2027 Best Culinary Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region
Culinary Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools to find the best for culinary arts students.
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Best Schools for Culinary Arts in the The Plains States Region
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
Our analysis ranked Johnson County Community College the best school in the country for a degree in culinary arts. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. Johnson County Community College awarded about 42 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $38,977 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,532.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Johnson County Community College
Des Moines Area Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. There were roughly 44 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $26,913 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,167.
See the full culinary arts program report for Des Moines Area Community College
Students looking for a strong culinary arts program will find one at Hennepin Technical College, which ranked #3. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. About 57 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Hennepin Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $52,059 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,887 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Hennepin Technical College
A rank of #4 makes Iowa Western Community College one of the top schools for culinary arts. Set in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 32 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Iowa Western Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Iowa Western Community College generally make around $43,444. Students borrow a median of $15,153 to complete this degree.
Get the full culinary arts details for Iowa Western Community College
Students looking for a strong culinary arts program will find one at Central Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a large public university. Central Community College awarded about 16 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Central Community College generally make around $43,218. Central Community College graduates carry a median of $10,277 in student loans.
Get the full culinary arts details for Central Community College
Metropolitan Community College Area earned the #6 position for culinary arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Omaha. Metropolitan Community College Area awarded about 45 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $45,583 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete this degree.
Get the full culinary arts details for Metropolitan Community College Area
Kirkwood Community College landed the #7 spot for culinary arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cedar Rapids. There were roughly 40 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Kirkwood Community College earn around $21,391 in the first couple years of their career. Kirkwood Community College graduates carry a median of $15,375 in student loans.
See the full culinary arts program report for Kirkwood Community College
Southeast Community College Area earned the #8 position for culinary arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Lincoln. There were roughly 86 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Southeast Community College Area in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $31,590 in their early career. Southeast Community College Area graduates carry a median of $19,146 in student loans.
See the full culinary arts program report for Southeast Community College Area
Saint Louis Community College placed #9 among the best culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 32 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Saint Louis Community College earn around $26,318 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,424.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Saint Louis Community College
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College landed the #10 spot for culinary arts this year. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. There were roughly 40 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $32,478 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full culinary arts details for Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College
Western Iowa Tech Community College placed #11 among the best culinary arts schools. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. Western Iowa Tech Community College awarded about 30 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $24,061. Typical student debt for the program is $12,530.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Western Iowa Tech Community College
Wichita Area Technical College landed the #12 spot for culinary arts this year. Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wichita. There were roughly 29 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at Wichita Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $35,358 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,828 to complete this degree.
Get the full culinary arts details for Wichita Area Technical College
St Charles Community College came in at #13 for culinary arts this year. Set in the suburb of Cottleville, St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 21 culinary arts students who graduated with this degree at St Charles Community College in the most recent data year. Culinary Arts graduates of St Charles Community College earn a median of $47,228 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,606.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from St Charles Community College
Kansas City Kansas Community College landed the #14 spot for culinary arts this year. Kansas City Kansas Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Kansas City. About 61 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Kansas City Kansas Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Kansas City Kansas Community College generally make around $43,216. Kansas City Kansas Community College graduates carry a median of $13,129 in student loans.
More information about a degree in culinary arts from Kansas City Kansas Community College
Ozarks Technical Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts schools. Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Springfield. About 35 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Ozarks Technical Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $25,879 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,501.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Ozarks Technical Community College
Eastern Iowa Community College District placed #16 among the best culinary arts schools. Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public school located in the city of Davenport. About 19 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Eastern Iowa Community College District in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Eastern Iowa Community College District earn around $41,510 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,995 to complete this degree.
Get the full culinary arts details for Eastern Iowa Community College District
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 16 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.
