It's a good time to look into the best culinary schools. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs for chefs and line cooks is expected to grow 10% by 2026. That's above average, according to the Bureau! Whether one aspires to cook at a local restaurant or become the next Gordon Ramsay, the choice of culinary school matters. That's why we went on the hunt for the 30 best culinary schools in the United States, then ranked them by affordability.
Top 30 Most Affordable Culinary Schools
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Factors Considered When Ranking Culinary Schools
To come up with the very best culinary schools, we considered the following factors:
— Variety of Degree Programs: We considered the degree programs offered by each school. While some specialize in one or two culinary fields, others offer a certificate or degree in just about every facet of the hospitality industry.
— Program Length: The length of each program, compared to the types of degree programs offered, was also considered.
— Methods of Preparedness: We considered how each culinary schools prepares its students for success working in the culinary industry. Many of these schools offer networking opportunities, resume and career guidance, and internships and externships.
— Facilities: Where one learns matters, so we considered those culinary schools which provide its students with state-of-the-art kitchens, on-campus restaurants, and even some bonus features like campus gardens.
— Reputation: We considered the reputation of each culinary school within the industry, and even considered each school's list of notable alumni.
— Cost: Though cost did not go into the overall consideration about which culinary schools were best, we did use cost in our ranking. Despite the fact that not every institution offers the same degree programs, we ranked the culinary schools in order from most to least affordable.
