2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2019-2020, 1,673 people earned their degree in restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager, making the major the 456th most popular in the United States.
At the associate degree level specifically, there were 635 restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,082 and $17,678 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate” ranking analyzed 43 colleges that offered a degree in restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate
The colleges and universities below are the best for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students.
Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager
Out of the 43 schools in the Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Valencia College landed the #1 spot on the list. Orlando, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.
Valencia College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Valencia College is $5,205 for Associate Degree Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager students.
Read full report on Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager at Valencia College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Johnson County Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate list. Located in Overland Park, Kansas, this fairly large public school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students in 2019-2020.
JCCC also took the #2 spot in our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Johnson County Community College is $12,632 for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students.
Read full report on Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager at JCCC
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate list. Cincinnati State is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Cincinnati State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Cincinnati State is $5,469 for Associate Degree Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager students.
Read more about Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager at Cincinnati State
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate list. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 9 associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students list, MCC has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $4,295 for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students per year to attend Metropolitan Community College.
Read full report on Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager at MCC
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southwest Wisconsin Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate list. Southwest Tech is a small public school situated in Fennimore, Wisconsin. It awarded 3 associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees in 2019-2020.
Southwest Tech also made our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $9,955 for Associate Degree Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager students per year to attend Southwest Wisconsin Technical College.
The low student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager at Southwest Tech
Southeast Community College Area came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate ranking. Southeast Community College Area is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees to qualified students.
Southeast Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Community College is $9,059 for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students.
With a ranking of #7, Waukesha County Technical College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate list. Located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 11 degrees to qualified associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students list, WCTC has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Waukesha County Technical College is $10,165 for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students.
Elgin Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate ranking. Elgin, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
ECC also took the #10 spot in our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $4,185 for Associate Degree Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager students per year to attend Elgin Community College.
Read full report on Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager at Elgin Community College
San Jacinto Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #9. San Jacinto Community College is a public institution located in Pasadena, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students list, San Jacinto College has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Jacinto Community College is $8,692 for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students.
Florida State College at Jacksonville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #10. Jacksonville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.
FSCJ also made our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $3,916 for Associate Degree Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager students per year to attend FSCJ.
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With a ranking of #11, Moraine Valley Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate list. Palos Hills, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.
MVCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $2,422 for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students per year to attend MVCC.
Read more about Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager at MVCC
Southwestern Illinois College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Belleville, Illinois, and it awarded 6 associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Southwestern Illinois College is $7,098 for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students.
Read full report on Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager at SWIC
Manchester Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate ranking. Manchester Community College is located in Manchester, Connecticut and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees to qualified students.
MCC also made our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for MCC is $7,142 for Associate Degree Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager students.
Full MCC Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Report
Western Technical College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate ranking. Western Technical College is a small school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin that handed out 6 associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students list, Western Technical College has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Technical College is $10,081 for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager at Western Technical College
Nassau Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate ranking. Nassau Community College is a fairly large school located in Garden City, New York that handed out 10 associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees in 2019-2020.
Nassau Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Nassau Community College is $4,594 for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students.
Read full report on Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager at Nassau Community College
SUNY Delhi did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #16. Delhi, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.
SUNY Delhi also made our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $14,867 for Associate Degree Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager students per year to attend SUNY Delhi.
Read more about Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager at SUNY Delhi
Central New Mexico Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate ranking. Central New Mexico Community College is a large school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico that handed out 4 associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend CNM is $3,429 for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students.
College of Lake County did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Grayslake, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students in 2019-2020.
College of Lake County also took the #13 spot in our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend College of Lake County is $4,735 for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students.
Full College of Lake County Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Report
Ozarks Technical Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate list. Ozarks Technical Community College is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $7,908 for Associate Degree Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager students per year to attend OTC.
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Macomb Community College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate ranking. Macomb Community College is a public institution located in Warren, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $8,724 for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students per year to attend Macomb Community College.
Read full report on Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager at Macomb Community College
Howard Community College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate ranking. Columbia, Maryland is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.
HCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Howard Community College is $9,823 for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students.
Full HCC Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Report
With a ranking of #22, St Philip’s College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate list. St Philip’s College is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.
St Philip’s College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for St Philip’s College is $6,250 for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students.
Full St Philip’s College Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Report
Baker College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate list. Baker College is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Owosso, Michigan. It awarded 3 associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Baker College is $15,049 for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students.
The impressive 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.
Full Baker College Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Report
Daytona State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Daytona Beach, Florida, this fairly large public school handed out 18 diplomas to qualified associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students in 2019-2020.
Daytona State College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $8,789 for associate degree restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager students per year to attend Daytona State College.
Full Daytona State College Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager Report
Central Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager Schools for an Associate ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Grand Island, Nebraska, and it awarded 3 associates’s restaurant, culinary, and catering management/manager degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $8,235 for Associate Degree Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager students per year to attend Central Community College.
Read full report on Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager at Central Community College
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to U.S. Army Europe Images.
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