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2023 Most Focused Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts

426 Ranked Colleges
6,800 Degrees Awarded
$25,593 Avg Salary
Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 19,806 people earned their degree in culinary arts, making the major the 97th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, culinary arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $24,855 and had an average of $17,765 in loans still to pay off.

At the associate degree level specifically, there were 6,800 culinary arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,806 and $19,336 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major” ranking looked at 426 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in culinary arts. That schools that top this list have a program in culinary arts in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Culinary Arts Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Culinary Arts Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Associate Degree Colleges for Culinary Arts

1
Louisiana Culinary Institute crest
Louisiana Culinary Institute
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Louisiana Culinary Institute. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major. Louisiana Culinary Institute is a private for-profit institution located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 53 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Louisiana Culinary Institute

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Austin. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major list. Austin, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s culinary arts degrees to 224 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Escoffier - Austin

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this small private for-profit school handed out 58 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College

4
The Culinary Institute of America crest
Culinary Institute of America
Hyde Park, New York

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Culinary Institute of America. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major. The Culinary Institute of America is a small school located in Hyde Park, New York that handed out 665 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Full The Culinary Institute of America Culinary Arts Report

5
Culinary Institute LeNotre crest
Culinary Institute Inc
Houston, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Culinary Institute Inc. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major. Located in Houston, Texas, this small private for-profit school awarded 55 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Culinary Institute LeNotre

6
JWU Charlotte crest
Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina

Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major ranking. JWU Charlotte is located in Charlotte, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 206 associates’s culinary arts degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at JWU Charlotte

7
Jna Institute of Culinary Arts crest
Jna Institute of Culinary Arts
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #7, Jna Institute of Culinary Arts did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this small private for-profit school awarded 3 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Jna Institute of Culinary Arts Culinary Arts Report

8
Helms College crest
Helms College
Macon, Georgia

Helms College ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major list. Helms College is a small school located in Macon, Georgia that handed out 50 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Helms College

9

The Art Institute of Houston came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major ranking. Houston, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s culinary arts degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

Full Ai Houston Culinary Arts Report

10

The Art Institute of Atlanta came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major ranking. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this small private for-profit school awarded 24 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2020-2021.

Full Ai Atlanta Culinary Arts Report

11

Johnson & Wales University - Providence came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major ranking. Johnson & Wales University - Providence is a medium-sized school located in Providence, Rhode Island that handed out 293 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Johnson & Wales University - Providence Culinary Arts Report

12

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major ranking. Escoffier - Boulder is a private for-profit institution located in Boulder, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 388 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at Escoffier - Boulder

13

With a ranking of #13, The Art Institute of San Antonio did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major list. Ai San Antonio is a small private for-profit school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 11 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Ai San Antonio Culinary Arts Report

14

The Art Institute of Dallas landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major ranking. The Art Institute of Dallas is a private for-profit institution located in Dallas, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full The Art Institute of Dallas Culinary Arts Report

15
CTI crest
Commonwealth Technical Institute
Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Commonwealth Technical Institute did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major ranking, coming in at #15. CTI is a small school located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that handed out 14 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Full CTI Culinary Arts Report

16
Stratford University crest
Stratford University
Fairfax, Virginia

With a ranking of #16, Stratford University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major list. Stratford University is a private for-profit institution located in Fairfax, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 70 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Stratford University

17

The Art Institute of Austin ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major list. Ai Austin is a small private for-profit school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 6 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Culinary Arts at The Art Institute of Austin

18

ICPR Junior College - Arecibo landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major ranking. ICPR Junior College - Arecibo is a private for-profit institution located in Arecibo, . The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Culinary Arts at ICPR Junior College - Arecibo

19

City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small public school awarded 51 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2020-2021.

Full Kennedy-King College Culinary Arts Report

20
Sullivan University crest
Sullivan University
Louisville, Kentucky

With a ranking of #20, Sullivan University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major list. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, this small private for-profit school handed out 80 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Sullivan University Culinary Arts Report

21

SUNY Schenectady County Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major ranking. Located in Schenectady, New York, this small public school handed out 38 diplomas to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Culinary Arts at SUNY Schenectady County Community College

22

H Councill Trenholm State Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major list. Located in Montgomery, Alabama, this small public school awarded 20 degrees to qualified associates’s culinary arts students in 2020-2021.

Full H Councill Trenholm State Community College Culinary Arts Report

23

ICPR Junior College - Mayaguez ranked #23 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major list. Mayaguez, is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s culinary arts degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at ICPR Junior College - Mayaguez

24
GCC crest
Guam Community College
Mangilao, <nil>

Guam Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major ranking. Guam Community College is a small school located in Mangilao, that handed out 23 associates’s culinary arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Full GCC Culinary Arts Report

25

Niagara County Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major ranking. Niagara County Community College is located in Sanborn, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 53 associates’s culinary arts degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Culinary Arts at Niagara County Community College

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
28
Navajo Tech crest
Navajo Technical University
Crownpoint, New Mexico
29
30
31
SUNY Sullivan crest
Sullivan County Community College
Loch Sheldrake, New York
32
South Seattle crest
South Seattle College
Seattle, Washington
33
White Mountains Community College crest
White Mountains Community College
Berlin, New Hampshire
34
35
Pittsburgh Technical College crest
Pittsburgh Technical College
Oakdale, Pennsylvania
36
37
Eastwick College - Hackensack crest
Eastwick College - Hackensack
Hackensack, New Jersey
38
39
United Tribes Technical College crest
United Tribes Technical College
Bismarck, North Dakota
40
HCCC crest
Hudson County Community College
Jersey City, New Jersey
41
Hocking Technical College crest
Hocking College
Nelsonville, Ohio
42
Columbia Junior College crest
Columbia College
Sonora, California
43
44
ECPI University crest
ECPI University
Virginia Beach, Virginia
45
Atlantic Cape Community College crest
Atlantic Cape Community College
Mays Landing, New Jersey
46
YTI crest
YTI Career Institute-York
York, Pennsylvania
47
SUNY Adirondack crest
Adirondack Community College
Queensbury, New York
48
Schoolcraft College crest
Schoolcraft College
Livonia, Michigan
49
Lackawanna College crest
Lackawanna College
Scranton, Pennsylvania
50
Lakes Region Community College crest
Lakes Region Community College
Laconia, New Hampshire

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Culinary Arts Major

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 University of Hawaii Maui College Kahului, HI
52 Hawaii Community College Hilo, HI
53 Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, AZ
54 Livingstone College Salisbury, NC
55 Huertas College Caguas, PR
56 J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College Huntsville, AL
57 Pierpont Community and Technical College Fairmont, WV
58 Baker College Owosso, MI
59 Lawson State Community College - Birmingham Campus Birmingham, AL
60 York County Community College Wells, ME
61 Saint Augustine College Chicago, IL
62 National Louis University Chicago, IL
63 Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE
64 Manchester Community College Manchester, CT

Notes and References

References

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Footnotes

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