Best colleges for Culinary Arts and Related Services in Iowa
Ranked by graduate earnings
Des Moines Area Community College, Western Iowa Tech Community College and Kirkwood Community College are the top Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in Iowa by graduate earnings. Des Moines Area Community College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $26,913, College Scorecard. Des Moines Area Community College, Kirkwood Community College and Iowa Western Community College award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees and certificates in Iowa: 44, 40 and 32 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 Iowa colleges offer Culinary Arts and Related Services and award 174 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Culinary Arts and Related Services program prepares students for a variety of careers in the culinary field, focusing on essential cooking techniques and management skills. This program is ideal for those passionate about food and…
Top 3 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Public · Associate degree | $26,913 | 44 | 39% | — | $11,167 |
| 2 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City Public · Associate degree | $24,061 | 30 | 50% | — | $12,530 |
| 3 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids Public · Associate degree | $21,391 | 40 | 43% | — | $15,375 |
Colleges awarding the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees in Iowa
Top 8 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Public | 44 | $26,913 |
| 2 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids Public | 40 | $21,391 |
| 3 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs Public | 32 | Not reported |
| 4 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City Public | 30 | $24,061 |
| 5 | Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 6 | Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa Public | 5 | Not reported |
| 7 | Marshalltown Community College Marshalltown Public | 3 | Not reported |
| 8 | Iowa Lakes Community College Estherville Public | 1 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 35-2014).
Top skills
What Cooks, Restaurant earn in Iowa
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in Iowa.
Which Iowa colleges award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees?+
Des Moines Area Community College (44 graduates a year), Kirkwood Community College (40 graduates a year) and Iowa Western Community College (32 graduates a year) award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees and certificates in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 Iowa colleges offer Culinary Arts and Related Services.
What is the best college for Culinary Arts and Related Services in Iowa?+
By graduate earnings, Des Moines Area Community College leads among Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in Iowa, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $26,913, College Scorecard. Western Iowa Tech Community College and Kirkwood Community College follow. By degrees awarded, Des Moines Area Community College is the largest, with 44 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Culinary Arts and Related Services program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Des Moines Area Community College tops the list at $26,913. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Cooks, Restaurant earn in Iowa?+
The average annual wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Iowa is $35,700 (median $35,670), across about 12,270 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Culinary Arts and Related Services program?+
The Culinary Arts and Related Services program prepares students for a variety of careers in the culinary field, focusing on essential cooking techniques and management skills. This program is ideal for those passionate about food and…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, monitoring, speaking, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Cooks, Restaurant?+
The national job outlook is about +14.9% growth with around 250,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A No formal educational credential is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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