2027 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in New York
[Culinary Arts/Chef Training](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/culinary-arts-chef-training/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 11 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 New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in culinary arts/chef training, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools
Suffolk County Community College earned the #1 spot for value among culinary arts/chef training schools in New York. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Niagara County Community College one of the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Sanborn. In-state tuition and fees average $6,894, while out-of-state students pay about $12,030. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $12,000. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $26,514. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Nassau Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts/chef training, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $38,734 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,850 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Monroe Community College one of the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,006 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,056 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $12,921 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $38,757. That is a strong return on a $12,921 median debt.
Erie Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Set in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,100 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Students borrow a median of $6,439 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Erie Community College earn a median of $15,565 early in their careers. Set against $6,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Schenectady County Community College came in at #6 for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the city of Schenectady, Schenectady County Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,190, while out-of-state students pay about $8,974. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,902.
Adirondack Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the suburb of Queensbury, Adirondack Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,844, with out-of-state students paying around $9,616. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $12,358 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $31,590. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Monroe College Main Campus landed the #8 spot for culinary arts/chef training value this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,464. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $13,364 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Monroe College Main Campus generally make around $18,256. That is a strong return on a $13,364 median debt. Monroe College Main Campus admits about 68% of applicants.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred placed #9 among the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Set in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,892, while out-of-state students pay about $16,837. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Alfred generally make around $26,598. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred admits about 76% of applicants.
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi placed #10 among the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Delhi. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,772, while out-of-state students pay about $12,762. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $20,303 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Delhi generally make around $20,213. That is a strong return on a $20,303 median debt. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi admits about 89% of applicants.
Culinary Institute Of America ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Culinary Institute Of America is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hyde Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,670. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Culinary Institute Of America generally make around $35,929. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
