21 schools · Illinois
Culinary schools in Illinois
21 schools in Illinois offer culinary arts programs (19 of them public), with 20 certificate and 17 associate programs between them.
All culinary arts programs in Illinois
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 36 | $43,155 | $44,605 | n/a | $4,530 |
| National Louis UniversityChicago, IL | Private college | Associate degree | 66 | $38,541 | $45,609 | $12,083 | $13,020 |
| College of Lake CountyGrayslake, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 18 | $34,637 | $43,967 | n/a | $4,901 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeChicago, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 16 | $28,370 | $28,042 | n/a | $4,710 |
| College of DuPageGlen Ellyn, IL | Community college | Associate degree | 16 | n/a | $50,503 | n/a | $4,680 |
| Roosevelt UniversityChicago, IL | Private college | Associate degree | 0 | n/a | $43,498 | n/a | $23,154 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeChicago, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 81 | n/a | $35,767 | n/a | $4,710 |
| Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 15 | n/a | $31,079 | n/a | $3,828 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X CollegeChicago, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,710 |
| College of DuPageGlen Ellyn, IL | Community college | Certificate | 25 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,680 |
| College of Lake CountyGrayslake, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 68 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,901 |
| Danville Area Community CollegeDanville, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,680 |
| Elgin Community CollegeElgin, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 89 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $3,324 |
| Elgin Community CollegeElgin, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 19 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $3,324 |
| Illinois Central CollegeEast Peoria, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,800 |
| Illinois Central CollegeEast Peoria, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,800 |
| Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 46 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,530 |
| Kaskaskia CollegeCentralia, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 25 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,980 |
| Kaskaskia CollegeCentralia, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,980 |
| Kishwaukee CollegeMalta, IL | Community college | Certificate | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,800 |
| Kishwaukee CollegeMalta, IL | Community college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,800 |
| Lake Land CollegeMattoon, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 178 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,620 |
| Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $3,828 |
| McHenry County CollegeCrystal Lake, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,162 |
| McHenry County CollegeCrystal Lake, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,162 |
| Moraine Valley Community CollegePalos Hills, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 25 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $3,942 |
| Moraine Valley Community CollegePalos Hills, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 15 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $3,942 |
| National Louis UniversityChicago, IL | Private college | Certificate | 25 | n/a | n/a | $9,500 | $13,020 |
| Rend Lake CollegeIna, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,500 |
| Rend Lake CollegeIna, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,500 |
| Richland Community CollegeDecatur, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,770 |
| Richland Community CollegeDecatur, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,770 |
| Southwestern Illinois CollegeBelleville, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,590 |
| Southwestern Illinois CollegeBelleville, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,590 |
| Triton CollegeRiver Grove, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,340 |
| Triton CollegeRiver Grove, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,340 |
| William Rainey Harper CollegePalatine, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,038 |
Cities with the most programs: Chicago (4), Joliet (1), Grayslake (1), Glen Ellyn (1), Springfield (1), Danville (1), Elgin (1), East Peoria (1), Centralia (1), Malta (1), Mattoon (1), Crystal Lake (1).
What counts: culinary arts, baking and pastry, and food service.
Frequently asked questions
How many culinary schools are in Illinois?
21 schools in Illinois awarded culinary arts certificates or associate degrees recently, according to the U.S. Department of Education: 20 certificate and 17 associate programs.
Which culinary arts program in Illinois has the highest earnings?
Joliet Junior College in Joliet, where associate degree graduates earned a median of $43,155 one year after finishing (programs with at least 5 graduates).
What is the cheapest culinary arts school in Illinois?
By yearly tuition and fees, Elgin Community College in Elgin charges $3,324 (2025-26, in-state). Program fees, tools and licensing exams can add to that, so ask the school.
More in Illinois: all trade schools · colleges
Other trades: Welding · HVAC · Electrician · 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.