2027 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in Wisconsin

[Culinary Arts/Chef Training](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/culinary-arts-chef-training/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools.
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2027 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in Wisconsin
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
Our analysis ranked Milwaukee Area Technical College the best value for a degree in culinary arts/chef training in Wisconsin. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $19,386. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $25,304. Set against $19,386 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Moraine Park Technical College one of the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Located in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,819, while out-of-state students pay about $7,084. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $11,471 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $39,552. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lakeshore Technical College earned it the #3 place for culinary arts/chef training. Located in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,844 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $11,582. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Lakeshore Technical College earn a median of $41,252 early in their careers. Set against $11,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts/chef training will find it at Northcentral Technical College, which ranked #4. Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wausau. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,889, compared with $7,132 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,709 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $41,696. Set against $11,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Mid State Technical College one of the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Set in the town of Wisconsin Rapids, Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,002 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,171. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $11,626 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Mid State Technical College generally make around $41,678. That is a strong return on a $11,626 median debt.
Fox Valley Technical College earned the #6 position for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $34,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,844, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $14,234. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Set against $14,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College earned the #8 position for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the rural area of Fennimore, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,904 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,147. Students borrow a median of $12,112 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $42,087. That is a strong return on a $12,112 median debt.
Gateway Technical College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,956, while out-of-state students pay about $7,199. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $14,829 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $42,410. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madison Area Technical College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,977 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,141. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $16,812 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $44,279. That is a strong return on a $16,812 median debt.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.