2026 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager Schools in the Southwest Region
[Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/restaurant-culinary-and-catering-management-manager/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager Schools in the Southwest 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
Pima Community College earned the #1 spot for value among restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,655 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $40,977 early in their careers. Set against $10,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central New Mexico Community College earned it the #2 place for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $23,139. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes El Paso Community College one of the best values for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $8,542. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager will find it at St Philips College, which ranked #4. St Philips College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates carry a median of $15,653 in student loans. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of St Philips College earn a median of $45,185 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,653 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager will find it at San Jacinto Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $38,107. Set against $11,376 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Odessa College earned the #6 position for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Odessa College is a large public school located in the city of Odessa. In-state tuition and fees average $2,688, with out-of-state students paying around $4,926. Typical student debt for restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates is $9,087. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Odessa College generally make around $47,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Great Plains Technology Center ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools. Great Plains Technology Center is a small public school located in the city of Lawton. Students borrow a median of $11,759 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/manager graduates of Great Plains Technology Center earn a median of $48,921 early in their careers. Set against $11,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arizona Western College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value restaurant, culinary catering management/manager schools. Arizona Western College is a large public school located in the city of Yuma. Students from in state pay about $3,060 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,870 for out-of-state students. Early-career restaurant, culinary catering management/manager graduates make about $44,895.
Culinary Institute Inc came in at #9 for value in restaurant, culinary catering management/manager this year. Culinary Institute Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $18,803. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete the restaurant, culinary catering management/manager program here. Soon after graduation, restaurant, culinary catering management/manager degree recipients from Culinary Institute Inc generally make around $24,664. Set against $20,144 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Narrow Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager Schools by State
More Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager Rankings
View All Restaurant, Culinary Catering Management/Manager Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
