Best Culinary Arts Schools by Graduate Salary & ROI (2026)
These are the top schools offering Culinary Arts, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. The score combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Culinary Arts graduate earns $28,611/yr across 12 schools.
What do Culinary Arts graduates do? See career paths and salaries →Leading the field for Culinary Arts
The top four programs by DegreeOutlook Score. Full ranking of 12 programs below.
All Culinary Arts Programs Ranked
Click any row for full AI scenario analysis, earnings projections, and career path breakdown.
| # | School | DW Score | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Culinary Institute of America
Hyde Park, NY · Private nonprofit
|
50
48–50
|
$43,808/yr | 1.9x |
| 2 |
University of North Alabama
Florence, AL · Public
|
47
47–47
|
$33,884/yr | 6.1x |
| 3 |
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH · Private nonprofit
|
46
46–47
|
$35,959/yr | 5.8x |
| 4 |
SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill
Cobleskill, NY · Public
|
40
41–41
|
$27,738/yr | 9.3x |
| 5 |
Nicholls State University
Thibodaux, LA · Public
|
39
39–40
|
$23,038/yr | 10.8x |
| 6 |
Mississippi University for Women
Columbus, MS · Public
|
37
37–38
|
$20,026/yr | 10.3x |
| 7 |
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
Paul Smiths, NY · Private nonprofit
|
37
37–38
|
$31,506/yr | 2.3x |
| 8 |
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
Delhi, NY · Public
|
37
37–37
|
$20,213/yr | 4.8x |
| 9 |
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
Providence, RI · Private nonprofit
|
36
36–37
|
$32,775/yr | 1.4x |
| 10 |
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus
Carolina, PR · Private nonprofit
|
36
35–36
|
$14,017/yr | 10.2x |
| 11 |
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Private nonprofit
|
36
36–37
|
$32,775/yr | 1.4x |
| 12 |
Walnut Hill College
Philadelphia, PA · Private for-profit
|
34
34–35
|
$27,593/yr | 2.8x |
Frequently asked
What is the best school for Culinary Arts?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score, Culinary Institute of America ranks #1 for Culinary Arts with a score of 50/100 and graduate earnings of $43,808/yr.
How much do Culinary Arts graduates earn?
Across 12 schools, Culinary Arts graduates earn an average of $28,611/yr in their first year. The highest-earning program reports $43,808/yr.
Is Culinary Arts a good major for AI resistance?
Culinary Arts has an average AI task exposure of 24%, rated "Low". This is a relatively AI-resistant field.