Best colleges for Culinary Arts and Related Services in Louisiana
Ranked by graduate earnings
SOWELA Technical Community College, South Louisiana Community College and New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees and certificates in Louisiana: 120, 114 and 66 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 Louisiana colleges offer Culinary Arts and Related Services and award 654 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 2 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 | Nicholls State University Thibodaux Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,038 | 46 | 54% | — | $26,063 |
| 2 | Crescent City Bartending School New Orleans Private for-profit · Certificate Small program | $13,763 | 6 | 89% | $21,019 | $3,167 |
Colleges awarding the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees in Louisiana
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 | SOWELA Technical Community College Lake Charles Public | 120 | Not reported |
| 2 | South Louisiana Community College Lafayette Public | 114 | Not reported |
| 3 | New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute New Orleans Private not-for-profit | 66 | Not reported |
| 4 | Nicholls State University Thibodaux Public | 46 | $23,038 |
| 5 | Louisiana Culinary Institute Baton Rouge Private for-profit | 39 | Not reported |
| 6 | Northshore Technical Community College Lacombe Public | 37 | Not reported |
| 7 | Baton Rouge Community College Baton Rouge Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 8 | Crescent City Bartending School New Orleans Private for-profit | 6 | $13,763 |
ShowHide the other 3 Louisiana colleges offering Culinary Arts and Related Services
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nunez Community College | Chalmette | Public | 96 |
| Bossier Parish Community College | Bossier City | Public | 67 |
| Delgado Community College | New Orleans | Public | 46 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers (SOC 35-1012).
Top skills
What First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers earn in Louisiana
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in Louisiana.
Which Louisiana colleges award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees?+
SOWELA Technical Community College (120 graduates a year), South Louisiana Community College (114 graduates a year) and New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute (66 graduates a year) award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees and certificates in Louisiana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 Louisiana colleges offer Culinary Arts and Related Services.
Which Culinary Arts and Related Services program in Louisiana has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Nicholls State University tops the list at $23,038. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers earn in Louisiana?+
The average annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers in Louisiana is $39,360 (median $35,800), across about 16,680 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 First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers?+
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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