A culinary arts/chef training degree prepares graduates for careers in Chefs and head cooks, Cooks, private household, First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers and more. 349 colleges and universities offer this program.
Nationally, bachelor’s graduates in this field earn a median $47,668 four years after graduating (middle half: $32,862–$61,660). Where you study it matters: across 12 colleges with reported results, pay ranges from $38,735 to $61,944.
Sort by:
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | 1 yr after | Median debt | Outcome Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park, NY | $61,944 | $58,958 | $43,808 | $26,750 | B+ |
| 3 | Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Charlotte, NC | $55,056 | $59,083 | $32,775 | $27,000 | B |
| 2 | Johnson & Wales University-Providence Providence, RI | $55,056 | $54,225 | $32,775 | $27,000 | F |
| 4 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH | $52,058 | $47,951 | $35,959 | $23,500 | C |
| 5 | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi Delhi, NY | $51,716 | $49,223 | $20,213 | — | B+ |
| 6 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill Cobleskill, NY | $48,346 | $46,015 | $27,738 | — | F |
| 7 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PA | $48,094 | $48,912 | — | — | A+ |
| 8 | Walnut Hill College Philadelphia, PA | $47,308 | $48,113 | $27,593 | $27,000 | F |
| 9 | Nicholls State University Thibodaux, LA | $46,969 | $54,370 | $23,038 | $25,000 | C |
| 10 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science Paul Smiths, NY | $42,652 | $40,596 | $31,506 | $27,000 | F |
| 11 | Mississippi University for Women Columbus, MS | $42,043 | $51,011 | $20,026 | $25,500 | C |
| 12 | University of North Alabama Florence, AL | $38,735 | $43,968 | $33,884 | — | C |
Bachelor’s degrees. Wage-adjusted = pay ÷ √(state wage index). Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data.
Graduates with this degree pursue careers in the following fields:
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees awarded. These are the top-rated colleges that produce the most graduates in culinary arts/chef training.
Schools ranked by number of graduates. These institutions produce the most culinary arts/chef training graduates annually, including online and distance learning programs.
Culinary Arts/Chef Training is a degree program offered at 349 colleges and universities across the United States. Each year, approximately 11,194 students graduate with this degree.
Graduates with this degree can pursue careers such as chefs and head cooks, cooks, private household, first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers, cooks, restaurant, cooks, all other.