2027 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools in Wisconsin
[Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value culinary arts schools.
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2027 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools in Wisconsin
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
Milwaukee Area Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among culinary arts schools in Wisconsin. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Students borrow a median of $19,386 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $25,304. Set against $19,386 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moraine Park Technical College earned it the #2 place for culinary arts. Set in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,819, with out-of-state students paying around $7,084. Students borrow a median of $11,471 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Moraine Park Technical College earn a median of $39,552 early in their careers. Set against $11,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Lakeshore Technical College one of the best values for culinary arts. Set in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, with out-of-state students paying around $7,087. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $11,582. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $41,252. That is a strong return on a $11,582 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts will find it at Northcentral Technical College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,889 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $11,709. Culinary Arts graduates of Northcentral Technical College earn a median of $41,696 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mid State Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids, Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,002, compared with $7,171 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $11,626 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $41,678. Set against $11,626 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Waukesha County Technical College placed #6 among the best values for culinary arts. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,803, with out-of-state students paying around $7,046. Students borrow a median of $16,595 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $46,398 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,595 median debt.
Fox Valley Technical College earned the #7 position for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $34,736 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,234 median debt.
Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,234 to complete the culinary arts program here. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $45,531. That is a strong return on a $14,234 median debt.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College landed the #9 spot for culinary arts value this year. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Fennimore. Students from in state pay about $4,904 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,147. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $12,112 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of Southwest Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $42,087 early in their careers. Set against $12,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gateway Technical College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Gateway Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Kenosha. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,956, compared with $7,199 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,829 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Gateway Technical College earn a median of $42,410 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madison Area Technical College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,977 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,141. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $16,812 in student loans. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $44,279. That is a strong return on a $16,812 median debt.
More Culinary Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
