2026 Best Culinary Arts Schools in California
Culinary Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 61 schools to find the best for culinary arts students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Culinary Arts in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the culinary arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Culinary Arts
Leading the list is Santa Rosa Junior College, our #1 school for culinary arts. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 63 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $80,047 in the first couple years of their career. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans.
Get the full culinary arts details for Santa Rosa Junior College
Orange Coast College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. There were roughly 90 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Orange Coast College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Orange Coast College earn around $46,306 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete this degree.
See the full culinary arts program report for Orange Coast College
Cuesta College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Set in the rural area of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a large public institution. Cuesta College awarded about 45 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Cuesta College generally make around $64,492. Cuesta College graduates carry a median of $18,958 in student loans.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Cuesta College
Diablo Valley College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public university. About 31 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Diablo Valley College in the most recent year. Culinary Arts graduates of Diablo Valley College earn a median of $27,813 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,205 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Diablo Valley College
Cypress College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts, ranking #5. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. About 40 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Cypress College in the most recent year.
Get the full culinary arts details for Cypress College
Grossmont College came in at #6 for culinary arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of El Cajon. About 71 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Grossmont College in the most recent year.
See the full culinary arts program report for Grossmont College
Mission College earned the #7 position for culinary arts this year. Mission College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Clara. Mission College awarded about 22 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Mission College graduates carry a median of $17,223 in student loans.
Get the full culinary arts details for Mission College
Los Angeles Harbor College landed the #8 spot for culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, Los Angeles Harbor College is a large public institution. About 66 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Los Angeles Harbor College in the most recent year. Culinary Arts graduates of Los Angeles Harbor College earn a median of $91,233 early in their careers. Los Angeles Harbor College graduates carry a median of $11,488 in student loans.
Get the full culinary arts details for Los Angeles Harbor College
College Of The Canyons landed the #9 spot for culinary arts this year. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. About 42 culinary arts degrees were awarded at College Of The Canyons in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $51,913 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,776.
Read more about the culinary arts program at College Of The Canyons
Santa Ana College earned the #10 position for culinary arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Ana. There were roughly 21 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Santa Ana College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. Typical student debt for the program is $11,196.
Get the full culinary arts details for Santa Ana College
Mt San Antonio College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Mt San Antonio College awarded about 29 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete this degree.
See the full culinary arts program report for Mt San Antonio College
Cabrillo College placed #12 among the best culinary arts schools. Located in the suburb of Aptos, Cabrillo College is a large public university. Cabrillo College awarded about 45 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $47,750 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,425 to complete this degree.
Get the full culinary arts details for Cabrillo College
City College Of San Francisco landed the #13 spot for culinary arts this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College Of San Francisco is a very large public university. There were roughly 22 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at City College Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from City College Of San Francisco earn around $100,031 in the first couple years of their career. City College Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $10,332 in student loans.
See the full culinary arts program report for City College Of San Francisco
Long Beach City College came in at #14 for culinary arts this year. Long Beach City College is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Long Beach City College awarded about 51 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $6,000.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Long Beach City College
West Hills College Lemoore ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Set in the rural area of Lemoore, West Hills College Lemoore is a moderately-sized public institution. West Hills College Lemoore awarded about 24 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from West Hills College Lemoore earn around $40,499 in the first couple years of their career. West Hills College Lemoore graduates carry a median of $9,687 in student loans.
Read more about the culinary arts program at West Hills College Lemoore
Cerritos College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. About 55 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Cerritos College in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Cerritos College earn around $29,495 in the first couple years of their career. Cerritos College graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans.
See the full culinary arts program report for Cerritos College
Riverside City College landed the #17 spot for culinary arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Riverside. There were roughly 87 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Riverside City College in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of Riverside City College earn a median of $37,102 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,767.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Riverside City College
San Diego Mesa College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best culinary arts schools. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 14 culinary arts degrees were awarded at San Diego Mesa College in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from San Diego Mesa College earn around $29,852 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,999.
See the full culinary arts program report for San Diego Mesa College
American River College landed the #19 spot for culinary arts this year. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public university. About 49 culinary arts degrees were awarded at American River College in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from American River College earn around $76,077 in the first couple years of their career. American River College graduates carry a median of $14,105 in student loans.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from American River College
Southwestern College Chula Vista earned the #20 position for culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Chula Vista, Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public university. About 35 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Southwestern College Chula Vista in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Southwestern College Chula Vista generally make around $49,358. Students borrow a median of $11,205 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Southwestern College Chula Vista
Los Angeles Mission College came in at #21 for culinary arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Sylmar. Los Angeles Mission College awarded about 157 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full culinary arts program report for Los Angeles Mission College
San Joaquin Delta College landed the #22 spot for culinary arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Stockton. San Joaquin Delta College awarded about 21 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $65,168 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete this degree.
Get the full culinary arts details for San Joaquin Delta College
Allan Hancock College earned the #23 position for culinary arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Santa Maria. Allan Hancock College awarded about 35 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year.
Get the full culinary arts details for Allan Hancock College
College Of The Sequoias earned the #24 position for culinary arts this year. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. College Of The Sequoias awarded about 37 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from College Of The Sequoias earn around $37,749 in the first couple years of their career. College Of The Sequoias graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans.
See the full culinary arts program report for College Of The Sequoias
College Of The Desert came in at #25 for culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Palm Desert, College Of The Desert is a large public university. About 34 culinary arts degrees were awarded at College Of The Desert in the most recent year. Culinary Arts graduates of College Of The Desert earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $7,826 to complete this degree.
See the full culinary arts program report for College Of The Desert
Rest of the Top 40 Culinary Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s culinary arts ranking:
More Culinary Arts Rankings
View All Culinary Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 61 schools evaluated.
- 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.
