2026 Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in Illinois
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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools to find the best for culinary arts/chef training students.
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Best Schools for Culinary Arts/Chef Training in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall culinary arts/chef training education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Culinary Arts/Chef Training
College Of Dupage tops our 2026 ranking of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. College Of Dupage awarded about 20 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $26,952. Typical student debt for the program is $12,492.
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National Louis University came in at #2 on our 2026 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. The six-year graduation rate is 30%. National Louis University awarded about 84 culinary arts/chef training degrees 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. National Louis University graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
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Elgin Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts/chef training, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. About 29 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Elgin Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from Elgin Community College earn around $43,975 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete this degree.
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Richland Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Set in the city of Decatur, Richland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 22 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Richland Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $46,233 in their early career. Richland Community College graduates carry a median of $9,562 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes Joliet Junior College one of the top schools for culinary arts/chef training. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Joliet Junior College awarded about 36 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $28,252 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,375.
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Illinois Central College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. About 14 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Illinois Central College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Illinois Central College generally make around $53,190. Illinois Central College graduates carry a median of $12,222 in student loans.
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Lake Land College earned the #7 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. About 178 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Lake Land College in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from Lake Land College earn around $14,366 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,163.
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College Of Lake County earned the #8 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Grayslake. There were roughly 33 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at College Of Lake County in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from College Of Lake County earn around $50,314 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete this degree.
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Triton College placed #9 among the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. There were roughly 16 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Triton College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from Triton College earn around $43,278 in the first couple years of their career. Triton College graduates carry a median of $12,994 in student loans.
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Kaskaskia College placed #10 among the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Centralia. There were roughly 24 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Kaskaskia College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Kaskaskia College generally make around $45,658. Kaskaskia College graduates carry a median of $7,875 in student loans.
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Rend Lake College earned the #11 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Ina. There were roughly 15 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Rend Lake College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from Rend Lake College earn around $42,770 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,688 to complete this degree.
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City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a mid-sized public institution. About 80 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College generally make around $19,447. Typical student debt for the program is $7,986.
More information about a degree in culinary arts/chef training from City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 18 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.
