Key Takeaway
The Culinary Institute of America, Le Cordon Bleu, Institute of Culinary Education, Johnson and Wales University – Providence, Sullivan University National Center for Hospitality Studies, Kendall College of Culinary Arts, and the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts are some of the best culinary schools in the World. These top rated institutions offer the chance to learn from master chefs, gain hands-on experience, and understand the business side of the industry. Read on for insights into their various tuitions, programs, locations, and more.
If you have a passion for cooking and envision your days working in a restaurant or bakery, then culinary school might be the perfect path for you. Unlike traditional four-year colleges, culinary schools offer specialized training to equip you for success in the food industry. The best part? Some of the best culinary schools in the world are right here in the US.
But where should you begin your journey? In this guide, we’ll explore what culinary school is, what you can expect to learn during it, and highlight some of the best ones to consider.
What Is Culinary School?
Culinary school is all about hands-on learning and preparing you for real-world challenges. While many people think it’s just about cooking, there’s so much more to it. Depending on the type of degree, culinary school typically takes two to four years to complete.
Creating a delicious dish is one thing, but turning that dish into a profitable business is where culinary school really shines. You’ll get out what you put in, so your experience will vary based on your effort and engagement.
Here’s what you can expect to cover during your time in culinary school:
- Foundational cooking skills
- The chemistry and science of cooking
- The basics of table service and restaurant setup
- Business management classes to learn how to operate a successful restaurant
- Knife skills and other advanced cooking techniques
- Food safety and sanitation
- Types of food service operations (e.g., catering, food trucks, ghost kitchens, pop-ups)
- How to control food costs in a business
10 of the Best Culinary Schools in the World
If you are considering culinary school, explore these top-rated options:
1. CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA (CIA)
Average Tuition and Fees per Semester: $30,130
Type: Private, Not-for-Profit
Location(s): Hyde Park, NY; Napa Valley, CA; San Antonio, TX; Singapore
Programs Offered: Associate, Bachelor’s, Certificates, Specialties: Management, Culinary Science, Oenology, Applied Food Studies, Culinary Arts, and Baking & Pastry
Why Study Here:
- The school offers immersive, hands-on learning.
- You have the ability to customize your degree.
- You’ll learn from the best of the best.
- CIA is known for its unrivaled industry connections.
- Most students participate in a full-time semester-long internship to see what working in the food industry is really like.
2. LE CORDON BLEU
Average Tuition and Fees: €34,000 (for a nine-month program)
Type: Private
Location(s): Paris, France
Programs Offered: Diplôme de Cuisine, Pâtisserie, Culinary Management, Wine; Bachelor’s Degrees in Culinary Arts and Management
Why Study Here:
Paris has over 100 Michelin-starred restaurants, as well as hotels, bars, bakeries, and pastry shops on every corner.
- You’ll experience the “watch, do, learn” method from prestigious chefs.
- Le Cordon Bleu welcomes students from over 90 nationalities and aims to train them to develop their careers anywhere in the world.
- The school is equipped with the most advanced facilities, so you’ll receive personalized service from the first day of school until graduation.
3. INSTITUTE OF CULINARY EDUCATION
Average Total Tuition and Fees: $48,120 – $50,128
Type: Private
Location(s): New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA
Programs Offered: Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts, Plant-Based Culinary Arts, Restaurant & Culinary Management, Hospitality & Hotel Management
Why Study Here:
- It was once the French Culinary Institute and then merged with the International Culinary Center.
- There are locations in New York City and Los Angeles—two of the nation’s culinary capitals.
- You’ll work with chef-instructors from top restaurants and food businesses.
- You’ll experience management training for restaurant operators and aspiring entrepreneurs or hospitality management for hotels.
- You’ll get access to hands-on externships and networking opportunities.
4. JOHNSON AND WALES UNIVERSITY-PROVIDENCE
Average Annual Tuition and Fees: $41,782
Type: Private, Not-for-Profit
Location(s): Providence, RI; Miami, FL; Denver, CO; Charlotte, NC
Programs Offered: Associate and Bachelor’s of Science Degrees in various culinary fields; Specialties– Baking & Pastry Arts, Culinary Arts, Culinary Nutrition
Why Study Here:
- You are trained by world-class chefs in state-of-the-art facilities.
- You’ll learn from the best and develop the skills you need for success in this fast-paced industry.
- You can explore where the field is going by studying advanced techniques, nutrition, sustainability, and food science.
- You’ll learn the industry’s business side from menu costing to leadership skills.
5. SULLIVAN UNIVERSITY
Average Total Tuition and Fees: $53,580
Type: Private
Location(s): Louisville, KY
Programs Offered: Culinary Arts Certificate, Hospitality Studies Certificate, Professional Baker or Cook Diploma, Associate of Science in Baking & Pastry Arts, Culinary Arts, or Hospitality Management, Bachelor’s of Science in Hospitality Management
Why Study Here:
- Hospitality careers are diverse in a range of corporate and independent settings.
- The faculty has over 500 years of combined industry and teaching experience.
- Graduates work globally in hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, catering companies, and more.
- The school is well equipped with all the necessary and specialty equipment to prepare students in international cuisines, garden manger, food production, baking and pastry.
6. NATIONAL LOUIS UNIVERSITY-KENDALL COLLEGE OF CULINARY ARTS
Average Annual Tuition and Fees: $26,000
Type: Private
Location(s): Chicago, IL; Tampa, FL
Programs Offered: Associate and Bachelor’s degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry, Culinary Certificate Programs
Why Study Here:
- This school is ranked number one in Chicago and is among the top 20 in the world.
- Whether your goal is to become a chef, a baker, a hotel manager, or a tourism professional, you’ll gain practical, hands-on experience in all of the above.
- You get to work in a fast-paced environment while honing your skills in state-of-the-art kitchen classrooms and fine-dining campus restaurants.
- You can study the art of managing restaurants, hotels, resorts, and events.
7. AUGUSTE ESCOFFIER SCHOOL OF CULINARY ARTS-BOULDER
Average Total Tuition and Fees: $39,365
Type: Private
Locations(s): Boulder, CO; Austin, TX
Programs Offered: Associate of Occupational Studies in Culinary Arts, Diploma in Culinary Arts, Associate of Occupational Studies in Baking & Pastry, Diploma in Pastry Arts, Diploma in Plant-Based Cuisine
Why Study Here:
- You’ll learn from skilled chef instructors in both classic and modern culinary techniques.
- You’ll gain hands-on experience with a six-week Farm-to-Table program.
- You’ll complete a real-world externship, giving you professional connections and practical industry experience.
- Escoffier is located close to diverse restaurants, as well as local agriculture.
8. NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY-CHEF JOHN FOLSE CULINARY INSTITUTE
Average Total Tuition and Fees: $26,808
Type: Public
Locations(s): Thibodaux, LA
Programs Offered: Bachelor’s of Science in Culinary Arts with concentrations available in Culinary Operations, Patisserie, Service Management, Professional Kitchen Operations, Entrepreneurial Business
Why Study Here:
- Each class size is small, with a 16:1 student-to-teacher ratio.
- Nicholls offers an in-state tuition rate for all students.
- The school is located in the heart of New Orleans, with cuisine from all around the world.
- You can choose from 11 concentrations to best prepare for the career you want.
9. PAUL SMITHS COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE
Average Total Tuition and Fees: $50,745
Type: Private
Locations(s): Paul Smiths, NY
Programs Offered: Bachelor’s Degree in Baking and Pastry Arts; Hotel, Resort, and Tourism Management; and Culinary Management
Why Study Here:
- Paul Smiths is located in the Adirondacks, surrounded by thousands of acres, mountains, streams, lakes, and wildlife.
- You can choose to work at the on-campus bakery that is completely student-operated or one of the two restaurants on Lake Placid.
- Most students enter their careers as chefs de cuisine, sous chefs, or private chefs.
10. WALNUT HILL COLLEGE
Average Total Tuition and Fees: $40,712
Type: Private
Locations(s): Philadelphia, PA
Programs Offered: Degrees in Culinary Arts/Chef Training, Pastry Chef, Restaurant Management, Hotel Management
Why Study Here:
- You get to study in Philadelphia, which is surrounded by professional opportunities in the local cuisine.
- Walnut Hill offers a tuition-paid week of travel to the countryside of France where you’ll learn from local chefs, winemakers, and food artisans.
- You’ll cook in professional kitchens, which also happen to be open-to-the-public restaurants.
- Walnut Hill prides itself on being a “boutique college” with only 600 students and a faculty-to-student ratio of 9:1.
If you love cooking and are ready to turn your passion into a career, then consider looking into earning your culinary degree. Before choosing a college, visit each website to learn about their programs and resources. The best culinary schools will have an accomplished faculty and provide a hands-on learning experience. Once you know what you want out of culinary school, you’ll feel more confident in your decision. Best of luck!
Once you complete your college applications, don’t forget to apply for scholarships! After all, it’s free money to put towards your tuition and fees. Use College Raptor’s FREE Scholarship Search tool and discover the ones you qualify for today.
