2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Culinary Arts is the 80th most popular major in the country with 21,906 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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.
At the associate degree level specifically, there were 7,304 culinary arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,082 and $17,678 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate” ranking looked at 220 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in culinary arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent culinary arts programs, but they also cost less that 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate” list to help you make the college decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate
The colleges and universities below are the best for associate degree culinary arts students.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Madison Area Technical College. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate list. This fairly large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 15 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Madison College also made our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for Madison College is $9,904 for associate degree culinary arts students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Valencia College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate. Valencia College is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 102 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree culinary arts students list, Valencia College has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Valencia College is $5,205 for associate degree culinary arts students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Johnson County Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate. Overland Park, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts degrees to 36 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at JCCC, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $12,632 for associate degree culinary arts students per year to attend Johnson County Community College.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate list. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts degrees to 49 students in 2019-2020.
Cincinnati State also took the #12 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is $5,469 for associate degree culinary arts students.
Read more about Culinary Arts at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Out of the 220 schools in the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Joliet Junior College landed the #5 spot on the list. Joliet Junior College is a public institution located in Joliet, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 58 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Joliet Junior College, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Joliet Junior College is $4,693 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students.
Metropolitan Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate ranking. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s culinary arts degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.
MCC also claimed a top spot on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $4,295 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students per year to attend Metropolitan Community College.
Athens Technical College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate ranking. This small school is located in Athens, Georgia, and it awarded 7 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Athens Technical College also did well on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Athens Technical College is $4,937 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students.
Read full report on Culinary Arts at Athens Technical College
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate ranking. Located in Fennimore, Wisconsin, this small public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.
Southwest Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Southwest Tech is $9,955 for associate degree culinary arts students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Culinary Arts at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Kapiolani Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #9. This medium-sized school is located in Honolulu, Hawaii, and it awarded 61 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Kapiolani CC also made our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $6,368 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students per year to attend Kapiolani Community College.
With a ranking of #10, North Dakota State College of Science did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate list. North Dakota State College of Science is a small public school situated in Wahpeton, North Dakota. It awarded 10 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, North Dakota State College of Science is also in the top of our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State College of Science is $10,940 for associate degree culinary arts students.
Full North Dakota State College of Science Culinary Arts Report
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate ranking. Fox Valley Technical College is a fairly large public school situated in Appleton, Wisconsin. It awarded 19 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
FVTC also claimed a top spot on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Fox Valley Technical College is $11,127 for associate degree culinary arts students.
Southeast Community College Area ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate list. Southeast Community College Area is a medium-sized public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 10 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $9,059 for associate degree culinary arts students per year to attend Southeast Community College Area.
With a ranking of #13, Milwaukee Area Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate list. MATC is a fairly large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 29 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, MATC is in the top on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $9,076 for associate degree culinary arts students per year to attend MATC.
Waukesha County Technical College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate list. WCTC is a medium-sized school located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 21 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
WCTC also claimed a top spot on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend WCTC is $10,165 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students.
Elgin Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate ranking. Elgin Community College is located in Elgin, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 associates’s culinary arts degrees to qualified students.
ECC excels when it comes to culinary arts quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Elgin Community College is $4,185 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students.
Chippewa Valley Technical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #16. CVTC 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 claimed a top spot on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Chippewa Valley Technical College is $10,773 for associate degree culinary arts students.
South Georgia Technical College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate ranking. Located in Americus, Georgia, this small public school handed out 16 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $-947 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students per year to attend South Georgia Technical College. When an average net price is negative, it usually means that the student will receive more financial aid than it costs to attend the school.
Read full report on Culinary Arts at South Georgia Technical College
South Plains College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #18. South Plains College is located in Levelland, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 associates’s culinary arts degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $7,600 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students per year to attend South Plains College.
San Jacinto Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate ranking. San Jacinto College is a large school located in Pasadena, Texas that handed out 26 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for San Jacinto College is $8,692 for associate degree culinary arts students.
Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate list. This medium-sized school is located in Sioux City, Iowa, and it awarded 12 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Western Iowa Tech Community College is $7,201 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students.
Read more about Culinary Arts at Western Iowa Tech Community College
Florida State College at Jacksonville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #21. Florida State College at Jacksonville is a large school located in Jacksonville, Florida that handed out 29 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
FSCJ did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend FSCJ is $3,916 for associate degree culinary arts students.
Sullivan University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate ranking. Sullivan University is located in Louisville, Kentucky and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 117 associates’s culinary arts degrees to qualified students.
Sullivan University also made our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Sullivan University is $22,392 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Oakland Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #23. Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. It awarded 12 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Oakland Community College is $2,825 for Associate Degree Culinary Arts students.
With a ranking of #24, University of Hawaii Maui College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate list. University of Hawaii Maui College is located in Kahului, Hawaii and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 associates’s culinary arts degrees to qualified students.
UH Maui College also took the #11 spot in our “Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $9,816 for associate degree culinary arts students per year to attend UH Maui College.
Moraine Valley Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate ranking. MVCC is located in Palos Hills, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 associates’s culinary arts degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Moraine Valley Community College is $2,422 for associate degree culinary arts students.
Rest of the Best 34 in Best Value Culinary Arts Schools for an Associate
Not only did these schools make the top 34 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts
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Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant
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Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Institutional Food Workers
Other Culinary Arts & Related Services
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Other Culinary Arts & Related Services
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Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef
Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager
Food Service, Waiter/Waitress, & Dining Room Management/Manager
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Food Service, Waiter/Waitress, & Dining Room Management/Manager
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Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools
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Most Popular Associate Degree Online Culinary Arts Schools
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Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts (Income $0-$30k)
Culinary Arts students with family income less than $30k
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts (Income $48-$75k)
Culinary Arts students with family income $48-$75k
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts (Income Over $110k)
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Most Popular Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts
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Culinary Arts students getting aid
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts (Income $30-$48k)
Culinary Arts students with family income $30-$48k
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts (Income $75-$110k)
Culinary Arts students with family income $75-$110k
Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to U.S. Army Europe Images.
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