2027 Best Culinary Arts Schools in Iowa
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 5 schools to find the best for culinary arts students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Culinary Arts in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall culinary arts education in Iowa.
Top Schools in Culinary Arts
Des Moines Area Community College tops our 2027 ranking of the best culinary arts schools. 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. Soon after graduation, culinary arts degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $26,913. Typical student debt for the program is $11,167.
See the full culinary arts program report for Des Moines Area Community College
Iowa Western Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in culinary arts, ranking #2. 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. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Iowa Western Community College earn around $43,444 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,153 to complete this degree.
See the full culinary arts program report for Iowa Western Community College
Kirkwood Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in culinary arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. About 40 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Kirkwood Community College earn around $21,391 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,375 to complete this degree.
Read more about the culinary arts program at Kirkwood Community College
Western Iowa Tech Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best culinary arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Sioux City. About 30 culinary arts degrees were awarded at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their culinary arts degree from Western Iowa Tech Community College earn around $24,061 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,530 to complete this degree.
Get the full culinary arts details for Western Iowa Tech Community College
A rank of #5 makes Eastern Iowa Community College District one of the top schools for culinary arts. Set in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public institution. Eastern Iowa Community College District awarded about 19 culinary arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the culinary arts program make about $41,510 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,995.
See the full culinary arts program report for Eastern Iowa Community College District
More Culinary Arts Rankings
View All Culinary Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 5 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.
