General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 172 schools to find the best for general cooking & related culinary arts students.
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These are the top schools for a associate’s degree in general cooking & related culinary arts, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Kapiolani Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Honolulu. Kapiolani Community College awarded about 54 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Kapiolani Community College earn a median of $26,882 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,087 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong general cooking & related culinary arts program will find one at Utah Valley University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. Utah Valley University awarded about 23 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $27,056 in their early career. Utah Valley University graduates carry a median of $16,478 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes Orange Coast College one of the top schools for general cooking & related culinary arts. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. There were roughly 20 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Orange Coast College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $46,306 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete this degree.
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Grand Rapids Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public university. Grand Rapids Community College awarded about 11 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cooking & related culinary arts degree from Grand Rapids Community College earn around $24,473 in the first couple years of their career. Grand Rapids Community College graduates carry a median of $15,125 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong general cooking & related culinary arts program will find one at Cypress College, which ranked #5. Cypress College is a very large public school located in the city of Cypress. Cypress College awarded about 15 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year.
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University Of Hawaii Maui College earned the #6 position for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Kahului. The six-year graduation rate is 8%. There were roughly 25 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Hawaii Maui College in the most recent data year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of University Of Hawaii Maui College earn a median of $24,669 early in their careers. University Of Hawaii Maui College graduates carry a median of $11,824 in student loans.
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Hudson County Community College landed the #7 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Jersey City, Hudson County Community College is a large public institution. About 12 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Hudson County Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $26,170 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,900 to complete this degree.
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Suny College Of Technology At Delhi landed the #8 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Delhi. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi graduates 38% of students within six years. About 10 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Suny College Of Technology At Delhi in the most recent year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Delhi earn a median of $20,213 early in their careers. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi graduates carry a median of $20,303 in student loans.
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Cerritos College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. About 22 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Cerritos College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $29,495 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,306.
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Grossmont College earned the #10 position for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of El Cajon. About 14 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Grossmont College in the most recent year.
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Keiser University Ft Lauderdale ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 38 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Keiser University Ft Lauderdale in the most recent data year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earn a median of $28,159 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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Northwest Arkansas Community College placed #12 among the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bentonville. There were roughly 16 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 $26,025 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,500.
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Mt San Antonio College landed the #13 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. There were roughly 11 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent data 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. Mt San Antonio College graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans.
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College Of The Canyons placed #14 among the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. College Of The Canyons awarded about 11 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cooking & related culinary arts degree from College Of The Canyons earn around $51,913 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete this degree.
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Mesa State College came in at #15 for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. Mesa State College graduates 47% of students within six years. About 11 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Mesa State College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $43,617 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,310 to complete this degree.
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Long Beach City College earned the #16 position 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 23 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Long Beach City College in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $6,000.
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City College Of San Francisco ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. City College Of San Francisco is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. City College Of San Francisco awarded about 16 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cooking & related culinary arts degree from City College Of San Francisco earn around $100,031 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,332 to complete this degree.
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Central New Mexico Community College came in at #18 for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. About 37 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Central New Mexico Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $23,139. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete this degree.
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San Diego Mesa College placed #19 among the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 10 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at San Diego Mesa College in the most recent data year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. San Diego Mesa College graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans.
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Leeward Community College earned the #20 position for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the suburb of Pearl City, Leeward Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 16 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Leeward Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general cooking & related culinary arts degree from Leeward Community College earn around $21,784 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,776 to complete this degree.
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San Joaquin Delta College came in at #21 for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public university. About 15 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at San Joaquin Delta College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general cooking & related culinary arts degree from San Joaquin Delta College earn around $65,168 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete this degree.
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Pellissippi State Community College landed the #22 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Knoxville. There were roughly 21 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Pellissippi State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $43,816 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,951.
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Southwestern College Chula Vista came in at #23 for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Chula Vista, Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public university. Southwestern College Chula Vista awarded about 10 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data 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.
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Los Angeles Mission College came in at #24 for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Sylmar, Los Angeles Mission College is a large public institution. Los Angeles Mission College awarded about 25 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year.
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Chaffey College earned the #25 position for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public university. About 13 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Chaffey College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $23,532 in their early career. Chaffey College graduates carry a median of $6,952 in student loans.
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These schools also placed among the best for general cooking & related culinary arts this year:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 172 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
