[Other Culinary Arts & Related Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/culinary-arts-and-related-services-other/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 32 schools to find the best return on investment for other culinary arts & related services students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the other culinary arts & related services degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in other culinary arts & related services, no school beat Nassau Community College this year. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Other Culinary Arts & Related Services graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other culinary arts & related services degree recipients from Nassau Community College generally make around $38,734. Set against $11,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwestern Michigan College earned it the #2 place for other culinary arts & related services. Located in the city of Traverse City, Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,860, with out-of-state students paying around $13,476. Typical student debt for other culinary arts & related services graduates is $14,199. Early-career other culinary arts & related services graduates make about $26,586. That is a strong return on a $14,199 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earned it the #3 place for other culinary arts & related services. Set in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,850. Other Culinary Arts & Related Services graduates carry a median of $11,653 in student loans. Early-career other culinary arts & related services graduates make about $34,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Blackhawk Technical College earned it the #4 place for other culinary arts & related services. Blackhawk Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Janesville. Students from in state pay about $4,747 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,803. Typical student debt for other culinary arts & related services graduates is $13,715. Early-career other culinary arts & related services graduates make about $44,256. Set against $13,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Culinary Institute Of America one of the best values for other culinary arts & related services. Set in the suburb of Hyde Park, Culinary Institute Of America is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,670. Typical student debt for other culinary arts & related services graduates is $12,000. Other Culinary Arts & Related Services graduates of Culinary Institute Of America earn a median of $28,049 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Johnson And Wales University Providence came in at #6 for value in other culinary arts & related services this year. Johnson And Wales University Providence is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,982. Typical student debt for other culinary arts & related services graduates is $14,745. Other Culinary Arts & Related Services graduates of Johnson And Wales University Providence earn a median of $27,514 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,745 median debt. Johnson And Wales University Providence admits about 88% of applicants.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Other Culinary Arts & Related Services rankings across degree levels:
View All Other Culinary Arts & Related Services Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
