Culinary Arts Schools in Illinois
5 Illinois schools offer Culinary Arts. Earnings in Illinois are in line with the national average, so compare programs on commute, tuition, and fit rather than on statewide outcomes alone.
Culinary Arts Training in Illinois: What You Need to Know
Local program supply
Illinois has 5 schools offering Culinary Arts programs, concentrated in 2 cities including {'city': 'Chicago', 'city_slug': 'chicago', 'count': 2, 'avg_earn': 22117.0}, {'city': 'Joliet', 'city_slug': 'joliet', 'count': 1, 'avg_earn': 28252.0}. Most students attend within 60 miles of home — local choice matters more than national rankings.
Earnings vs. national
Culinary Arts graduates in Illinois earn approximately $22,760/year on average, which is -5% below the national average for this trade. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Illinois-specific licensing
Most skilled trades require a state-issued license or certification before you can work independently. Requirements vary substantially by state. Verify Illinois-specific licensing through the relevant state board (Department of Labor, Contractors Board, or trade-specific licensing body). Apprenticeship hours often count toward licensure.
How Illinois compares
Average TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Culinary Arts programs in Illinois is 59/100. Cost of living, wage levels, and program supply all vary by state — see the school list below ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines earnings, debt, and job-market demand.
Culinary Arts Programs in Illinois
All 5 Illinois schools offering Culinary Arts, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click a school to see full earnings projections and program details.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joliet Junior College Joliet, IL |
64 |
| 2 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL |
63 |
| 3 | National Louis University Chicago, IL |
57 |
| 4 | Lake Land College Mattoon, IL |
57 |
| 5 | City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College Chicago, IL |
55 |
Where Culinary Arts Programs Cluster in Illinois
Cities with the most Culinary Arts programs — useful if you want to minimize commute or relocate within state.
| City | Schools | Avg Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 2 | $22,117/yr |
| Joliet, IL | 1 | $28,252/yr |
Compare Culinary Arts in Other States
Considering a nearby state? Here's how Illinois compares to others with strong Culinary Arts offerings.