2027 Best Culinary Arts Schools in the Southwest Region
Culinary Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 50 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for culinary arts students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Culinary Arts in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall culinary arts education in the Southwest Region.
Top Schools in Culinary Arts
Our analysis ranked El Centro College the best school in the country for a degree in culinary arts. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. About 225 culinary arts degrees were awarded at El Centro College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $31,127 in their early career. El Centro College graduates carry a median of $9,218 in student loans.
Get the full culinary arts details for El Centro College
A rank of #2 makes Austin Community College District one of the top schools for culinary arts. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. About 32 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Austin Community College District in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Austin Community College District earn around $44,895 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,519.
See the full culinary arts program report for Austin Community College District
Lee College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public university. About 124 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Lee College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $53,448 in their early career. Lee College graduates carry a median of $10,941 in student loans.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Lee College
Texarkana College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Texarkana, Texarkana College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 59 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Texarkana College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Texarkana College generally make around $19,284. Typical student debt for the program is $11,686.
See the full culinary arts program report for Texarkana College
Scottsdale Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #5 spot this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Scottsdale. About 31 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Scottsdale Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $48,039 in their early career. Scottsdale Community College graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Scottsdale Community College
Alvin Community College placed #6 among the best culinary arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Alvin. Alvin Community College awarded about 39 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Alvin Community College generally make around $55,057. Typical student debt for the program is $8,600.
Get the full culinary arts details for Alvin Community College
Collin County Community College District ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts schools. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. About 75 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Collin County Community College District in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Collin County Community College District earn around $42,177 in the first couple years of their career. Collin County Community College District graduates carry a median of $9,716 in student loans.
See the full culinary arts program report for Collin County Community College District
Estrella Mountain Community College came in at #8 for culinary arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Avondale. Estrella Mountain Community College awarded about 86 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $78,359 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,752 to complete this degree.
Get the full culinary arts details for Estrella Mountain Community College
Lamar Institute Of Technology earned the #9 position for culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Lamar Institute Of Technology awarded about 37 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $50,068 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,278.
Get the full culinary arts details for Lamar Institute Of Technology
College Of The Mainland placed #10 among the best culinary arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Texas City. About 11 culinary arts degrees were awarded at College Of The Mainland in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $40,788 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,928 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from College Of The Mainland
Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee earned the #11 position for culinary arts this year. Located in the town of Okmulgee, Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 36 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $25,272 in their early career. Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee
Tarrant County College District earned the #12 position for culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. Tarrant County College District awarded about 67 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. Students borrow a median of $15,148 to complete this degree.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Tarrant County College District
Yavapai College placed #13 among the best culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 62 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Yavapai College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $52,087 in their early career. Yavapai College graduates carry a median of $14,087 in student loans.
Get the full culinary arts details for Yavapai College
Pima Community College landed the #14 spot for culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. About 46 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Pima Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $40,977 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,655 to complete this degree.
See the full culinary arts program report for Pima Community College
San Jacinto Community College landed the #15 spot for culinary arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Pasadena. San Jacinto Community College awarded about 76 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $38,107. San Jacinto Community College graduates carry a median of $11,376 in student loans.
Read more about the culinary arts program at San Jacinto Community College
Texas State Technical College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts schools. Texas State Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. About 46 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Texas State Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Texas State Technical College generally make around $24,036. Students borrow a median of $10,861 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Texas State Technical College
Grayson College placed #17 among the best culinary arts schools. Located in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public university. Grayson College awarded about 30 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $42,487 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,627.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Grayson College
Central New Mexico Community College placed #18 among the best culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. Central New Mexico Community College awarded about 100 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $23,139 early in their careers. Central New Mexico Community College graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans.
Get the full culinary arts details for Central New Mexico Community College
Tyler Junior College landed the #19 spot for culinary arts this year. Set in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public institution. There were roughly 48 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Tyler Junior College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $43,348 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,869.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Tyler Junior College
Odessa College earned the #20 position for culinary arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Odessa. About 59 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Odessa College in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Odessa College earn around $47,856 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete this degree.
See the full culinary arts program report for Odessa College
Cochise College earned the #21 position for culinary arts this year. Located in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 13 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Cochise College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Cochise College generally make around $40,712. Cochise College graduates carry a median of $12,013 in student loans.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Cochise College
South Plains College placed #22 among the best culinary arts schools. This large public university is located in the town of Levelland. South Plains College awarded about 45 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from South Plains College earn around $30,949 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,788 to complete this degree.
Read more about the culinary arts program at South Plains College
Central Arizona College earned the #23 position for culinary arts this year. Set in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public institution. Central Arizona College awarded about 49 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Central Arizona College generally make around $48,826. Central Arizona College graduates carry a median of $11,635 in student loans.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Central Arizona College
Arizona Western College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Yuma. About 20 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Arizona Western College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Arizona Western College generally make around $44,895.
See the full culinary arts program report for Arizona Western College
Galveston College earned the #25 position for culinary arts this year. Galveston College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Galveston. About 20 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Galveston College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $51,165 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,183 to complete this degree.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Galveston College
Rest of the Top 50 Culinary Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for culinary arts this year:
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More Culinary Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 50 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.
