by our College Data Analytics Team
[Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value culinary arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in culinary arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in culinary arts, no school beat Bunker Hill Community College this year. Bunker Hill Community College is a large public school located in the city of Boston. In-state tuition and fees average $6,168, with out-of-state students paying around $11,112. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $11,893 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $51,782. Set against $11,893 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Holyoke Community College one of the best values for culinary arts. Set in the rural area of Holyoke, Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,988, with out-of-state students paying around $10,932. Students borrow a median of $9,763 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Holyoke Community College generally make around $43,423. Set against $9,763 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Southeastern Technical Institute one of the best values for culinary arts. Set in the suburb of South Easton, Southeastern Technical Institute is a small public institution. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $10,000. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $49,476. The acceptance rate is 71%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Massasoit Community College earned it the #4 place for culinary arts. Set in the suburb of Brockton, Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,376 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $10,894. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $42,938. Set against $10,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Berkshire Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Berkshire Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Pittsfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,712, with out-of-state students paying around $11,328. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $16,167. Culinary Arts graduates of Berkshire Community College earn a median of $45,806 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,167 median debt.
Boston University came in at #6 for value in culinary arts this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $63,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.