2027 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager Schools in the Southeast 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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager students.
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2027 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager Schools
South Georgia Technical College tops our 2027 list of the best value restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools in the Southeast Region. South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Americus. Students from in state pay about $3,992 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,202 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $10,423. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from South Georgia Technical College generally make around $40,497. Set against $10,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College earned it the #2 place for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Located in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,480, while out-of-state students pay about $6,048. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $10,864 in student loans. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College earn a median of $40,452 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 Indian River State College, which ranked #3. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. In-state tuition and fees average $2,764, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $44,082 early in their careers. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager will find it at West Georgia Technical College, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,978 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $12,651. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $39,922. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Pensacola State College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools. Located in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,361, with out-of-state students paying around $9,463. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Pensacola State College generally make around $45,811. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hillsborough Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,491, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Students borrow a median of $19,657 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $29,451 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,657 median debt.
Florida State College At Jacksonville placed #7 among the best values for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,139 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $46,748. Set against $19,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College earned the #8 position for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $10,882. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $31,101 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,882 median debt.
North Georgia Technical College earned the #9 position for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Set in the rural area of Clarkesville, North Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,330 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,898 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,279 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from North Georgia Technical College generally make around $17,383. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gulf Coast State College came in at #10 for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Located in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,370, with out-of-state students paying around $8,635. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $8,286. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Gulf Coast State College earn a median of $49,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Crescent Technical College landed the #11 spot for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager value this year. Set in the town of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,516 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,084. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $17,619. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $45,062. Set against $17,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College placed #12 among the best values for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Located in the rural area of Martinsburg, Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,752 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,808. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $18,402. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Blue Ridge Community And Technical College generally make around $41,032. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College came in at #13 for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Located in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, compared with $5,868 for out-of-state students. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $8,492 in student loans. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $41,229. That is a strong return on a $8,492 median debt.
Ogeechee Technical College placed #14 among the best values for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Located in the town of Statesboro, Ogeechee Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,388, while out-of-state students pay about $5,956. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $11,894 in student loans. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Ogeechee Technical College generally make around $35,521. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Athens Technical College earned the #15 position for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Located in the city of Athens, Athens Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,390, compared with $5,958 for out-of-state students. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Athens Technical College generally make around $41,631. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Daytona State College placed #16 among the best values for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,106, while out-of-state students pay about $11,994. Students borrow a median of $12,557 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $43,320. That is a strong return on a $12,557 median debt.
Lanier Technical College came in at #17 for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, Lanier Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,980 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,190 for out-of-state students. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $12,278 in student loans. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Lanier Technical College earn a median of $37,118 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,278 median debt.
Arkansas State University Newport ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools. Set in the rural area of Newport, Arkansas State University Newport is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,312, while out-of-state students pay about $4,752. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $10,925. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Arkansas State University Newport earn a median of $44,500 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,925 median debt.
Augusta Technical College came in at #19 for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Located in the city of Augusta, Augusta Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,282 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,492. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $11,400 in student loans. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $41,892. That is a strong return on a $11,400 median debt.
Valencia College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools. Valencia College is a very large public school located in the city of Orlando. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, while out-of-state students pay about $9,576. Students borrow a median of $17,468 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Valencia College generally make around $25,227. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Nunez Community College earned the #21 position for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Located in the suburb of Chalmette, Nunez Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,255. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $40,200. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pulaski Technical College earned the #22 position for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Pulaski Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of North Little Rock. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,300, while out-of-state students pay about $9,450. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Pulaski Technical College earn a median of $25,597 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Broward College came in at #23 for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,830, with out-of-state students paying around $8,952. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $13,110. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $51,328. Set against $13,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Remington College Memphis Campus ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools. Set in the city of Memphis, Remington College Memphis Campus is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,083. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Remington College Memphis Campus generally make around $25,389. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida Education Institute landed the #25 spot for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager value this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida Education Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Florida Education Institute generally make around $20,531. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.