2027 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong culinary arts education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for culinary arts students.
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2027 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
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
Leading the list is Utah Valley University, our #1 best value for culinary arts in the Rocky Mountains Region. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $16,478. Culinary Arts graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $27,056 early in their careers. Set against $16,478 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pikes Peak Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,510, while out-of-state students pay about $17,110. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $16,066. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College generally make around $41,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes College Of Southern Idaho one of the best values for culinary arts. Set in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,360, while out-of-state students pay about $6,840. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $11,175 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $39,099. That is a strong return on a $11,175 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Colorado Mountain College earned it the #4 place for culinary arts. Located in the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,616, with out-of-state students paying around $12,840. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $12,953. Culinary Arts graduates of Colorado Mountain College earn a median of $48,694 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,953 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ogden Weber Technical College earned it the #5 place for culinary arts. Set in the city of Ogden, Ogden Weber Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $8,833 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $34,308. Set against $8,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bridgerland Technical College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Logan, Bridgerland Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the culinary arts program here. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $28,884. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Salt Lake Community College placed #7 among the best values for culinary arts. Salt Lake Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,426, compared with $14,244 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,855 to complete the culinary arts program here. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $31,788. That is a strong return on a $10,855 median debt.
Pickens Technical College placed #8 among the best values for culinary arts. Pickens Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Aurora. In-state tuition and fees average $5,140, compared with $9,250 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of Pickens Technical College earn a median of $35,622 early in their careers. Set against $10,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Emily Griffith Technical College earned the #9 position for value in culinary arts this year. Emily Griffith Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Denver. Students borrow a median of $9,960 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Emily Griffith Technical College generally make around $22,599. That is a strong return on a $9,960 median debt.
Pueblo Community College came in at #10 for value in culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,049, with out-of-state students paying around $17,649. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $14,106. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $42,377. Set against $14,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Boulder earned the #11 position for value in culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Boulder, Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Boulder is a large private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $14,198. Culinary Arts graduates of Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Boulder earn a median of $27,953 early in their careers. Set against $14,198 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mesa State College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. In-state tuition and fees average $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $22,310 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $43,617 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,310 median debt. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
Davis Technical College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Davis Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kaysville. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $6,262. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Davis Technical College generally make around $34,093. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
