2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region
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Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2019-2020, 10,007 people earned their degree in culinary arts/chef training, making the major the 135th most popular in the United States.
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 Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered a degree in culinary arts/chef training. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality culinary arts/chef training programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the culinary arts/chef training program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
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 Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students.
Top 22 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training in the Southwest Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Plains College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Levelland, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Plains College, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Plains College is $7,600 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students.
Full South Plains College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, San Jacinto Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. San Jacinto Community College is a large public school situated in Pasadena, Texas. It awarded 13 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Jacinto College, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jacinto Community College is $8,692 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students.
Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at San Jacinto Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend El Centro College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Located in Dallas, Texas, this large public school awarded 21 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students list, El Centro College has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for El Centro College is $4,373 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Houston Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Houston Community College is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 39 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Houston Community College, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Houston Community College is $5,272 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students.
Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Houston Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lee College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Lee College is a public institution located in Baytown, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 21 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lee College, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $7,732 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students per year to attend Lee College.
Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Lee College
Collin County Community College District did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #6. 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.
Collin County Community College District did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Collin County Community College District is $6,293 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students.
Full Collin County Community College District Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report
Scottsdale Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #7. Scottsdale Community College is a public institution located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 17 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students list, Scottsdale Community College has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $10,397 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students per year to attend Scottsdale Community College.
Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Scottsdale Community College
Texas State Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #8. TSTC 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. The yearly cost to attend TSTC is $10,114 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students.
With a ranking of #9, Central New Mexico Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it awarded 23 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.
CNM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend CNM is $3,429 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students.
Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Central New Mexico Community College
Austin Community College District landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Austin, Texas, this large public school handed out 9 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Austin Community College District, the school also landed 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.
Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Austin Community College District
With a ranking of #11, St Philip’s College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. This fairly large school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 15 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at St Philip’s College, the school also landed 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 per year to attend St Philip’s College.
The Art Institute of Houston ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. Ai Houston is a private for-profit institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ai Houston, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The Art Institute of Houston is $22,844 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students.
Del Mar College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #13. DMC is a fairly large public school situated in Corpus Christi, Texas. It awarded 5 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.
DMC also took the #14 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DMC is $5,738 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students.
El Paso Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in El Paso, Texas, this large public school awarded 27 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training students in 2019-2020.
El Paso Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend El Paso Community College is $4,594 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students.
Full El Paso Community College Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report
Odessa College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Odessa, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 12 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts/chef training students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students list, Odessa College has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Odessa College is $5,963 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students.
Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Odessa College
Tarrant County College District did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #16. 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 also made our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend Tarrant County College is $5,434 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students.
Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Tarrant County College
Texarkana College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking. Texarkana College is a small public school situated in Texarkana, Texas. It awarded 10 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texarkana College, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Texarkana College is $6,394 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students.
Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Texarkana College
With a ranking of #18, New Mexico State University - Dona Ana did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. NMSU 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.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at NMSU Dona Ana, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend New Mexico State University - Dona Ana is $5,539 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students.
Full New Mexico State University - Dona Ana Culinary Arts/Chef Training Report
Northeast Texas Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #19. This small school is located in Mount Pleasant, Texas, and it awarded 6 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.
NTCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for NTCC is $8,110 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students.
Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Northeast Texas Community College
Estrella Mountain Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #20. Estrella Mountain Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Avondale, Arizona. It awarded 8 associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees in 2019-2020.
Estrella Mountain Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $9,200 for Southwest Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts/Chef Training students per year to attend Estrella Mountain Community College.
Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at Estrella Mountain Community College
The Art Institute of San Antonio ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s culinary arts/chef training degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.
Ai San Antonio also took the #22 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The Art Institute of San Antonio is $22,421 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students.
Read full report on Culinary Arts/Chef Training at The Art Institute of San Antonio
With a ranking of #22, The Art Institute of Austin did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools for an Associate in the Southwest Region list. The Art Institute of 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.
Ai Austin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for The Art Institute of Austin is $24,156 for southwest region associate degree culinary arts/chef training students.
Read more about Culinary Arts/Chef Training at The Art Institute of Austin
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Culinary Arts/Chef Training students in the Southwest Region
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Culinary Arts/Chef Training students with family income less than $30k in the Southwest Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region
Culinary Arts/Chef Training students with family income $48-$75k in the Southwest Region
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Culinary Arts/Chef Training students with family income $75-$110k in the Southwest Region
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts/Chef Training in the Southwest Region
Culinary Arts/Chef Training students in the Southwest Region
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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to U.S. Army Europe Images.
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