The U.S. Department of Education lists 14 Virginia schools with culinary programs in the CIP 12.05 family: 12 public and 2 for-profit. After grants, students paid between $4,102 and $22,965 a year on average (median $5,984).
Program mix: 1 of the 14 report baking & pastry (CIP 12.0501) completions. The largest campus on the list is Northern Virginia Community College (33,048 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia College | Vienna | For-profit | - | $10,171 | 151 | Culinary Arts |
| Danville Community College | Danville | Public | $4,992 | $6,669 | 1,306 | Culinary Arts |
| Patrick & Henry Community CollegeLowest average net price in the state: $4,102/yr after grants. | Martinsville | Public | $5,002 | $4,102 | 1,350 | Culinary Arts |
| Southside Virginia Community College | Alberta | Public | $5,007 | $5,338 | 1,807 | Culinary Arts |
| Mountain Gateway Community College | Clifton Forge | Public | $5,022 | $4,861 | 425 | Culinary Arts |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | Charlottesville | Public | $5,072 | $5,963 | 3,045 | Culinary Arts |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | Cedar Bluff | Public | $5,075 | $6,005 | 1,651 | Culinary Arts |
| Rappahannock Community College | Glenns | Public | $5,102 | $4,343 | 1,367 | Culinary Arts |
| Central Virginia Community College | Lynchburg | Public | $5,157 | $6,928 | 2,249 | Culinary Arts |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Richmond | Public | $5,280 | $5,168 | 5,586 | Culinary Arts |
| Virginia Western Community College | Roanoke | Public | $5,400 | $4,966 | 3,898 | Culinary Arts |
| Tidewater Community College | Norfolk | Public | $5,588 | $11,762 | 12,082 | Culinary Arts |
| Northern Virginia Community CollegeLargest enrollment on this list (33,048 students). | Annandale | Public | $5,891 | $9,919 | 33,048 | Culinary Arts |
| ECPI UniversityFor-profit school; published price $18,484, average net $22,965 after aid. | Virginia Beach | For-profit | $18,484 | $22,965 | 12,090 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
Showing 14 of 14 schools
What Culinary School Costs in Virginia
The lowest real-cost route in Virginia is Patrick & Henry Community College in Martinsville, at $4,102 a year average net price after grants. Public in-state tuition starts at $4,992 published, and community-college district residents can sometimes pay less than the listed rate. For-profit pricing needs a second look: ECPI University, for example, publishes $18,484 but students averaged $22,965 after aid. Always compare the net column, not the sticker. 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.
Virginia Culinary School FAQs
How many culinary schools are in Virginia?
14 Virginia institutions report culinary programs (CIP 12.05 family) to the U.S. Department of Education: 12 public and 2 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 Virginia?
Average net price, what students actually pay per year after grants, ranges from $4,102 to $22,965 across Virginia culinary schools, with a median of $5,984. Published tuition is often higher; net price is the more accurate number.
What is the cheapest culinary school in Virginia?
Patrick & Henry Community College in Martinsville has the lowest average net price at $4,102 per year. Community college district residents can sometimes pay less than the published in-state rate.
Which Virginia schools offer baking and pastry programs?
1 Virginia school reported baking & pastry (CIP 12.0501) completions in the latest federal data, including ECPI University.
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.