2026 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in Tennessee
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong culinary arts/chef training education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 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 Tennessee
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 Walters State Community College the best value for a degree in culinary arts/chef training in Tennessee. Set in the city of Morristown, Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,752 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $10,210 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Walters State Community College generally make around $35,866. Set against $10,210 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Pellissippi State Community College one of the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Set in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,786, while out-of-state students pay about $17,770. Students borrow a median of $8,951 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $43,816. That is a strong return on a $8,951 median debt.
Nashville State Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Nashville State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,730, while out-of-state students pay about $17,714. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $16,745. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Nashville State Community College generally make around $41,456. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
