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Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois

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2023 Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois

17 Colleges
$25,593 Avg Salary
$17,005 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Culinary Arts Associate Degree School for You

Culinary Arts is the #102 most popular major in Illinois with 253 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

The Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 17 schools in Illinois to see which associate degree programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Culinary Arts program at each school on the list.

Check out the culinary arts associate degree programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in Illinois.

Our analysis found City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College to be the most popular school for culinary arts students who want to pursue a associate degree in Illinois. Kennedy-King College is a small public school located in the city of Chicago.

Of the 51 students majoring in culinary arts at Kennedy-King College, 31% are male and 69% are female.

The average amount in student loans that culinary arts majors at Kennedy-King College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $12,994.

Full Culinary Arts at City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College Report

Out of the 17 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, National Louis University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Chicago, NLU is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

About 44% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 56% are male.

After completing their Associate Degree, culinary arts graduates from NLU carry an average student debt load of $17,353. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $479, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Culinary Arts at National Louis University Report

#3

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, IL

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Joliet Junior College is a great place for culinary arts students working on their associate degree. Joliet Junior College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Joliet.

Women make up 52% of the culinary arts majors at the school.

Culinary Arts majors at Joliet Junior College take out an average of $13,635 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read More…

#4

College of Lake County

Grayslake, IL

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of Lake County. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College of Lake County is a public school with a large student population.

About 55% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 45% are male.

Culinary Arts majors at College of Lake County take out an average of $10,275 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at College of Lake County

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Elgin Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. ECC is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Elgin.

About 73% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 27% are male.

Full Culinary Arts at Elgin Community College Report

#6

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, IL

With a ranking of #6, College of DuPage did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for culinary arts students working on their associate degree. COD is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Glen Ellyn.

About 62% of the students majoring in culinary arts at the school are women while 38% are male.

While working on their Associate Degree, culinary arts majors at COD accumulate an average of around $18,023 in student debt.

Read full report on Culinary Arts at College of DuPage

With a ranking of #7, Moraine Valley Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for culinary arts students working on their associate degree. MVCC is a large public school located in the large suburb of Palos Hills.

Of the 12 students majoring in culinary arts at MVCC, 8% are male and 92% are female.

Full Culinary Arts at Moraine Valley Community College Report

#8

Illinois Central College

East Peoria, IL

Illinois Central College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Culinary Arts Associate Degree Schools in Illinois list. ICC is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of East Peoria.

Women make up 20% of the culinary arts majors at the school.

Full Culinary Arts at Illinois Central College Report

#9

Rend Lake College

Ina, IL

Rend Lake College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree culinary arts programs. Located in the rural area of Ina, Rend Lake College is a public college with a small student population.

Women make up 50% of the culinary arts majors at the school.

Read More…

#10

Roosevelt University

Chicago, IL

Roosevelt University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for culinary arts students to get a associate degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Roosevelt is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.

Of the 7 students majoring in culinary arts at Roosevelt, 43% are male and 57% are female.

Read More…

Best Culinary Arts Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Most Popular Culinary Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 228
Ohio 133
Indiana 12
Wisconsin 106

One of 4 majors within the area of study, culinary arts has other similar majors worth exploring.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Cosmetology 107,895
Funeral & Mortuary Science 2,354
Casino Operations and Services 192
Other Personal & Culinary Services 81

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 17 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to U.S. Army Europe Images.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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