Cooking Schools with the Best Graduation Rates

1. University of Delaware

The University of Delaware is located in Newark, Delaware and is the largest university in the state. Almost 20,000 students grace the halls of UD, with more than 75% being undergraduates. The student to faculty ratio is low at 15:1 on average. UD receives funding as a land/sea/space and urban grant institution. Delaware offers degrees in both Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management (HRIM) and Hospitality Industry Management (HIM). The average number of applicants each year is almost 25,000, and UD accepts 63% of students. The six year graduation rate is excellent and top on our list with 82% of students graduated within six years.

2. Messiah College

Messiah College is a nondenominational Christian school in beautiful Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. They offer a multitude of classes and degree options ranging from business, management and leadership in the hospitality industry to Foods and Nutrition, Dietetics and Nutrition. MC has around 2,800 applicants each year and accepts 66% of recent high school grads. With a modest undergraduate population of just under 2,800, their six year graduation rate is top-notch coming in at 76% of students graduating within six years from the start of their college career.

3. Monroe College

Monroe College in the Bronx has an award winning culinary and hospitality program. Monroe offers Associates degrees in Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry, as well as Hospitality Management. MC accepts just 44% of the 4,400 applicants each year, rounding out undergraduate students to an average of 6,700 students. But just because Monroe is small doesn’t mean it isn’t a quality school – they rank #3 in graduation rates for culinary schools at 71% of their 3,000 students graduating within six years.

4. Drexel University

Drexel is located in the heart of Philadelphia and is a quiet powerhouse in many aspects. They rank #4 with a six year graduation rate of 70% of undergraduate students. Their Hospitality and Sports Management Program is relatively new, but they offer undergraduate and graduate programs alike. Because of its central location in a culinary hotbed, they are able to provide exposure and internship options that many smaller schools cannot.

5. University of Alabama

The state of Alabama’s flagship school is a solid contender also has a great graduation rate of 67% of students within six years. UA is not only one of the oldest schools in Alabama, but it’s also one of the largest. Averaging almost 30,000 undergraduate students in a typical year, UA also ranks #88 by U.S. News for National Universities. Bachelor’s degrees are offered in Hotel and Meeting Management, with an option for continuing with a graduate degree in Human Environmental Science.

6. University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida slides in close to UA with a graduation rate of 67% of undergraduates completing their education within six years. In addition, UCF is ranked #173 by U.S. News for National Universities and has the largest undergraduate population in the United States, with over 51,000 students annually. UCF is second in the nation for total enrollment.

7. College of the Ozarks

In Taney County, Missouri, the College of the Ozarks is a huge campus that is home to only about 1,500 students. CO has a unique program that allows students to work on campus to completely fund their college tuition costs. Because of this program, competition is fierce and they only accept 12% of applicants. This Evangelical Christian school has a 15:1 student to staff ratio and a graduation rate of 65% of students within six years.

8. Colorado State University

U.S. News has ranked Colorado University #121 for National Universities. Being Colorado’s flagship and largest post-secondary school, they offer bachelor’s degrees in many different fields that include aspects of Food Science, Hospitality Management and even Fermentation Science. Home to 24,000 undergraduate students annually, CSU graduates 64% of students within six years. Fort Collins, where CSU is located, has made the list of “Best Places to Live” on three separate occasions.

9. Delaware Valley College

DelValis a small school located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. While the have a small undergraduate class of only 1,800 students, they graduate 57% within six years. They offer many of the standard degrees such as Food Science, Food Technology and Restaurant and Food Service Management. In addition, they have an evolving E360 program that provides credit for work in your area of major as a form of experiential learning.

10. Southern New Hampshire University

SNHU is a suburban campus in the largest city in New Hampshire. With a rock solid culinary program, they graduate 55% of their 18,000 undergraduate students within six years. Associates degrees in Culinary Arts, and Baking and Pastry Arts are an option, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Management.