking & related culinary arts, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Orem. About 40% of students finish within six years. About 20 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Utah Valley University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $27,056. Utah Valley University graduates carry a median of $16,478 in student loans.
See the full general cooking & related culinary arts program report for Utah Valley University
Students looking for a strong general cooking & related culinary arts program will find one at Santa Rosa Junior College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 30 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $80,047 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete this degree.
See the full general cooking & related culinary arts program report for Santa Rosa Junior College
Diablo Valley College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general cooking & related culinary arts, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. Diablo Valley College awarded about 50 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cooking & related culinary arts degree from Diablo Valley College earn around $27,813 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,205.
See the full general cooking & related culinary arts program report for Diablo Valley College
Northwest Arkansas Community College came in at #6 for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Bentonville, Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 24 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Arkansas Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cooking & related culinary arts degree from Northwest Arkansas Community College earn around $26,011 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,500.
See the full general cooking & related culinary arts program report for Northwest Arkansas Community College
Cuesta College placed #7 among the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Cuesta College is a large public school located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. About 62 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Cuesta College in the most recent year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Cuesta College earn a median of $64,492 early in their careers. Cuesta College graduates carry a median of $18,958 in student loans.
Read more about the general cooking & related culinary arts program at Cuesta College
Orange Coast College placed #8 among the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. There were roughly 88 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Orange Coast College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cooking & related culinary arts degree from Orange Coast College earn around $46,306 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general cooking & related culinary arts from Orange Coast College
West Hills College Lemoore came in at #9 for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. West Hills College Lemoore is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Lemoore. About 27 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at West Hills College Lemoore in the most recent year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $40,499 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,687.
See the full general cooking & related culinary arts program report for West Hills College Lemoore
Kapiolani Community College came in at #10 for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Honolulu, Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 80 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Kapiolani Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cooking & related culinary arts degree from Kapiolani Community College earn around $26,882 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,087 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general cooking & related culinary arts from Kapiolani Community College
College Of Southern Nevada earned the #11 position for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public institution. About 54 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at College Of Southern Nevada in the most recent year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of College Of Southern Nevada earn a median of $22,428 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,980 to complete this degree.
Get the full general cooking & related culinary arts details for College Of Southern Nevada
Los Angeles Trade Technical College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a very large public institution. About 135 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Los Angeles Trade Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $53,553 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,833.
More information about a degree in general cooking & related culinary arts from Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Mesa State College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. About 47% of students finish within six years. Mesa State College awarded about 50 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $43,617 early in their careers. Mesa State College graduates carry a median of $22,310 in student loans.
See the full general cooking & related culinary arts program report for Mesa State College
Cypress College placed #14 among the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Cypress. There were roughly 55 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Cypress College in the most recent data year.
See the full general cooking & related culinary arts program report for Cypress College
Grossmont College earned the #15 position for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a very large public university. About 58 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Grossmont College in the most recent year.
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Keiser University Ft Lauderdale placed #16 among the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale awarded about 40 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $28,159 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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Los Angeles Harbor College came in at #17 for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Wilmington. Los Angeles Harbor College awarded about 45 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Los Angeles Harbor College generally make around $91,233. Los Angeles Harbor College graduates carry a median of $11,488 in student loans.
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Arkansas Tech University landed the #18 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Arkansas Tech University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general cooking & related culinary arts degree from Arkansas Tech University earn around $45,115 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,257.
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Riverside City College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 102 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Riverside City College in the most recent data year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Riverside City College earn a median of $37,102 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,767.
More information about a degree in general cooking & related culinary arts from Riverside City College
College Of The Canyons ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. There were roughly 46 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Canyons in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $51,913 in their early career. College Of The Canyons graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans.
See the full general cooking & related culinary arts program report for College Of The Canyons
Southwestern College Chula Vista ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Chula Vista, Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public institution. About 88 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Southwestern College Chula Vista in the most recent year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Southwestern College Chula Vista earn a median of $49,358 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,205 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general cooking & related culinary arts from Southwestern College Chula Vista
Mt San Antonio College earned the #22 position for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. About 29 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general cooking & related culinary arts degree from Mt San Antonio College earn around $44,391 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general cooking & related culinary arts from Mt San Antonio College
Santa Ana College came in at #23 for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. About 13 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Santa Ana College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $39,633 in their early career. Santa Ana College graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans.
Read more about the general cooking & related culinary arts program at Santa Ana College
Saddleback College landed the #24 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. There were roughly 30 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Saddleback College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cooking & related culinary arts degree from Saddleback College earn around $15,890 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete this degree.
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Long Beach City College landed the #25 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Long Beach City College is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. There were roughly 79 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Long Beach City College in the most recent data year. Long Beach City College graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans.
See the full general cooking & related culinary arts program report for Long Beach City College
Rest of the Top 50 General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general cooking & related culinary arts this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 96 schools evaluated.
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).
