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2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

39 Ranked Colleges
814 Degrees Awarded
$7,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 21,906 people earned their degree in culinary arts, making the major the 80th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, culinary arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $23,822 and had an average of $19,004 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,698 culinary arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $24,767 and $19,400 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 814 culinary arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,508 and $17,812 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 39 colleges that offered a degree in culinary arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality culinary arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the culinary arts program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Culinary Arts Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 49 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cincinnati State also made our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for Cincinnati State is $5,469 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Cincinnati State

#2

Moraine Valley Community College

Palos Hills, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Moraine Valley Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Palos Hills, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

MVCC also took the #12 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $2,422 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid per year to attend MVCC.

Read more about Culinary Arts at MVCC

#3

Madison Area Technical College

Madison, Wisconsin

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Madison Area Technical College landed the #3 spot on the list. Madison Area Technical College is a fairly large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 15 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Madison College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Madison College is $9,904 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid.

Full Madison College Culinary Arts Report

#4

Elgin Community College

Elgin, Illinois

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Elgin Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Elgin, Illinois, and it awarded 18 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ECC, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,185 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid per year to attend Elgin Community College.

Full Elgin Community College Culinary Arts Report

#5

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, Illinois

Out of the 39 schools in the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Joliet Junior College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Joliet, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 58 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid list, Joliet Junior College has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,693 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid per year to attend Joliet Junior College.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Joliet Junior College

#6

College of Lake County

Grayslake, Illinois

College of Lake County landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Grayslake, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid list, College of Lake County has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend College of Lake County is $4,735 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Read more about Culinary Arts at College of Lake County

#7

Oakland Community College

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Oakland Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Oakland Community College is a fairly large school located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan that handed out 12 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Oakland Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland Community College is $2,825 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Oakland Community College

With a ranking of #8, Cuyahoga Community College District did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Cuyahoga Community College District is a fairly large public school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 23 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Cuyahoga Community College District also made our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Cuyahoga Community College District is $5,415 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Full Cuyahoga Community College District Culinary Arts Report

#9

Washtenaw Community College

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Washtenaw Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Washtenaw Community College is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 associates’s culinary arts degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $2,441 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid per year to attend Washtenaw Community College.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Washtenaw Community College

#10

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a fairly large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 29 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

MATC also took the #8 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Milwaukee Area Technical College is $9,076 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Milwaukee Area Technical College

#11

Henry Ford College

Dearborn, Michigan

Henry Ford College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Henry Ford College is located in Dearborn, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 associates’s culinary arts degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $3,182 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid per year to attend Henry Ford College.

Full Henry Ford College Culinary Arts Report

#5 in overall quality

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Fennimore, Wisconsin, this small public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.

Southwest Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $9,955 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid per year to attend Southwest Tech.

The low student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Southwest Tech

#13

Waukesha County Technical College

Pewaukee, Wisconsin

Waukesha County Technical College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Waukesha County Technical College is a medium-sized school located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 21 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

WCTC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Waukesha County Technical College is $10,165 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at WCTC

#14

Southwestern Illinois College

Belleville, Illinois

Southwestern Illinois College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Belleville, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SWIC, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southwestern Illinois College is $7,098 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid.

Full Southwestern Illinois College Culinary Arts Report

#15

Chippewa Valley Technical College

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
#11 in overall quality

Chippewa Valley Technical College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public institution located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 8 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CVTC also took the #11 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Chippewa Valley Technical College is $10,773 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Chippewa Valley Technical College

#16

Gateway Technical College

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Gateway Technical College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Gateway Technical College is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 associates’s culinary arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid list, Gateway Technical College has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $9,252 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid per year to attend Gateway Technical College.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Gateway Technical College

#17

Fox Valley Technical College

Appleton, Wisconsin

Fox Valley Technical College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Fox Valley Technical College is a fairly large school located in Appleton, Wisconsin that handed out 19 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

FVTC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Fox Valley Technical College is $11,127 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid.

Full Fox Valley Technical College Culinary Arts Report

#18

Grand Rapids Community College

Grand Rapids, Michigan

With a ranking of #18, Grand Rapids Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Grand Rapids Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 22 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Grand Rapids Community College, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,684 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid per year to attend Grand Rapids Community College.

Full Grand Rapids Community College Culinary Arts Report

#19

Northwestern Michigan College

Traverse City, Michigan

Northwestern Michigan College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. NMC is a small school located in Traverse City, Michigan that handed out 14 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

NMC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend NMC is $9,563 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at NMC

#20

Blackhawk Technical College

Janesville, Wisconsin

Blackhawk Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Janesville, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

BTC also made our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend Blackhawk Technical College is $8,760 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at BTC

#21

Stark State College

North Canton, Ohio

Stark State College landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Stark State College is a public institution located in North Canton, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Stark State College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Stark State College is $6,464 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Stark State College

#22

Richland Community College

Decatur, Illinois

Richland Community College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Richland Community College is a public institution located in Decatur, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Richland Community College is $4,794 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Richland Community College

With a ranking of #23, City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Kennedy-King College is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 16 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Kennedy-King College is $5,709 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College

#24

National Louis University

Chicago, Illinois

National Louis University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s culinary arts degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid list, NLU has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,957 for great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid per year to attend National Louis University.

Full NLU Culinary Arts Report

#25

Western Technical College

La Crosse, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #25, Western Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 6 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region associate degree culinary arts students with aid list, Western Technical College has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Technical College is $10,081 for Great Lakes Region Associate Degree Culinary Arts students with aid.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Western Technical College Culinary Arts Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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