2026 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in New Jersey
[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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for culinary arts/chef training students.
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2026 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in New Jersey
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 Hudson County Community College, our #1 best value for culinary arts/chef training in New Jersey. Set in the city of Jersey City, Hudson County Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,384, while out-of-state students pay about $9,248. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $12,900 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $26,170. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Middlesex County College one of the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Located in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,764, compared with $7,356 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $9,514 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $37,975. That is a strong return on a $9,514 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Burlington County College one of the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Burlington County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Mount Laurel. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,990, while out-of-state students pay about $9,495. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $12,488. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $52,240. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Atlantic Cape Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts/chef training, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Mays Landing, Atlantic Cape Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,594, compared with $8,350 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Atlantic Cape Community College earn a median of $31,639 early in their careers. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Passaic County Community College one of the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Set in the suburb of Paterson, Passaic County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,300, with out-of-state students paying around $10,560. Students borrow a median of $9,581 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $28,957. Set against $9,581 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brookdale Community College earned the #6 position for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Brookdale Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lincroft. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,270, while out-of-state students pay about $10,140. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Brookdale Community College earn a median of $37,374 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ocean County Vocational Technical School landed the #7 spot for culinary arts/chef training value this year. Located in the suburb of Toms River, Ocean County Vocational Technical School is a small public university. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Ocean County Vocational Technical School generally make around $16,566.
More Culinary Arts/Chef Training Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
