2027 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/restaurant-culinary-and-catering-management-manager/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong restaurant, culinary catering management/manager education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager students.
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2027 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager Schools
Our analysis ranked Moraine Valley Community College the best value for a degree in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $43,844. That is a strong return on a $11,149 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Macomb Community College earned it the #2 place for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $9,862. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $20,701 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager will find it at Lincoln Land Community College, which ranked #3. Lincoln Land Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $3,744 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $11,272. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Lincoln Land Community College earn a median of $43,834 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,272 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earned it the #4 place for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,517, while out-of-state students pay about $10,044. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $12,145 in student loans. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. Set against $12,145 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Elgin Community College earned it the #5 place for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.
Sinclair Community College earned the #6 position for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Students borrow a median of $15,834 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $28,037. Set against $15,834 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mchenry County College placed #7 among the best values for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Located in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,162, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $24,177. That is a strong return on a $7,440 median debt.
College Of Lake County landed the #8 spot for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager value this year. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $9,785. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $50,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbus State Community College landed the #9 spot for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager value this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,435 ten years after entry. Set against $9,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Waukesha County Technical College placed #10 among the best values for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,803, while out-of-state students pay about $7,046. Students borrow a median of $16,595 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Waukesha County Technical College generally make around $46,398. Set against $16,595 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Illinois College landed the #11 spot for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager value this year. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, compared with $6,720 for out-of-state students. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $44,345. Set against $10,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Vincennes University earned the #12 position for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Set in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $14,506 in student loans. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Vincennes University generally make around $45,976. Set against $14,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College came in at #13 for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Set in the rural area of Fennimore, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,904 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,147. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $12,112 in student loans. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $42,087. Set against $12,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Baker College Of Flint earned the #14 position for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Baker College Of Flint is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Owosso. Students from in state pay about $13,000 in tuition and fees. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $25,204. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Madison Area Technical College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools. Located in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,977, compared with $7,141 for out-of-state students. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $16,812 in student loans. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $44,279 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 ranked schools only.
- 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.