Illinois has 24 colleges reporting culinary training under the federal CIP 12.05 codes (21 public and 3 private nonprofit). Expect an average net price between $1,672 and $20,194 a year, median $7,131, once grants are counted.
Program mix: 13 of the 24 report baking & pastry (CIP 12.0501) completions; 7 offer culinary or restaurant management (12.0504); 3 grant a bachelor’s-level credential in this family. The largest campus on the list is College of DuPage (16,114 students). Every figure below comes from the College Scorecard and IPEDS federal data, retrieved July 2026. No rankings, just the numbers, sortable however you need them.
| School | City | Type | Tuition/yr | Net price/yr | Enrollment | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elgin Community CollegeReports culinary arts, baking & pastry, and management programs to the U.S. Dept. of Education. | Elgin | Public | $3,252 | $6,026 | 6,648 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts Culinary Management |
| Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield | Public | $3,744 | $4,299 | 3,976 | Culinary Arts Culinary Management |
| Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills | Public | $3,822 | $2,829 | 7,490 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Management |
| William Rainey Harper CollegeReports both culinary arts and baking & pastry completions. | Palatine | Public | $3,894 | $11,607 | 9,313 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Southwestern Illinois CollegeReports culinary arts, baking & pastry, and management programs to the U.S. Dept. of Education. | Belleville | Public | $3,960 | $10,427 | 5,675 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts Culinary Management |
| McHenry County CollegeReports culinary arts, baking & pastry, and management programs to the U.S. Dept. of Education. | Crystal Lake | Public | $4,162 | $7,042 | 4,691 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts Culinary Management |
| Prairie State College | Chicago Heights | Public | $4,176 | $4,738 | 2,443 | Culinary Arts |
| Parkland College | Champaign | Public | $4,284 | $8,048 | 3,348 | Culinary Arts |
| Lake Land College | Mattoon | Public | $4,415 | $2,254 | 2,448 | Culinary Arts |
| Danville Area Community College | Danville | Public | $4,440 | $4,777 | 1,508 | Culinary Arts |
| Rend Lake CollegeReports both culinary arts and baking & pastry completions. | Ina | Public | $4,500 | $9,187 | 1,175 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Joliet Junior CollegeLowest average net price in the state: $1,672/yr after grants. | Joliet | Public | $4,530 | $1,672 | 9,306 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| College of DuPageLargest enrollment on this list (16,114 students). | Glen Ellyn | Public | $4,560 | $7,401 | 16,114 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Kishwaukee College | Malta | Public | $4,560 | $4,574 | 1,936 | Culinary Arts Culinary Management |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeReports both culinary arts and baking & pastry completions. | Chicago | Public | $4,590 | $9,494 | 1,777 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago | Public | $4,590 | $7,220 | 6,409 | Culinary Arts |
| Richland Community CollegeReports both culinary arts and baking & pastry completions. | Decatur | Public | $4,680 | $3,741 | 1,346 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| College of Lake CountyReports culinary arts, baking & pastry, and management programs to the U.S. Dept. of Education. | Grayslake | Public | $4,788 | $7,607 | 9,420 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts Culinary Management |
| Illinois Central College | East Peoria | Public | $4,800 | $12,961 | 5,052 | Culinary Arts |
| Kaskaskia College | Centralia | Public | $4,800 | $6,477 | 1,920 | Culinary Arts |
| Triton CollegeReports both culinary arts and baking & pastry completions. | River Grove | Public | $5,070 | $4,138 | 6,902 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| National Louis UniversityReports both culinary arts and baking & pastry completions. | Chicago | Private | $12,705 | $12,641 | 4,406 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago | Private | $21,315 | $20,194 | 2,849 | Culinary Arts |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private | $38,978 | $11,745 | 2,561 | Culinary Arts |
Showing 24 of 24 schools
What Culinary School Costs in Illinois
The lowest real-cost route in Illinois is Joliet Junior College in Joliet, at $1,672 a year average net price after grants. Public in-state tuition starts at $3,252 published, and community-college district residents can sometimes pay less than the listed rate. Sort the table by net price and check the out-of-state toggle if you are crossing state lines; residency can double the bill at public schools.
Illinois Culinary School FAQs
How many culinary schools are in Illinois?
24 Illinois institutions report culinary programs (CIP 12.05 family) to the U.S. Department of Education: 21 public and 3 private or for-profit. The count covers degree- and certificate-granting schools in the College Scorecard as of July 2026.
How much does culinary school cost in Illinois?
Average net price, what students actually pay per year after grants, ranges from $1,672 to $20,194 across Illinois culinary schools, with a median of $7,131. Published tuition is often higher; net price is the more accurate number.
What is the cheapest culinary school in Illinois?
Joliet Junior College in Joliet has the lowest average net price at $1,672 per year. Community college district residents can sometimes pay less than the published in-state rate.
Which Illinois schools offer baking and pastry programs?
13 Illinois schools reported baking & pastry (CIP 12.0501) completions in the latest federal data, including Elgin Community College, Moraine Valley Community College, William Rainey Harper College.
Can I study culinary or restaurant management in Illinois?
Yes, 7 schools report culinary/restaurant management (CIP 12.0504) programs: Elgin Community College, Lincoln Land Community College, Moraine Valley Community College, and others.
Culinary Schools in Nearby States
School list, tuition, net price, and enrollment from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS completions data (CIP 12.05 family), retrieved July 2026. Notes are computed from the same records. See our methodology for how these lists are built.