by our College Data Analytics Team
[Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their culinary arts graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find where culinary arts graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send culinary arts graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Saint Augustine College tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools in Illinois. Saint Augustine College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Culinary Arts graduates of Saint Augustine College earn a median of about $43,384 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #2 makes Richland Community College one of the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Located in the city of Decatur, Richland Community College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Richland Community College typically earn about $39,371 annually.
Elgin Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a public institution. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Elgin Community College make a median of around $35,918 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in culinary arts will find them at National Louis University, which ranked #4. National Louis University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from National Louis University typically earn about $42,444 annually.
Southwestern Illinois College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in culinary arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a public institution. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $30,675.
Joliet Junior College landed the #6 spot for culinary arts salaries this year. Joliet Junior College is a public school located in the suburb of Joliet. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Joliet Junior College make a median of around $28,252 per year.
College Of Dupage landed the #7 spot for culinary arts salaries this year. College Of Dupage is a public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. Culinary Arts graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of about $26,952 a year early in their careers.
Lake Land College came in at #8 for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Lake Land College typically earn about $14,366 annually.
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College earned the #9 position for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a public institution. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $19,447.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their culinary arts graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 9 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.