2027 Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Associate’s Degree Schools
Culinary Arts/Chef Training programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 129 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for culinary arts/chef training students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Culinary Arts/Chef Training in the United States
Below are the best culinary arts/chef training schools at the associate’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Culinary Arts/Chef Training
No school ranked higher than Fox Valley Technical College this year for culinary arts/chef training. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $14,234.
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Students looking for a strong culinary arts/chef training program will find one at Seattle Community College Central Campus, which ranked #2. 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. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from Seattle Community College Central Campus earn around $53,048 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,699 to complete this degree.
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Capital Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts/chef training, ranking #3. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. Capital Community College awarded about 22 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $43,086 early in their careers. Capital Community College graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans.
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Suffolk County Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts/chef training, ranking #4. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 11 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from Suffolk County Community College earn around $35,667 in the first couple years of their career. Suffolk County Community College graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans.
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Culinary Institute Of America came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the suburb of Hyde Park, Culinary Institute Of America is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 431 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Culinary Institute Of America in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Culinary Institute Of America generally make around $28,049. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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Salt Lake Community College landed the #6 spot for culinary arts/chef training this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. Salt Lake Community College awarded about 20 culinary arts/chef training degrees 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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Miami Dade College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. Miami Dade College awarded about 61 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $31,101 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,882 to complete this degree.
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Des Moines Area Community College landed the #8 spot for culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. Des Moines Area Community College awarded about 29 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $26,913 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,167 to complete this degree.
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Austin Community College District came in at #9 for culinary arts/chef training this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. About 10 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Austin Community College District in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $44,895. Typical student debt for the program is $14,519.
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Madison Area Technical College came in at #10 for culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public institution. 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. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $44,279. Madison Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $16,812 in student loans.
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College Of Dupage landed the #11 spot for culinary arts/chef training this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. College Of Dupage awarded about 10 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $26,952 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete this degree.
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El Centro College earned the #12 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Dallas. There were roughly 15 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at El Centro College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $31,770 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,218 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in culinary arts/chef training from El Centro College
Southern Maine Community College earned the #13 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. Southern Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of South Portland. About 15 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Southern Maine Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Southern Maine Community College generally make around $41,328. Typical student debt for the program is $13,869.
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Delaware Technical Community College Terry earned the #14 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the city of Dover, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public university. There were roughly 29 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Delaware Technical Community College Terry in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Delaware Technical Community College Terry earn a median of $26,031 early in their careers. Delaware Technical Community College Terry graduates carry a median of $11,154 in student loans.
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Johnson County Community College placed #15 among the best culinary arts/chef training schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Overland Park. Johnson County Community College awarded about 15 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from Johnson County Community College earn around $38,977 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,532.
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Johnson And Wales University Providence ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Johnson And Wales University Providence is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 90 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Johnson And Wales University Providence in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $27,514 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,745 to complete this degree.
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Cincinnati State Technical And Community College came in at #17 for culinary arts/chef training this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. About 22 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Cincinnati State Technical And Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College generally make around $36,330. Cincinnati State Technical And Community College graduates carry a median of $12,145 in student loans.
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Hennepin Technical College placed #18 among the best culinary arts/chef training schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. About 10 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Hennepin Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from Hennepin Technical College earn around $52,059 in the first couple years of their career. Hennepin Technical College graduates carry a median of $17,887 in student loans.
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Brookdale Community College came in at #19 for culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 19 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Brookdale Community College in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Brookdale Community College earn a median of $37,374 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,651.
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Joliet Junior College earned the #20 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. About 35 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Joliet Junior College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $28,252. Typical student debt for the program is $16,375.
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National Louis University placed #21 among the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 30% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at National Louis University in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $24,786 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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Spokane Community College landed the #22 spot for culinary arts/chef training this year. This large public university is located in the city of Spokane. About 15 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Spokane Community College in the most recent 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. Typical student debt for the program is $16,486.
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Johnson And Wales University Charlotte came in at #23 for culinary arts/chef training this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Charlotte. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 105 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Johnson And Wales University Charlotte in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Johnson And Wales University Charlotte generally make around $27,514. Students borrow a median of $14,745 to complete this degree.
Read more about the culinary arts/chef training program at Johnson And Wales University Charlotte
College Of Lake County came in at #24 for culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. About 41 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at College Of Lake County in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. College Of Lake County graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans.
More information about a degree in culinary arts/chef training from College Of Lake County
Seattle Community College South Campus placed #25 among the best culinary arts/chef training schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Seattle. About 12 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Seattle Community College South Campus in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in culinary arts/chef training from Seattle Community College South Campus
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:
Other Culinary Arts/Chef Training Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Culinary Arts/Chef Training rankings across degree levels:
View All Culinary Arts/Chef Training Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 129 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
