2026 Best Culinary Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Culinary Arts bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 550 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Culinary Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Our analysis found Culinary Institute Of America to be the best Culinary Arts school in the United States. Based in Hyde Park, NY, Culinary Institute Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,670. Typical Culinary Arts student debt is $19,500. Get the full Culinary Institute Of America report
Out of the 550 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, National Louis University landed the #2 spot. Set in Chicago, IL, National Louis University is a private not-for-profit institution. National Louis University graduates 30% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. National Louis University Culinary Arts students take on a median of $17,500 in debt. See the full National Louis University profile
The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College came in at #3 on this year's Culinary Arts ranking in the United States. Based in Philadelphia, PA, The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,499. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete their Culinary Arts program here. Get the full The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College report
A rank of #4 makes Pennsylvania College Of Technology one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in Williamsport, PA. About 45% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,940, with out-of-state students paying around $25,680. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $16,000. See the full Pennsylvania College Of Technology profile
Johnson And Wales University Providence landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Providence, RI. Johnson And Wales University Providence posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. In-state tuition and fees run about $41,982. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $20,873. Get the full Johnson And Wales University Providence report
Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science placed #7 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Paul Smiths, NY. About 46% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,009. Typical Culinary Arts student debt is $27,000. See the full Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science profile
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi placed #10 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Set in Delhi, NY, Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,772, compared with $12,762 for out-of-state students. Suny College Of Technology At Delhi Culinary Arts students take on a median of $20,303 in debt. Read the full report on Suny College Of Technology At Delhi
Nicholls State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Nicholls State University is a public school based in Thibodaux, LA. Nicholls State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees average $8,149, while out-of-state students pay about $9,242. Graduates carry a median of $26,063 in student loans. Read more about Nicholls State University
Universidad Del Este came in at #15 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Carolina, PR. The six-year graduation rate is 32%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,750. Graduates carry a median of $10,988 in student loans. Read the full report on Universidad Del Este
Monterey Peninsula College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Read more about Monterey Peninsula College
North Central Kansas Technical College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Get the full North Central Kansas Technical College report
Pulaski Technical College landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Pulaski Technical College
Coastal Pines Technical College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. More on Coastal Pines Technical College
Cochise College
Cochise College did well this year, earning the #14 position. Read the full report on Cochise College
Michigan Career And Technical Institute did well this year, earning the #15 position. Read the full report on Michigan Career And Technical Institute
Alvin Community College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Read more about Alvin Community College
Cerritos College
Cerritos College placed #17 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Cerritos College report
Florida Keys Community College landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. See the full Florida Keys Community College profile
Sullivan University did well this year, earning the #19 position. More on Sullivan University
Westmoreland County Community College landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. See the full Westmoreland County Community College profile
Clinton Essex Warren Washington Boces ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Get the full Clinton Essex Warren Washington Boces report
Nassau Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Get the full Nassau Community College report
South Plains College did well this year, earning the #23 position. Get the full South Plains College report
Southwest Technical College placed #24 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Southwest Technical College report
Seattle Community College Central Campus landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. More on Seattle Community College Central Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Best Culinary Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Edmonds Community College did well this year, earning the #26 position. More on Edmonds Community College
West Hills College Lemoore placed #27 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Read more about West Hills College Lemoore
East Central College did well this year, earning the #28 position. Read the full report on East Central College
Liceo De Arte Y Tecnologia did well this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on Liceo De Arte Y Tecnologia
New Mexico State University Dona Ana came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Read more about New Mexico State University Dona Ana
Bergen Community College did well this year, earning the #31 position. Get the full Bergen Community College report
Francis Tuttle Technology Center ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Get the full Francis Tuttle Technology Center report
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred did well this year, earning the #33 position. Read more about Suny College Of Technology At Alfred
Chesapeake College placed #34 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. More on Chesapeake College
Great Plains Technology Center placed #35 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Great Plains Technology Center
Kennebec Valley Community College came in at #36 in this year's ranking. More on Kennebec Valley Community College
Lakeland Community College came in at #37 in this year's ranking. Get the full Lakeland Community College report
Los Angeles Trade Technical College did well this year, earning the #38 position. Read the full report on Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Columbia College Sonora landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Columbia College Sonora
Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Read the full report on Southwest Minnesota State University
El Centro College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. More on El Centro College
Lakes Region Community College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Get the full Lakes Region Community College report
Lorain County Community College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Read the full report on Lorain County Community College
Clover Park Technical College came in at #44 in this year's ranking. See the full Clover Park Technical College profile
College Of The Albemarle ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Read more about College Of The Albemarle
Eastern Iowa Community College District landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. See the full Eastern Iowa Community College District profile
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. More on Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Prince Georges Community College placed #48 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Read the full report on Prince Georges Community College
Robert Morgan Educational Center And Technical College placed #49 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Get the full Robert Morgan Educational Center And Technical College report
Yti Career Institute York did well this year, earning the #50 position. Get the full Yti Career Institute York report
Related Culinary Arts Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Culinary Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best Culinary Arts Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Culinary Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Culinary Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Culinary Arts Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Culinary Arts Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Culinary Arts Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 550 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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