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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income Over $110k) in the Southwest Region

19 Ranked Colleges
585 Degrees Awarded
$14,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Culinary Arts/Chef Training is the 135th most popular major in the country with 10,007 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Southwest region, there were 1,277 culinary arts/chef training graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 585 culinary arts/chef training graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,605 and $16,886 respectively.

This year’s “Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking looked at 19 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in culinary arts/chef training. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great culinary arts/chef training programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the culinary arts/chef training program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

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Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k.

Top 19 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income Over $110k) in the Southwest Region

#1

El Centro College

Dallas, Texas
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend El Centro College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. El Centro College is a public institution located in Dallas, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 21 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

El Centro College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for El Centro College is $4,373 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make more than $110k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at El Centro College

#2

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico
#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central New Mexico Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k. Albuquerque, New Mexico is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make more than $110k list, CNM has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Central New Mexico Community College is $3,429 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make more than $110k.

Full Central New Mexico Community College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#3

Houston Community College

Houston, Texas
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Houston Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k. Located in Houston, Texas, this large public school awarded 39 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training students in 2019-2020.

Houston Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Houston Community College is $5,272 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make more than $110k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Houston Community College

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Austin Community College District. The school came in at #4 for the Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 9 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

Austin Community College District also took the #3 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Community College District is $6,861 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make more than $110k.

Full Austin Community College District Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#5

St Philip's College

San Antonio, Texas
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend St Philip’s College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k. St Philip’s College is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 15 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

St Philip’s College also took the #4 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $6,250 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend St Philip’s College.

Full St Philip’s College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#6

South Plains College

Levelland, Texas
#10 in overall quality

South Plains College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Levelland, Texas, and it awarded 12 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

South Plains College also made our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for South Plains College is $7,600 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make more than $110k.

Full South Plains College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#9 in overall quality

Collin County Community College District came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Collin County Community College District is a large school located in McKinney, Texas that handed out 2 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Collin County Community College District, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Collin County Community College District is $6,293 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make more than $110k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Collin County Community College District

#8

Lee College

Baytown, Texas
#11 in overall quality

Lee College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Lee College is located in Baytown, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to qualified students.

Lee College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lee College is $7,732 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make more than $110k.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Lee College

#5 in overall quality

San Jacinto Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. San Jacinto College is located in Pasadena, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make more than $110k list, San Jacinto College has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $8,692 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend San Jacinto College.

Full San Jacinto Community College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#10

Tarrant County College District

Fort Worth, Texas
#15 in overall quality

Tarrant County College District did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #10. Tarrant County College District is a public institution located in Fort Worth, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Tarrant County College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Tarrant County College is $5,434 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make more than $110k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Tarrant County College

#11

El Paso Community College

El Paso, Texas
#13 in overall quality

El Paso Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Located in El Paso, Texas, this large public school awarded 27 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at El Paso Community College, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for El Paso Community College is $4,594 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make more than $110k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at El Paso Community College

#12

Odessa College

Odessa, Texas
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Odessa College did quite well on the 2022 Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. This medium-sized school is located in Odessa, Texas, and it awarded 12 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

Odessa College also made our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $5,963 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Odessa College.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Odessa College

#13

Del Mar College

Corpus Christi, Texas
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Del Mar College did quite well on the 2022 Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. This fairly large school is located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and it awarded 5 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

DMC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Del Mar College is $5,738 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make more than $110k.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Del Mar College

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Texas State Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Texas State Technical College is a fairly large public school situated in Waco, Texas. It awarded 33 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

TSTC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $10,114 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend TSTC.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at TSTC

#15

New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

Las Cruces, New Mexico
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, New Mexico State University - Dona Ana did quite well on the 2022 Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k list. New Mexico State University - Dona Ana is a medium-sized school located in Las Cruces, New Mexico that handed out 11 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Dona Ana also took the #19 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NMSU Dona Ana is $5,539 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make more than $110k.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at New Mexico State University - Dona Ana

#1 in overall quality

The Art Institute of Houston came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. The Art Institute of Houston is a small school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 33 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make more than $110k list, Ai Houston has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ai Houston is $22,844 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make more than $110k.

Full The Art Institute of Houston Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report

#21 in overall quality

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Austin landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Escoffier - Austin is a small private for-profit school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 176 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make more than $110k list, Escoffier - Austin has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Escoffier - Austin is $15,267 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make more than $110k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Escoffier - Austin

#18

The Art Institute of San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas
#22 in overall quality

The Art Institute of San Antonio came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. This small school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 8 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ai San Antonio, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ai San Antonio is $22,421 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students whose families make more than $110k.

Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Ai San Antonio

#23 in overall quality

The Art Institute of Austin landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Ai Austin is a private for-profit institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make more than $110k list, Ai Austin has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ai Austin is $24,156 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students whose families make more than $110k.

Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at The Art Institute of Austin

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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