Trade School Scoreboard

Culinary programs in Illinois

38 culinary programs at 22 Illinois schools are in the federal data. Where earnings are reported (4 programs), the state median is $36,589 one year after completion, 8% above the national median of $33,992. Median borrower debt is $11,520.

38programs
22schools
$36,589median 1-yr earnings
$11,520median debt
SchoolCityProgramCredentialCompleters/yr1-yr earningsMedian debtMonthly payment*
Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree35$43,155––
National Louis UniversityChicago, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree83$38,541$13,083$149
College of Lake CountyGrayslake, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree13$34,637––
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeChicago, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree31$28,370––
Southwestern Illinois CollegeBelleville, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate9not reported––
Southwestern Illinois CollegeBelleville, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree6not reported––
City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeChicago, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate87not reported––
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X CollegeChicago, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate2not reported––
Danville Area Community CollegeDanville, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate6not reported––
College of DuPageGlen Ellyn, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate10not reported––
College of DuPageGlen Ellyn, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree11not reported––
Elgin Community CollegeElgin, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate49not reported––
Elgin Community CollegeElgin, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree14not reported––
Illinois Central CollegeEast Peoria, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate1not reported––
Illinois Central CollegeEast Peoria, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree8not reported––
Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate43not reported––
Kaskaskia CollegeCentralia, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate47not reported––
Kaskaskia CollegeCentralia, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree1not reported––
Kishwaukee CollegeMalta, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate–not reported––
Kishwaukee CollegeMalta, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree1not reported––
College of Lake CountyGrayslake, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate49not reported––
Lake Land CollegeMattoon, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate196not reported$8,164$93
Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate11not reported––
Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree5not reported––
McHenry County CollegeCrystal Lake, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate2not reported––
McHenry County CollegeCrystal Lake, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree7not reported––
Moraine Valley Community CollegePalos Hills, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate27not reported––
Moraine Valley Community CollegePalos Hills, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree16not reported––
National Louis UniversityChicago, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate30not reported$11,520$131
Prairie State CollegeChicago Heights, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate0not reported––
Rend Lake CollegeIna, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate13not reported––
Rend Lake CollegeIna, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree5not reported––
Richland Community CollegeDecatur, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate40not reported––
Richland Community CollegeDecatur, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree6not reported––
Roosevelt UniversityChicago, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree1not reported––
Triton CollegeRiver Grove, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate2not reported––
Triton CollegeRiver Grove, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate degree4not reported––
William Rainey Harper CollegePalatine, ILCulinary Arts and Related ServicesCertificate6not reported––

*Scorecard's estimated monthly payment on the median debt over 10 years. “Not reported” means the Department suppressed or did not publish the figure.

Compare schools near you

Use the data on this page to shortlist two or three schools, then contact them directly with the links provided. Ask each school the questions listed on the page.

Culinary programs by city in Illinois

Before you choose a culinary school in Illinois

There is no single required license for cooks; employers often value experience, and food-safety manager certifications are common requirements.

More programs in Illinois

All Illinois programs · Culinary Arts & Baking nationwide

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study and Institution files (release dated 10/15/2026). Earnings are median annual earnings of completers working and not enrolled one year after finishing; debt is median federal loan debt of borrowers; both describe past cohorts and small programs are suppressed by the Department. See our methodology.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best-paying culinary program in Illinois?

By reported one-year earnings, Joliet Junior College leads at $43,155 in the associate degree program, but compare cost and local jobs too.

How many culinary programs are in Illinois?

The Scorecard lists 38 certificate or associate programs in this field at 22 schools in Illinois.