2027 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools in Illinois
[Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for culinary arts students.
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2027 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the culinary arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Culinary Arts Schools
Joliet Junior College earned the #1 spot for value among culinary arts schools in Illinois. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $16,375 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $28,252 early in their careers. Set against $16,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lake Land College earned it the #2 place for culinary arts. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, with out-of-state students paying around $14,301. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $5,163. Culinary Arts graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $14,366 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moraine Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Students borrow a median of $11,149 to complete the culinary arts program here. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $43,844. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Richland Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Richland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Decatur. Students from in state pay about $4,680 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,070 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $9,562. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $46,233. Set against $9,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts will find it at Lincoln Land Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,744, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $11,272 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of Lincoln Land Community College earn a median of $43,834 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College placed #6 among the best values for culinary arts. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $7,727. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Danville Area Community College earned the #7 position for value in culinary arts this year. Set in the town of Danville, Danville Area Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,440 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,440. Students borrow a median of $9,470 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Danville Area Community College earn a median of $36,123 early in their careers. Set against $9,470 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kaskaskia College landed the #8 spot for culinary arts value this year. Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Centralia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, compared with $12,570 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $7,875. Culinary Arts graduates of Kaskaskia College earn a median of $45,658 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,875 median debt.
Mchenry County College placed #9 among the best values for culinary arts. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,162, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. That is a strong return on a $7,440 median debt.
College Of Dupage earned the #10 position for value in culinary arts this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $12,492. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $26,952. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Lake County came in at #11 for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. That is a strong return on a $9,785 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College landed the #12 spot for culinary arts value this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Students borrow a median of $7,986 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College earn a median of $19,447 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Illinois College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Located in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,230, while out-of-state students pay about $6,720. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $44,345. Set against $10,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
National Louis University came in at #14 for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $13,245 in tuition and fees. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $24,786. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
Illinois Central College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $12,150. Students borrow a median of $12,222 to complete the culinary arts program here. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $53,190. Set against $12,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
More Culinary Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 ranked schools only.
- 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.
