8 schools · Iowa
Culinary schools in Iowa
8 schools in Iowa offer culinary arts programs (8 of them public), with 8 certificate and 7 associate programs between them. Graduates of the typical certificate program here earned $29,967 a year after finishing, compared with $31,480 nationally.
All culinary arts programs in Iowa
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny, IA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 22 | $37,050 | $40,878 | n/a | $6,030 |
| Kirkwood Community CollegeCedar Rapids, IA | Community college | Certificate | 23 | $29,967 | n/a | n/a | $6,288 |
| Kirkwood Community CollegeCedar Rapids, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 13 | n/a | $42,218 | n/a | $6,288 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City, IA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | $33,272 | n/a | $5,306 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 31 | n/a | $32,665 | n/a | $5,306 |
| Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,030 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictDavenport, IA | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,016 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictDavenport, IA | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,016 |
| Indian Hills Community CollegeOttumwa, IA | Community college | Certificate | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,232 |
| Indian Hills Community CollegeOttumwa, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,232 |
| Iowa Central Community CollegeFort Dodge, IA | Community college | Certificate | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $7,050 |
| Iowa Central Community CollegeFort Dodge, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $7,050 |
| Iowa Western Community CollegeCouncil Bluffs, IA | Community college | Certificate | 36 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $7,050 |
| Iowa Western Community CollegeCouncil Bluffs, IA | Community college | Associate degree | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $7,050 |
| Marshalltown Community CollegeMarshalltown, IA | Community college | Certificate | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,664 |
Cities with the most programs: Ankeny (1), Cedar Rapids (1), Sioux City (1), Davenport (1), Ottumwa (1), Fort Dodge (1), Council Bluffs (1), Marshalltown (1).
What counts: culinary arts, baking and pastry, and food service.
Frequently asked questions
How many culinary schools are in Iowa?
8 schools in Iowa awarded culinary arts certificates or associate degrees recently, according to the U.S. Department of Education: 8 certificate and 7 associate programs.
Which culinary arts program in Iowa has the highest earnings?
Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, where associate degree graduates earned a median of $37,050 one year after finishing (programs with at least 5 graduates).
What is the cheapest culinary arts school in Iowa?
By yearly tuition and fees, Eastern Iowa Community College District in Davenport charges $5,016 (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 Iowa?
The typical certificate program in Iowa reported median earnings of $29,967 one year after graduation and $32,665 four years after, for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
More in Iowa: all trade schools · colleges
Other trades: Welding · HVAC · Electrician · Plumbing · Carpentry · 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.