55 schools · California
Culinary schools in California
55 schools in California offer culinary arts programs (51 of them public), with 54 certificate and 47 associate programs between them. Graduates of the typical certificate program here earned $40,275 a year after finishing, compared with $31,480 nationally.
Schools55
Public schools51
Certificate programs54
Certificate: earnings 1 yr after$40,275
Certificate: earnings 4 yrs after$35,196
Associate: earnings 1 yr aftern/a
All culinary arts programs in California
Sorted by earnings one year after graduation. Click a heading to sort; tuition is the school's yearly tuition and fees (2025-26), in-state for public schools.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt | School tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CET-San JoseSan Jose, CA | Nonprofit trade school | Certificate | 12 | $43,440 | n/a | n/a | $16,375 |
| Institute of Culinary EducationPasadena, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 265 | $40,275 | $46,893 | $6,439 | $40,803 |
| Institute of TechnologyClovis, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 37 | $32,359 | $31,421 | $10,736 | $33,367 |
| Cabrillo CollegeAptos, CA | Community college | Certificate | 40 | n/a | $41,932 | n/a | $1,270 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 92 | n/a | $35,196 | n/a | $1,238 |
| Riverside City CollegeRiverside, CA | Community college | Certificate | 73 | n/a | $21,397 | n/a | $1,428 |
| Allan Hancock CollegeSanta Maria, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 26 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,158 |
| Allan Hancock CollegeSanta Maria, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,158 |
| American River CollegeSacramento, CA | Community college | Certificate | 22 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| American River CollegeSacramento, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 27 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| Bakersfield CollegeBakersfield, CA | Community college | Certificate | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,450 |
| Bakersfield CollegeBakersfield, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 15 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,450 |
| Baldwin Park Adult & Community EducationBaldwin Park, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,365 |
| Cabrillo CollegeAptos, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,270 |
| Cerritos CollegeNorwalk, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 29 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,364 |
| Cerritos CollegeNorwalk, CA | Public technical school | Associate degree | 26 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,364 |
| Chaffey CollegeRancho Cucamonga, CA | Community college | Certificate | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,184 |
| Chaffey CollegeRancho Cucamonga, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,184 |
| City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,696 |
| City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 19 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,696 |
| College of the CanyonsSanta Clarita, CA | Community college | Certificate | 31 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,170 |
| College of the CanyonsSanta Clarita, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,170 |
| College of the DesertPalm Desert, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 30 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,326 |
| College of the DesertPalm Desert, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,326 |
| College of the SequoiasVisalia, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 28 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,394 |
| College of the SequoiasVisalia, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,394 |
| Columbia CollegeSonora, CA | Community college | Certificate | 29 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,276 |
| Columbia CollegeSonora, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,276 |
| Contra Costa CollegeSan Pablo, CA | Community college | Certificate | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,128 |
| Contra Costa CollegeSan Pablo, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,128 |
| Cosumnes River CollegeSacramento, CA | Community college | Certificate | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| Cosumnes River CollegeSacramento, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,288 |
| Cuesta CollegeSan Luis Obispo, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 38 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,350 |
| Cuesta CollegeSan Luis Obispo, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,350 |
| Cypress CollegeCypress, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 24 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,150 |
| Cypress CollegeCypress, CA | Public technical school | Associate degree | 16 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,150 |
| Diablo Valley CollegePleasant Hill, CA | Community college | Certificate | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,128 |
| Diablo Valley CollegePleasant Hill, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,128 |
| Fresno City CollegeFresno, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,334 |
| Fresno City CollegeFresno, CA | Public technical school | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,334 |
| Grossmont CollegeEl Cajon, CA | Community college | Certificate | 57 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,332 |
| Grossmont CollegeEl Cajon, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,332 |
| Hacienda La Puente Adult EducationLa Puente, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,305 |
| Institute of Culinary EducationPasadena, CA | For-profit trade school | Associate degree | 45 | n/a | n/a | $12,000 | $40,803 |
| Lake Tahoe Community CollegeSouth Lake Tahoe, CA | Community college | Certificate | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,131 |
| Lake Tahoe Community CollegeSouth Lake Tahoe, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,131 |
| Laney CollegeOakland, CA | Community college | Certificate | 44 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,258 |
| Laney CollegeOakland, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 18 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,258 |
| Lemoore CollegeLemoore, CA | Community college | Certificate | 24 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,384 |
| Long Beach City CollegeLong Beach, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 28 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,560 |
| Long Beach City CollegeLong Beach, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,560 |
| Los Angeles Harbor CollegeWilmington, CA | Community college | Certificate | 60 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,238 |
| Los Angeles Harbor CollegeWilmington, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,238 |
| Los Angeles Mission CollegeSylmar, CA | Community college | Certificate | 120 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,238 |
| Los Angeles Mission CollegeSylmar, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 37 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,238 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 53 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,238 |
| Mendocino CollegeUkiah, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,414 |
| Merced CollegeMerced, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,202 |
| Merced CollegeMerced, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,202 |
| MiraCosta CollegeOceanside, CA | Community college | Certificate | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,158 |
| MiraCosta CollegeOceanside, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,158 |
| Mission CollegeSanta Clara, CA | Community college | Certificate | 19 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,438 |
| Mission CollegeSanta Clara, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,438 |
| Monterey Peninsula CollegeMonterey, CA | Community college | Certificate | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,188 |
| Monterey Peninsula CollegeMonterey, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,188 |
| Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut, CA | Community college | Certificate | 18 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,364 |
| Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,364 |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College DistrictSan Jacinto, CA | Community college | Certificate | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,451 |
| Napa Valley CollegeNapa, CA | Community college | Certificate | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,156 |
| Napa Valley CollegeNapa, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,156 |
| National Holistic InstituteEmeryville, CA | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 26 | n/a | n/a | $9,500 | $16,956 |
| Orange Coast CollegeCosta Mesa, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 67 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,222 |
| Orange Coast CollegeCosta Mesa, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,222 |
| Oxnard CollegeOxnard, CA | Community college | Certificate | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,416 |
| Oxnard CollegeOxnard, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,416 |
| Pasadena City CollegePasadena, CA | Community college | Certificate | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,180 |
| Pasadena City CollegePasadena, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,180 |
| Riverside City CollegeRiverside, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,428 |
| Saddleback CollegeMission Viejo, CA | Community college | Certificate | 26 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,156 |
| Saddleback CollegeMission Viejo, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,156 |
| San Bernardino Valley CollegeSan Bernardino, CA | Community college | Certificate | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,185 |
| San Bernardino Valley CollegeSan Bernardino, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,185 |
| San Diego Mesa CollegeSan Diego, CA | Community college | Certificate | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,154 |
| San Diego Mesa CollegeSan Diego, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,154 |
| San Joaquin Delta CollegeStockton, CA | Community college | Certificate | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,180 |
| San Joaquin Delta CollegeStockton, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 15 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,180 |
| Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana, CA | Public technical school | Certificate | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,188 |
| Santa Barbara City CollegeSanta Barbara, CA | Community college | Certificate | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,242 |
| Santa Barbara City CollegeSanta Barbara, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,242 |
| Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa, CA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 56 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,318 |
| Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa, CA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,318 |
| Shasta CollegeRedding, CA | Community college | Certificate | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,199 |
| Shasta CollegeRedding, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,199 |
| Southwestern CollegeChula Vista, CA | Community college | Certificate | 25 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,356 |
| Southwestern CollegeChula Vista, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,356 |
| Victor Valley CollegeVictorville, CA | Community college | Certificate | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,449 |
| Victor Valley CollegeVictorville, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,449 |
| Woodland Community CollegeWoodland, CA | Community college | Certificate | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,124 |
| Woodland Community CollegeWoodland, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,124 |
| Yuba CollegeMarysville, CA | Community college | Certificate | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,128 |
| Yuba CollegeMarysville, CA | Community college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,128 |
Cities with the most programs: Pasadena (2), Sacramento (2), San Jose (1), Clovis (1), Aptos (1), Los Angeles (1), Riverside (1), Santa Maria (1), Bakersfield (1), Baldwin Park (1), Norwalk (1), Rancho Cucamonga (1).
What counts: culinary arts, baking and pastry, and food service.
Frequently asked questions
How many culinary schools are in California?
55 schools in California awarded culinary arts certificates or associate degrees recently, according to the U.S. Department of Education: 54 certificate and 47 associate programs.
Which culinary arts program in California has the highest earnings?
CET-San Jose in San Jose, where certificate graduates earned a median of $43,440 one year after finishing (programs with at least 5 graduates).
What is the cheapest culinary arts school in California?
By yearly tuition and fees, Woodland Community College in Woodland charges $1,124 (2025-26, in-state). Program fees, tools and licensing exams can add to that, so ask the school.
How much do culinary arts graduates make in California?
The typical certificate program in California reported median earnings of $40,275 one year after graduation and $35,196 four years after, for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
More in California: all trade schools · colleges
Other trades: Welding · HVAC · Electrician · Plumbing · Carpentry · Construction trades · Auto and diesel mechanic · Heavy equipment mechanic · Truck driving (CDL) · Cosmetology and barbering · Medical assistant · LPN and CNA · Dental assisting and hygiene · Phlebotomy and medical lab · EMT, surgical tech and imaging · Medical billing and coding · Massage therapy · Paralegal
Culinary schools nationwide
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (institution and field of study files), data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. What each figure covers.