2026 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/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong restaurant, culinary catering management/manager education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager students.
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2026 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
Moraine Valley Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $11,149. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $43,844. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Lincoln Land Community College one of the best values for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Set in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,744, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $11,272 in student loans. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $43,834. That is a strong return on a $11,272 median debt.
Elgin Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager, landing the #3 spot this year. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $7,727. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $43,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sinclair Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager, landing the #4 spot this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Macomb Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Students borrow a median of $9,862 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,862 median debt.
College Of Lake County landed the #6 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College placed #7 among the best values for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,517, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,145 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $47,975. That is a strong return on a $12,145 median debt.
Mchenry County College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,162, compared with $14,399 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of $24,177 early in their careers. Set against $7,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Waukesha County Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,803, with out-of-state students paying around $7,046. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $16,595. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Waukesha County Technical College generally make around $46,398. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vincennes University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools. Vincennes University is a very large public school located in the town of Vincennes. Students from in state pay about $7,126 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $14,506 in student loans. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Vincennes University earn a median of $45,976 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,506 median debt.
Madison Area Technical College earned the #11 position for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Set against $16,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Baker College Of Flint placed #12 among the best values for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Located in the town of Owosso, Baker College Of Flint is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,000. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Baker College Of Flint earn a median of $25,204 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
