General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general cooking & related culinary arts programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 52 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general cooking & related culinary arts students pursuing a degree.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general cooking & related culinary arts education in California.
Santa Rosa Junior College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general cooking & related culinary arts. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 52 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong general cooking & related culinary arts program will find one at Orange Coast College, which ranked #2. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. Orange Coast College awarded about 83 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees 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. Typical student debt for the program is $8,978.
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Cuesta College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Cuesta College is a large public school located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. Cuesta College awarded about 45 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cooking & related culinary arts degree from Cuesta College earn around $64,492 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,958.
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Diablo Valley College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general cooking & related culinary arts, ranking #4. Located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public university. There were roughly 26 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Diablo Valley College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $27,813 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,205.
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Students looking for a strong general cooking & related culinary arts program will find one at Cypress College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public university. There were roughly 39 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Cypress College in the most recent data year.
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Grossmont College earned the #6 position for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. There were roughly 71 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Grossmont College in the most recent data year.
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Los Angeles Harbor College landed the #7 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, Los Angeles Harbor College is a large public institution. There were roughly 66 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Los Angeles Harbor College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cooking & related culinary arts degree from Los Angeles Harbor College earn around $91,233 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,488 to complete this degree.
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College Of The Canyons came in at #8 for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. About 41 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at College Of The Canyons in the most recent year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. College Of The Canyons graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans.
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Santa Ana College landed the #9 spot 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 21 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at Santa Ana College in the most recent year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $39,633 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete this degree.
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Mt San Antonio College came in at #10 for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Mt San Antonio College awarded about 26 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $44,391. Mt San Antonio College graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans.
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Cabrillo College came in at #11 for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Cabrillo College is a large public school located in the suburb of Aptos. There were roughly 45 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Cabrillo College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from Cabrillo College generally make around $47,750. Typical student debt for the program is $10,425.
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City College Of San Francisco earned the #12 position for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. There were roughly 19 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at City College Of San Francisco 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. Typical student debt for the program is $10,332.
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Long Beach City College earned the #13 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 51 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Long Beach City College in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete this degree.
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West Hills College Lemoore came in at #14 for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the rural area of Lemoore, West Hills College Lemoore is a moderately-sized public institution. West Hills College Lemoore awarded about 13 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of West Hills College Lemoore earn a median of $40,499 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,687 to complete this degree.
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Cerritos College earned the #15 position for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Norwalk. There were roughly 51 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Cerritos College in the most recent data year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. Cerritos College graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans.
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Riverside City College came in at #16 for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public institution. Riverside City College awarded about 87 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees 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. Students borrow a median of $8,767 to complete this degree.
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San Diego Mesa College earned the #17 position for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 14 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at San Diego Mesa College in the most recent year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $6,999.
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American River College earned the #18 position for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Sacramento. About 14 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at American River College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general cooking & related culinary arts degree recipients from American River College generally make around $76,077. Students borrow a median of $14,105 to complete this degree.
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Southwestern College Chula Vista ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public school located in the city of Chula Vista. Southwestern College Chula Vista awarded about 35 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $49,358 in their early career. Southwestern College Chula Vista graduates carry a median of $11,205 in student loans.
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Los Angeles Mission College came in at #20 for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Los Angeles Mission College is a large public school located in the city of Sylmar. Los Angeles Mission College awarded about 128 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year.
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San Joaquin Delta College placed #21 among the best general cooking & related culinary arts schools. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. San Joaquin Delta College awarded about 21 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $65,168 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,382.
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Allan Hancock College landed the #22 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Santa Maria. Allan Hancock College awarded about 22 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year.
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College Of The Sequoias earned the #23 position for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. There were roughly 37 general cooking & related culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Sequoias in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general cooking & related culinary arts program make about $37,749 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,288.
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College Of The Desert landed the #24 spot for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Palm Desert. College Of The Desert awarded about 34 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 Desert earn around $41,295 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,826 to complete this degree.
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San Bernardino Valley College earned the #25 position for general cooking & related culinary arts this year. Located in the city of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Valley College is a large public university. About 16 general cooking & related culinary arts degrees were awarded at San Bernardino Valley College in the most recent year. General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts graduates of San Bernardino Valley College earn a median of $69,642 early in their careers. San Bernardino Valley College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general cooking & related culinary arts education:
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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 · 52 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.
