2027 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in Illinois
[Culinary Arts/Chef Training](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/culinary-arts-chef-training/) 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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for culinary arts/chef training students.
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2027 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the culinary arts/chef training degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools
Leading the list is Joliet Junior College, our #1 best value for culinary arts/chef training in Illinois. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $16,375 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $28,252. Set against $16,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts/chef training will find it at Lake Land College, which ranked #2. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,415, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $5,163 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Lake Land College generally make around $14,366. That is a strong return on a $5,163 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts/chef training will find it at Richland Community College, which ranked #3. Richland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Decatur. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,680, with out-of-state students paying around $17,070. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $9,562. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Richland Community College earn a median of $46,233 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Lincoln Land Community College one of the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Set in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,744, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Students borrow a median of $11,272 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $43,834. That is a strong return on a $11,272 median debt.
Elgin Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts/chef training, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $7,727. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Danville Area Community College came in at #6 for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the town of Danville, Danville Area Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,440, compared with $7,440 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,470 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Danville Area Community College generally make around $36,123. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage placed #7 among the best values for culinary arts/chef training. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $12,492. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $26,952. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kaskaskia College earned the #8 position for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, compared with $12,570 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,875 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $45,658. That is a strong return on a $7,875 median debt.
College Of Lake County placed #9 among the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,788, with out-of-state students paying around $14,400. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $9,785. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College came in at #10 for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $7,986. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College earn a median of $19,447 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,986 median debt.
Southwestern Illinois College earned the #11 position for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. Students from in state pay about $4,230 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,720. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $44,345. Set against $10,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
National Louis University landed the #12 spot for culinary arts/chef training value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,245. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $17,500. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $24,786. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
Illinois Central College came in at #13 for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,150. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $12,222 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Illinois Central College generally make around $53,190. That is a strong return on a $12,222 median debt.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
