2026 Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools in the The Plains States Region
Culinary Arts/Chef Training is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their culinary arts/chef training programs.
College Factual analyzed 28 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best culinary arts/chef training schools.
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Best Schools for Culinary Arts/Chef Training in the The Plains States Region
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
Leading the list is Johnson County Community College, our #1 school for culinary arts/chef training. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. About 13 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Johnson County Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Johnson County Community College generally make around $38,977. Typical student debt for the program is $13,532.
See the full culinary arts/chef training program report for Johnson County Community College
Des Moines Area Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts/chef training, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. Des Moines Area Community College awarded about 28 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $26,913 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,167 to complete this degree.
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Iowa Western Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Council Bluffs. There were roughly 12 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Iowa Western Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Iowa Western Community College generally make around $43,444. Iowa Western Community College graduates carry a median of $15,153 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong culinary arts/chef training program will find one at Hennepin Technical College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 17 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Hennepin Technical College in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $52,059 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,887 to complete this degree.
See the full culinary arts/chef training program report for Hennepin Technical College
Metropolitan Community College Area is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts/chef training, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. There were roughly 41 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Metropolitan Community College Area in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $45,583 early in their careers. Metropolitan Community College Area graduates carry a median of $12,799 in student loans.
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Kirkwood Community College placed #6 among the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. Kirkwood Community College awarded about 36 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $21,391 early in their careers. Kirkwood Community College graduates carry a median of $15,375 in student loans.
More information about a degree in culinary arts/chef training from Kirkwood Community College
Saint Louis Community College came in at #7 for culinary arts/chef training this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Bridgeton. About 29 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Saint Louis Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Saint Louis Community College generally make around $26,318. Saint Louis Community College graduates carry a median of $11,424 in student loans.
See the full culinary arts/chef training program report for Saint Louis Community College
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College landed the #8 spot for culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 24 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College generally make around $32,478. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
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Western Iowa Tech Community College placed #9 among the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. There were roughly 36 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $24,061 early in their careers. Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $12,530 in student loans.
See the full culinary arts/chef training program report for Western Iowa Tech Community College
Ozarks Technical Community College earned the #10 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Springfield. About 20 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Ozarks Technical Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Ozarks Technical Community College generally make around $25,879. Typical student debt for the program is $10,501.
Read more about the culinary arts/chef training program at Ozarks Technical Community College
Eastern Iowa Community College District came in at #11 for culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public institution. About 19 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Eastern Iowa Community College District in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $41,510 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,995 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in culinary arts/chef training from Eastern Iowa Community College District
East Central College landed the #12 spot for culinary arts/chef training this year. Set in the town of Union, East Central College is a mid-sized public institution. East Central 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 East Central College generally make around $37,925. Students borrow a median of $12,062 to complete this degree.
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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 · 28 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.
