2027 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value culinary arts schools.
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2027 Best Value Culinary Arts Schools in the The Plains States 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
Our analysis ranked Metropolitan Community College Area the best value for a degree in culinary arts in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,375 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $45,583 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt.
Central Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,360, compared with $4,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,277 to complete the culinary arts program here. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $43,218. That is a strong return on a $10,277 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at St Charles Community College earned it the #3 place for culinary arts. Located in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,810, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $12,606. Culinary Arts graduates of St Charles Community College earn a median of $47,228 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in culinary arts will find it at Saint Louis Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Students borrow a median of $11,424 to complete the culinary arts program here. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $26,318. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ozarks Technical Community College earned it the #5 place for culinary arts. Located in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,256, compared with $7,040 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $10,501 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $25,879. Set against $10,501 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Iowa Tech Community College placed #6 among the best values for culinary arts. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $12,530 in student loans. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $24,061. That is a strong return on a $12,530 median debt.
Wichita Area Technical College placed #7 among the best values for culinary arts. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,237 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,828 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Wichita Area Technical College earn a median of $35,358 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeast Community College Area ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $19,146 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of Southeast Community College Area earn a median of $31,590 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kirkwood Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,176 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Typical student debt for culinary arts graduates is $15,375. Early-career culinary arts graduates make about $21,391. That is a strong return on a $15,375 median debt.
Hennepin Technical College placed #10 among the best values for culinary arts. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,940. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $17,887 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $52,059 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,887 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College placed #11 among the best values for culinary arts. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Students borrow a median of $11,167 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $26,913. Set against $11,167 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,326. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College earn a median of $32,478 early in their careers. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnson County Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $5,688. Students borrow a median of $13,532 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Johnson County Community College generally make around $38,977. Set against $13,532 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Iowa Community College District landed the #14 spot for culinary arts value this year. Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public school located in the city of Davenport. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,848, compared with $6,456 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,995 to complete the culinary arts program here. Culinary Arts graduates of Eastern Iowa Community College District earn a median of $41,510 early in their careers. Set against $15,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Iowa Western Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,930 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,080. Culinary Arts graduates carry a median of $15,153 in student loans. Culinary Arts graduates of Iowa Western Community College earn a median of $43,444 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kansas City Kansas Community College earned the #16 position for value in culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,996, compared with $6,482 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,129 to complete the culinary arts program here. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Kansas City Kansas Community College generally make around $43,216. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
