2027 Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in Texas
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 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 Texas
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
Our analysis ranked College Of The Mainland the best value for a degree in culinary arts/chef training in Texas. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,310, while out-of-state students pay about $4,140. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $10,928. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from College Of The Mainland generally make around $40,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts/chef training will find it at El Centro College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $9,218 in student loans. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $31,127 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,218 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Texas College earned it the #3 place for culinary arts/chef training. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Students borrow a median of $6,868 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $24,084. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Lamar State College Port Arthur one of the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Lamar State College Port Arthur is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Port Arthur. In-state tuition and fees average $1,770, compared with $8,070 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $33,385 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $78,580. That is a strong return on a $33,385 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes El Paso Community College one of the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Del Mar College came in at #6 for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,476 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $40,661. That is a strong return on a $7,476 median debt.
Tarrant County College District earned the #7 position for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $45,158 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Philips College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $15,653. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of St Philips College earn a median of $45,185 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,653 median debt.
Houston Community College came in at #9 for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $26,217. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $26,419. That is a strong return on a $26,217 median debt.
Grayson College came in at #10 for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,000 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,300. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Grayson College earn a median of $42,487 early in their careers. Set against $11,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District landed the #11 spot for culinary arts/chef training value this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $14,519 in student loans. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Laredo Community College came in at #12 for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $5,748. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $6,000. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $41,354. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Odessa College earned the #13 position for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,688 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,926. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $9,087 in student loans. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Odessa College earn a median of $47,856 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lee College earned the #14 position for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,520 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $10,941. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Lee College earn a median of $53,448 early in their careers. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Plains College came in at #15 for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. South Plains College is a large public school located in the town of Levelland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,733, while out-of-state students pay about $5,157. Students borrow a median of $13,788 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $30,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Galveston College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Galveston College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Galveston. In-state tuition and fees average $2,726, while out-of-state students pay about $6,176. Students borrow a median of $15,183 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $51,165. That is a strong return on a $15,183 median debt.
Alvin Community College earned the #17 position for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,906, with out-of-state students paying around $4,402. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $8,600. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Alvin Community College earn a median of $55,057 early in their careers. Set against $8,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texarkana College placed #18 among the best values for culinary arts/chef training. Texarkana College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texarkana. Students from in state pay about $2,476 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,686 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Texarkana College generally make around $19,284. Set against $11,686 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Collin County Community College District ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,014, compared with $6,064 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,716 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $42,177 early in their careers. Set against $9,716 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tyler Junior College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Tyler Junior College is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,536. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $14,869. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $43,348. Set against $14,869 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Jacinto Community College earned the #21 position for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $11,376. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $38,107. That is a strong return on a $11,376 median debt.
Texas State Technical College came in at #22 for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the city of Waco, Texas State Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,212, with out-of-state students paying around $11,812. Typical student debt for culinary arts/chef training graduates is $10,861. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Texas State Technical College generally make around $24,036. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwest University At El Paso ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts/chef training schools. Southwest University At El Paso is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of El Paso. Students from in state pay about $16,000 in tuition and fees. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $34,055 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $42,219. Set against $34,055 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Austin earned the #24 position for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the city of Austin, Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Austin is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $16,491 to complete the culinary arts/chef training program here. Early-career culinary arts/chef training graduates make about $25,743. Set against $16,491 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The Culinary School Of Fort Worth came in at #25 for value in culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, The Culinary School Of Fort Worth is a small private for-profit university. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from The Culinary School Of Fort Worth generally make around $21,608. The Culinary School Of Fort Worth admits about 78% of applicants.
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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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.
