2026 Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools
There are 627 colleges that offer a degree in Culinary Arts. Learn more about the most popular schools below:
Finding the Best Culinary Arts School for You
With all the Culinary Arts programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You can choose a traditional brick-and-mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school halfway across the country without even leaving your house.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 627 schools in the United States offering Culinary Arts programs. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school’s program.
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2026 Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools in the United States
Check out the Culinary Arts programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.
Top 25 Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools
Our 2026 rankings named Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder the most popular school in the U.S. for Culinary Arts majors. Located in Boulder, CO, this is a private for-profit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 3,456 people earned their degree in Culinary Arts from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $26,209. Read full report on Culinary Arts at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder
NUC University landed the #2 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools ranking. NUC University is a private for-profit school located in Bayamon, PR. This school awarded 1,307 degrees in Culinary Arts in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $18,183. Read full report on Culinary Arts at NUC University
Culinary Institute of America comes in at #3 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Culinary Arts majors. Located in Hyde Park, NY, this is a private nonprofit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 756 people earned their degree in Culinary Arts from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $30,591. Read full report on Culinary Arts at Culinary Institute of America
Institute of Culinary Education comes in at #4 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Culinary Arts majors. Located in New York, NY, this is a private for-profit institution. This school awarded 582 degrees in Culinary Arts in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $23,169. Full Culinary Arts at Institute of Culinary Education Report
Valencia College comes in at #5 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Culinary Arts majors. Valencia College is a public school located in Orlando, FL. This school awarded 397 degrees in Culinary Arts in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $30,627. Full Culinary Arts at Valencia College Report
Johnson & Wales University-Providence landed the #6 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools ranking. Located in Providence, RI, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 395 degrees in Culinary Arts in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $33,862. Read More…
Central Piedmont Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools ranking. Central Piedmont Community College is a public school located in Charlotte, NC. During the most recent year for which we have data, 317 people earned their degree in Culinary Arts from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $37,962. Read More…
Institute of Culinary Education comes in at #8 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Culinary Arts majors. Located in Pasadena, CA, this is a private for-profit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 310 people earned their degree in Culinary Arts from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $23,169. Read full report on Culinary Arts at Institute of Culinary Education
Ivy Tech Community College comes in at #9 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Culinary Arts majors. Ivy Tech Community College is a public school located in Indianapolis, IN. This school awarded 273 degrees in Culinary Arts in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $46,027. Read full report on Culinary Arts at Ivy Tech Community College
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin landed the #10 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools ranking. Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin is a private for-profit school located in Austin, TX. This school awarded 212 degrees in Culinary Arts in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $26,265. Read full report on Culinary Arts at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin
Escuela Hotelera de San Juan comes in at #11 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Culinary Arts majors. Located in Hato Rey, PR, this is a private for-profit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 206 people earned their degree in Culinary Arts from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $10,108. Full Culinary Arts at Escuela Hotelera de San Juan Report
St Philip's College landed the #12 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools ranking. Located in San Antonio, TX, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 187 people earned their degree in Culinary Arts from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $42,695. Full Culinary Arts at St Philip's College Report
Lake Land College comes in at #13 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Culinary Arts majors. Located in Mattoon, IL, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 178 people earned their degree in Culinary Arts from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $31,436. Read full report on Culinary Arts at Lake Land College
Trident Technical College comes in at #14 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Culinary Arts majors. Trident Technical College is a public school located in Charleston, SC. During the most recent year for which we have data, 171 people earned their degree in Culinary Arts from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $43,348. Full Culinary Arts at Trident Technical College Report
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte landed the #15 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools ranking. Located in Charlotte, NC, this is a private nonprofit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 166 people earned their degree in Culinary Arts from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $33,862. Read full report on Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
Culinary Institute Inc comes in at #16 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Culinary Arts majors. Located in Houston, TX, this is a private for-profit institution. This school awarded 162 degrees in Culinary Arts in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $26,237. Full Culinary Arts at Culinary Institute Inc Report
Dallas College landed the #17 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools ranking. Dallas College is a public school located in Dallas, TX. This school awarded 161 degrees in Culinary Arts in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $38,587. Read More…
Los Angeles Mission College comes in at #18 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Culinary Arts majors. Los Angeles Mission College is a public school located in Sylmar, CA. This school awarded 157 degrees in Culinary Arts in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $34,770. Full Culinary Arts at Los Angeles Mission College Report
Miami Dade College comes in at #19 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Culinary Arts majors. Miami Dade College is a public school located in Miami, FL. During the most recent year for which we have data, 149 people earned their degree in Culinary Arts from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $36,815. Read More…
Los Angeles Trade Technical College landed the #20 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools ranking. Located in Los Angeles, CA, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 145 people earned their degree in Culinary Arts from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $32,209. Read full report on Culinary Arts at Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Francis Tuttle Technology Center landed the #21 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools ranking. Francis Tuttle Technology Center is a public school located in Oklahoma City, OK. This school awarded 140 degrees in Culinary Arts in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $26,535. Full Culinary Arts at Francis Tuttle Technology Center Report
ECPI University landed the #22 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools ranking. Located in Virginia Beach, VA, this is a private for-profit institution. This school awarded 136 degrees in Culinary Arts in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $45,216. Full Culinary Arts at ECPI University Report
Nunez Community College landed the #23 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools ranking. Located in Chalmette, LA, this is a public institution. This school awarded 134 degrees in Culinary Arts in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $33,519. Read More…
Arizona Culinary Institute landed the #24 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools ranking. Located in Scottsdale, AZ, this is a private for-profit institution. This school awarded 127 degrees in Culinary Arts in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $29,764. Full Culinary Arts at Arizona Culinary Institute Report
Central Georgia Technical College comes in at #25 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Culinary Arts majors. Located in Warner Robins, GA, this is a public institution. This school awarded 118 degrees in Culinary Arts in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $36,207. Read full report on Culinary Arts at Central Georgia Technical College
Rest of the Top Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that also graduate students in this major every year.
Culinary Arts by Region
View the Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools ranking for a specific region near you.
| Region |
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| New England |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Great Lakes |
| Plains States |
| Southeast |
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| Rocky Mountains |
| Far Western US |
More Culinary Arts Rankings
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools ranking, along with other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
Majors Related to Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts Concentrations
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Chef Training | 11,194 |
| Baking & Pastry Arts | 5,539 |
| General Cooking & Culinary Arts | 4,165 |
| Restaurant & Catering Management | 1,343 |
| Food Preparation/Kitchen Assistant | 1,052 |
| Other Culinary Arts | 333 |
| Culinary Science/Culinology | 301 |
| Bartending | 237 |
| Institutional Food Workers | 181 |
| Food Service & Dining Management | 75 |
| Meat Cutting | 60 |
| Wine Steward/Sommelier | 7 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cosmetology | 136,936 |
| Funeral & Mortuary Science | 2,676 |
| Casino Operations and Services | 564 |
| Other Personal & Culinary Services | 101 |
References
*The average salary above is for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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