2026 Best Culinary Arts Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Culinary Arts certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 550 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on 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 compile 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 Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Institute Of Culinary Education Los Angeles earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Institute Of Culinary Education Los Angeles is a private for-profit school based in Pasadena, CA. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $6,777. Get the full Institute Of Culinary Education Los Angeles report
A rank of #2 makes Institute Of Culinary Education one of the top choices in the United States. This private for-profit school is set in New York, NY. Typical Culinary Arts student debt is $6,777. Get the full Institute Of Culinary Education report
A rank of #3 makes Arizona Culinary Institute one of the top choices in the United States. This private for-profit school is set in Scottsdale, AZ. Graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Read the full report on Arizona Culinary Institute
Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Boulder came in at #4 on this year's Culinary Arts ranking in the United States. Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Boulder is a private for-profit school based in Boulder, CO. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $14,198. See the full Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Boulder profile
El Centro College placed #6 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Based in Dallas, TX, El Centro College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $9,218. More on El Centro College
Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Eau Claire, WI. Students from in state pay about $4,844 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Chippewa Valley Technical College Culinary Arts students take on a median of $14,234 in debt. Get the full Chippewa Valley Technical College report
Madison Area Technical College placed #8 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Madison Area Technical College is a public school based in Madison, WI. In-state tuition and fees average $4,977, with out-of-state students paying around $7,141. Madison Area Technical College Culinary Arts students take on a median of $16,812 in debt. More on Madison Area Technical College
Cerritos College landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. Based in Norwalk, CA, Cerritos College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Cerritos College Culinary Arts students take on a median of $11,306 in debt. Read the full report on Cerritos College
Clover Park Technical College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Lakewood, WA, Clover Park Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,634 in tuition and fees. Typical Culinary Arts student debt is $15,154. Read the full report on Clover Park Technical College
North Shore Community College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Danvers, MA. In-state tuition and fees average $5,352, compared with $10,920 for out-of-state students. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $14,145. More on North Shore Community College
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Based in Saint Paul, MN, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,326. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $17,500. Read the full report on Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College
Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Austin ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Based in Austin, TX, Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Austin is a private for-profit institution. Graduates carry a median of $16,491 in student loans. Get the full Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Austin report
Gateway Technical College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. This public school is set in Kenosha, WI. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,956, compared with $7,199 for out-of-state students. Typical Culinary Arts student debt is $14,829. More on Gateway Technical College
Wake Technical Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Wake Technical Community College is a public school based in Raleigh, NC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,254, while out-of-state students pay about $6,862. Graduates carry a median of $13,226 in student loans. Read more about Wake Technical Community College
Cet San Jose ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Cet San Jose is a private not-for-profit school based in San Jose, CA. Students borrow a median of $6,837 to complete their Culinary Arts program here. See the full Cet San Jose profile
Emily Griffith Technical College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Based in Denver, CO, Emily Griffith Technical College is a public institution. Graduates carry a median of $9,960 in student loans. Get the full Emily Griffith Technical College report
Lee College landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Based in Baytown, TX, Lee College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,520, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $10,941. See the full Lee College profile
Lake Technical College placed #20 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Lake Technical College is a public school based in Eustis, FL. Students borrow a median of $10,612 to complete their Culinary Arts program here. Read more about Lake Technical College
Athens Technical College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Athens Technical College is a public school based in Athens, GA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,390, with out-of-state students paying around $5,958. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete their Culinary Arts program here. Read more about Athens Technical College
Pinellas Technical College Clearwater landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. Pinellas Technical College Clearwater is a public school based in Clearwater, FL. Graduates carry a median of $18,549 in student loans. See the full Pinellas Technical College Clearwater profile
Miami Dade College placed #23 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Set in Miami, FL, Miami Dade College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Miami Dade College Culinary Arts students take on a median of $10,882 in debt. Read the full report on Miami Dade College
Crescent City Bartending School placed #24 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Based in New Orleans, LA, Crescent City Bartending School is a private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $3,167 to complete their Culinary Arts program here. Read more about Crescent City Bartending School
Gwinnett Technical College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Set in Lawrenceville, GA, Gwinnett Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,524, with out-of-state students paying around $6,092. Gwinnett Technical College Culinary Arts students take on a median of $18,048 in debt. More on Gwinnett Technical College
Lake Land College came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Lake Land College is a public school based in Mattoon, IL. Students from in state pay about $4,415 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,301. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $5,163. More on Lake Land College
Fox Valley Technical College placed #27 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Set in Appleton, WI, Fox Valley Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans. Get the full Fox Valley Technical College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Culinary Arts Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College came in at #28 in this year's ranking. Located in Cincinnati, OH, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,517, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. Cincinnati State Technical And Community College Culinary Arts students take on a median of $12,145 in debt. Get the full Cincinnati State Technical And Community College report
Valencia College placed #29 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. This public school is set in Orlando, FL. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,664, compared with $9,576 for out-of-state students. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $17,468. Get the full Valencia College report
West Georgia Technical College landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. Based in Waco, GA, West Georgia Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,410, compared with $5,978 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. See the full West Georgia Technical College profile
Central Piedmont Community College placed #31 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. This public school is set in Charlotte, NC. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $11,861. More on Central Piedmont Community College
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #32 in this year's ranking. Ivy Tech Community College is a public school based in Indianapolis, IN. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Ivy Tech Community College Culinary Arts students take on a median of $11,889 in debt. See the full Ivy Tech Community College profile
Georgia Northwestern Technical College placed #33 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a public school based in Rome, GA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, compared with $5,868 for out-of-state students. Georgia Northwestern Technical College Culinary Arts students take on a median of $8,492 in debt. See the full Georgia Northwestern Technical College profile
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College did well this year, earning the #34 position. Based in Valdosta, GA, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,480, while out-of-state students pay about $6,048. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Culinary Arts students take on a median of $10,864 in debt. Read the full report on Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. Located in Warner Robins, GA, Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,448, while out-of-state students pay about $6,016. Students borrow a median of $11,693 to complete their Culinary Arts program here. Read more about Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins
Lanier Technical College did well this year, earning the #36 position. Set in Gainesville, GA, Lanier Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,980, compared with $7,190 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,278 to complete their Culinary Arts program here. Read more about Lanier Technical College
Delaware Technical Community College Terry placed #37 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a public school based in Dover, DE. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,332, compared with $5,763 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,154 to complete their Culinary Arts program here. More on Delaware Technical Community College Terry
Orange Technical College Westside Campus landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Ocoee, FL. Read the full report on Orange Technical College Westside Campus
Pulaski Technical College landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in North Little Rock, AR. In-state tuition and fees average $6,300, while out-of-state students pay about $9,450. Graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Read more about Pulaski Technical College
Southern Crescent Technical College landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Based in Griffin, GA, Southern Crescent Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,516, with out-of-state students paying around $6,084. Graduates carry a median of $17,619 in student loans. Get the full Southern Crescent Technical College report
Francis Tuttle Technology Center came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Based in Oklahoma City, OK, Francis Tuttle Technology Center is a public institution. Francis Tuttle Technology Center Culinary Arts students take on a median of $14,859 in debt. Read more about Francis Tuttle Technology Center
Schoolcraft College came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Located in Livonia, MI, Schoolcraft College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,799, while out-of-state students pay about $6,501. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $15,750. Get the full Schoolcraft College report
Bristol Community College did well this year, earning the #45 position. Based in Fall River, MA, Bristol Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,832, while out-of-state students pay about $10,776. Graduates carry a median of $9,482 in student loans. Read the full report on Bristol Community College
Johnson And Wales University Providence placed #46 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Based in Providence, RI, Johnson And Wales University Providence is a private not-for-profit institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,982. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $20,873. Get the full Johnson And Wales University Providence report
Southeast Community College Area came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Based in Lincoln, NE, Southeast Community College Area is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,444, compared with $4,032 for out-of-state students. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $19,146. More on Southeast Community College Area
Central Carolina Community College did well this year, earning the #49 position. Located in Sanford, NC, Central Carolina Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,711, while out-of-state students pay about $8,855. Graduates carry a median of $10,266 in student loans. Read the full report on Central Carolina Community College
St Philips College placed #50 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Set in San Antonio, TX, St Philips College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. St Philips College Culinary Arts students take on a median of $15,653 in debt. See the full St Philips College profile
Joliet Junior College placed #51 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. This public school is set in Joliet, IL. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Graduates carry a median of $16,375 in student loans. Read more about Joliet Junior College
Augusta Technical College ranked #53 on our 2026 list of the best Culinary Arts schools. This public school is set in Augusta, GA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,282, compared with $7,492 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $11,400 in student loans. More on Augusta Technical College
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology placed #54 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Set in Kirkland, WA, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,997, compared with $12,062 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,695 to complete their Culinary Arts program here. More on Lake Washington Institute Of Technology
South Plains College placed #55 among Culinary Arts schools in the United States. Set in Levelland, TX, South Plains College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,733, with out-of-state students paying around $5,157. The median Culinary Arts program debt is $13,788. See the full South Plains College profile
Ogeechee Technical College came in at #56 in this year's ranking. Ogeechee Technical College is a public school based in Statesboro, GA. Students from in state pay about $3,388 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,956. Students borrow a median of $11,894 to complete their Culinary Arts program here. Read the full report on Ogeechee Technical College
Related Culinary Arts Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Culinary Arts Schools (All Levels)
- Best Culinary Arts Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Culinary Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Culinary Arts Bachelor’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
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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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