Best colleges for Culinary Arts and Related Services in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
ECPI University, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College and Rappahannock Community College award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees and certificates in Virginia: 157, 54 and 41 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 12 Virginia colleges offer Culinary Arts and Related Services and award 375 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 | ECPI University Virginia Beach Private for-profit · Associate degree | $23,320 | 157 | 42% | $21,909 | $18,043 |
| 2 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public · Certificate | $21,368 | 36 | 32% | — | $19,066 |
Colleges awarding the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees in Virginia
Top 10 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 | ECPI University Virginia Beach Private for-profit | 157 | $23,320 |
| 2 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond Public | 54 | Not reported |
| 3 | Rappahannock Community College Glenns Public | 41 | Not reported |
| 4 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public | 36 | $21,368 |
| 5 | Virginia Western Community College Roanoke Public | 36 | Not reported |
| 6 | Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 7 | Columbia College Vienna Private for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 8 | Piedmont Virginia Community College Charlottesville Public | 9 | Not reported |
| 9 | Southside Virginia Community College Alberta Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 10 | Mountain Gateway Community College Clifton Forge Public | 1 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 2 Virginia colleges offering Culinary Arts and Related Services
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Virginia Community College | Annandale | Public | 1 |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | Cedar Bluff | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 35-2014).
Top skills
What Cooks, Restaurant earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees?+
ECPI University (157 graduates a year), J Sargeant Reynolds Community College (54 graduates a year) and Rappahannock Community College (41 graduates a year) award the most Culinary Arts and Related Services degrees and certificates in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 12 Virginia colleges offer Culinary Arts and Related Services.
Which Culinary Arts and Related Services program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, ECPI University tops the list at $23,320. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Cooks, Restaurant earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Virginia is $38,180 (median $36,750), across about 40,310 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card