Culinary Arts/Chef Training degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their culinary arts/chef training programs.
College Factual analyzed 222 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best culinary arts/chef training schools.
Choosing a Great Culinary Arts/Chef Training School
The culinary arts/chef training program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Culinary Arts/Chef Training School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Culinary Arts/Chef Training Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
No school ranked higher than Seattle Community College Central Campus this year for culinary arts/chef training. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College Central Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Seattle Community College Central Campus awarded about 32 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $53,048 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,699 to complete this degree.
See the full culinary arts/chef training program report for Seattle Community College Central Campus
A rank of #2 makes Fox Valley Technical College one of the top schools for culinary arts/chef training. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Fox Valley Technical College awarded about 13 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $34,736. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete this degree.
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Madison Area Technical College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts/chef training, ranking #3. This large public university is located in the city of Madison. There were roughly 10 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from Madison Area Technical College earn around $44,279 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,812.
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Students looking for a strong culinary arts/chef training program will find one at Miami Dade College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. Miami Dade College awarded about 61 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $31,101 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,882.
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Culinary Institute Of America is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts/chef training, landing the #5 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Hyde Park. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 450 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Culinary Institute Of America in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from Culinary Institute Of America earn around $35,929 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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El Centro College landed the #6 spot for culinary arts/chef training this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Dallas. El Centro College awarded about 141 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from El Centro College earn around $31,127 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,218 to complete this degree.
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Salt Lake Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Salt Lake Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. There were roughly 20 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Salt Lake Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $31,788 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,855 to complete this degree.
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Capital Community College placed #8 among the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. Capital Community College awarded about 47 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $43,086. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete this degree.
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Suffolk County Community College earned the #9 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. Suffolk County Community College awarded about 12 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $35,667 in their early career. Suffolk County Community College graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans.
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Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. This large public university is located in the city of Eau Claire. Chippewa Valley Technical College awarded about 16 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Chippewa Valley Technical College graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans.
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Southern Maine Community College placed #11 among the best culinary arts/chef training schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of South Portland. There were roughly 15 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Southern Maine Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $41,328 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,869.
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Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earned the #12 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 39 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $29,155 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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Johnson And Wales University Providence earned the #13 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 177 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Johnson And Wales University Providence in the most recent year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Johnson And Wales University Providence earn a median of $30,145 early in their careers. Johnson And Wales University Providence graduates carry a median of $20,873 in student loans.
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Johnson County Community College earned the #14 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Overland Park. There were roughly 15 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Johnson County Community College in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $38,977 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,532 to complete this degree.
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Des Moines Area Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. Des Moines Area Community College awarded about 44 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from Des Moines Area Community College earn around $26,913 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,167 to complete this degree.
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College Of Dupage ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. About 20 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at College Of Dupage in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from College Of Dupage earn around $26,952 in the first couple years of their career. College Of Dupage graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans.
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Austin Community College District came in at #17 for culinary arts/chef training this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. Austin Community College District awarded about 16 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $44,895 in their early career. Austin Community College District graduates carry a median of $14,519 in student loans.
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Delaware Technical Community College Terry ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the city of Dover, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public university. About 29 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Delaware Technical Community College Terry in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Delaware Technical Community College Terry generally make around $26,031. Typical student debt for the program is $11,154.
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Hennepin Technical College came in at #19 for culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 19 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Hennepin Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Hennepin Technical College generally make around $52,059. Students borrow a median of $17,887 to complete this degree.
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College Of Lake County placed #20 among the best culinary arts/chef training schools. College Of Lake County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. College Of Lake County awarded about 41 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete this degree.
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National Louis University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 30% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 89 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at National Louis University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $24,786 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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Spokane Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. This large public university is located in the city of Spokane. There were roughly 15 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Spokane Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from Spokane Community College earn around $23,529 in the first couple years of their career. Spokane Community College graduates carry a median of $16,486 in student loans.
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Lee College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. Lee College awarded about 124 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $53,448 in their early career. Lee College graduates carry a median of $10,941 in student loans.
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South Georgia Technical College earned the #24 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Americus. There were roughly 15 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at South Georgia Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from South Georgia Technical College generally make around $40,497. Typical student debt for the program is $10,423.
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Indian River State College placed #25 among the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. There were roughly 31 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Indian River State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $44,082 in their early career. Indian River State College graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s culinary arts/chef training ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 222 schools evaluated.
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).
