2027 Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in Illinois
Culinary Arts/Chef Training is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best culinary arts/chef training schools.
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Best Schools for Culinary Arts/Chef Training in Illinois
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the culinary arts/chef training degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Culinary Arts/Chef Training
College Of Dupage tops our 2027 ranking of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. There were roughly 20 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at College Of Dupage in the most recent data 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. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete this degree.
See the full culinary arts/chef training program report for College Of Dupage
College Of Lake County is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts/chef training, ranking #2. This very large public university is 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. College Of Lake County graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans.
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National Louis University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts/chef training, landing the #3 spot this year. 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. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from National Louis University earn around $24,786 in the first couple years of their career. National Louis University graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
Read more about the culinary arts/chef training program at National Louis University
Joliet Junior College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts/chef training, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. 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. Joliet Junior College graduates carry a median of $16,375 in student loans.
Read more about the culinary arts/chef training program at Joliet Junior College
A rank of #5 makes Elgin Community College one of the top schools for culinary arts/chef training. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. Elgin Community College awarded about 18 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $43,975 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete this degree.
See the full culinary arts/chef training program report for Elgin Community College
Richland Community College earned the #6 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. Richland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Decatur. About 17 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Richland Community College in the most recent 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.
See the full culinary arts/chef training program report for Richland Community College
Lake Land College earned the #7 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 227 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Lake Land College in the most recent data 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. Students borrow a median of $5,163 to complete this degree.
Get the full culinary arts/chef training details for Lake Land College
Illinois Central College came in at #8 for culinary arts/chef training this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of East Peoria. There were roughly 13 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Central College in the most recent data 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.
See the full culinary arts/chef training program report for Illinois Central College
Kaskaskia College came in at #9 for culinary arts/chef training this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Centralia. There were roughly 36 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Kaskaskia College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts/chef training degree from Kaskaskia College earn around $45,658 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,875.
Read more about the culinary arts/chef training program at Kaskaskia College
Danville Area Community College landed the #10 spot for culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the town of Danville, Danville Area Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 11 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Danville Area Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $36,123 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,470.
Read more about the culinary arts/chef training program at Danville Area Community College
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College placed #11 among the best culinary arts/chef training schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. About 80 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College in the most recent year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College earn a median of $19,447 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $7,986 to complete this degree.
Read more about the culinary arts/chef training program at City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 11 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.
