2027 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. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for culinary arts/chef training students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
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
Johnson County Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in culinary arts/chef training. 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. 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.
Read more about the culinary arts/chef training program at 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. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. Des Moines Area Community College awarded about 44 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. Des Moines Area Community College graduates carry a median of $11,167 in student loans.
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Hennepin Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts/chef training, landing the #3 spot this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Hennepin Technical College awarded about 19 culinary arts/chef training degrees 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. Typical student debt for the program is $17,887.
More information about a degree in culinary arts/chef training from Hennepin Technical College
A rank of #4 makes Iowa Western Community College one of the top schools for culinary arts/chef training. Located in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a large public university. Iowa Western Community College awarded about 12 culinary arts/chef training degrees 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. Typical student debt for the program is $15,153.
See the full culinary arts/chef training program report for Iowa Western Community 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. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. Metropolitan Community College Area awarded about 40 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $45,583. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in culinary arts/chef training from Metropolitan Community College Area
Kirkwood Community College placed #6 among the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Kirkwood Community College awarded about 40 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $21,391. Students borrow a median of $15,375 to complete this degree.
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Saint Louis Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Saint Louis Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Bridgeton. There were roughly 12 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Saint Louis Community College generally make around $26,318. Typical student debt for the program is $11,424.
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Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College earned the #8 position for culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. About 25 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College earn a median of $32,478 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Western Iowa Tech Community College awarded about 30 culinary arts/chef training degrees 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. Students borrow a median of $12,530 to complete this degree.
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Wichita Area Technical College landed the #10 spot for culinary arts/chef training this year. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Wichita Area Technical College awarded about 29 culinary arts/chef training degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts/chef Training graduates of Wichita Area Technical College earn a median of $35,358 early in their careers. Wichita Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,828 in student loans.
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St Charles Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. Set in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 21 culinary arts/chef training degrees were awarded at St Charles Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from St Charles Community College generally make around $47,228. St Charles Community College graduates carry a median of $12,606 in student loans.
More information about a degree in culinary arts/chef training from St Charles Community College
Ozarks Technical Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts/chef training schools. This large public university is located in the city of Springfield. There were roughly 34 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Ozarks Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts/chef training program make about $25,879 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,501.
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Eastern Iowa Community College District landed the #13 spot for culinary arts/chef training this year. Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public school located in the city of Davenport. There were roughly 19 culinary arts/chef training students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Iowa Community College District in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts/chef training degree recipients from Eastern Iowa Community College District generally make around $41,510. Typical student debt for the program is $15,995.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 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.
