18 Best Culinary Schools in America

Topping our list of the top culinary schools in the US is The Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park. Overlooking the Hudson River, CIA New York is often included on lists of culinary schools and beautiful college campuses. Four open-to-the-public, student-staffed restaurants exist on the 170-acre campus. The Culinary Institute of America also offers:

• General Foods Nutrition Center
• Colavita Center for Italian Food and Wine
• a student-run craft beer brewery known as The Egg

CIA New York offers culinary programs at all levels, including:

• associate degree programs
• bachelor’s degrees
• certificates
• online master’s degrees

Their culinary school programs include:

• Culinary Arts
• Baking and Pastry Arts
• Food Business
• Food Studies and Sustainability

What makes CIA New York special? The CIA offers state-of-the-art kitchens, labs, and restaurants where students can gain hands-on experience. These facilities simulate real-world working environments, preparing students for careers in fine dining and culinary management. It is also a world-renowned cullinary school that is known for producing top-tier chefs and cullinary artists.

What is a downside of CIA New York? The tuition cost of $36,620 will be cost prohibitive for many prospective students.

Johnson & Wales University offers a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Baking & Pastry Arts. They also offer a slew of other diploma programs to help you begin your career in the culinary world, including:

• international beverage management
• nutrition
• culinary science
• hospitality management

Students can even pair their degree with a minor in an area like:

• food studies
• sommelier management
• culinary sustainability

Johnson and Wales University has long been known as a leader among colleges with culinary programs. Their programs prepare students for a successful career in the culinary field. According to the university’s most recent data, 73% of students complete their internship with a job offer, while an overall 96.8% of students are employed within six months of graduation.

What makes JWU special? JWU has established strong relationships with restaurants, hotels, and food service companies, providing students with excellent internship and job placement opportunities. The university’s career services help students secure internships at prestigious locations, which can lead to employment after graduation.

What is a downside of JWU? While JWU is excellent for culinary arts education, some students may feel that the school places too much emphasis on practical kitchen skills and lacks a strong academic focus, especially in liberal arts subjects. Students who want a more balanced education may feel limited by the curriculum.

The Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts is the largest culinary school brand in the nation. It has even been named by Chef’s Pencil as one of the top culinary schools in the world. No matter what ambitions a student chef may have, the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts has a program for it. 

The Auguste Escoffier School offers traditional degree programs in:

• culinary arts
• pastry arts
• hospitality and restaurant operations management

It’s no wonder they are considered among the top 10 culinary schools. They also offer degrees in unique subjects such as plant-based culinary arts and holistic nutrition and wellness. Students who aren’t located near Austin or Boulder can even earn their degree entirely online via Escoffier’s unique online program.  Students can also study at the Ecole-Ducasse Culinary Institute in France and apply their credits toward a bachelor’s degree.

What makes Auguste Escoffier special? Escoffier emphasizes a farm-to-table approach, teaching students sustainable sourcing, seasonal cooking, and working closely with local ingredients. This is a major advantage for students passionate about sustainability and ethical food practices, a growing trend in the culinary industry.

What is a downside of Auguste Escoffier? Escoffier’s curriculum is rooted in classic French culinary techniques, which might feel limiting to students interested in more modern, avant-garde, or diverse culinary trends such as molecular gastronomy or fusion cuisine.

Walnut Hill College is a for-profit, family-run culinary school. They have been training passionate industry leaders for nearly half a decade. The college offers associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in:

• Culinary Arts
• Pastry Arts
• Restaurant Management
• Hotel Management

Each degree program is built around an experiential curriculum. Students are given the opportunity to work in the college’s open-to-the-public restaurants from the program’s earliest days. 

Included in the tuition price is a travel experience designed to showcase “the finest aspects of the industry abroad.” Each degree culminates in a trip to England, France, Florida, and the Bahamas to experience firsthand the hospitality and culture emphasized in their coursework.   

What makes Walnut Hill College special? Walnut Hill College offers degree programs not only in culinary arts but also in hospitality management, pastry arts, and restaurant management, giving students a comprehensive education that prepares them for a wide variety of careers in the food and hospitality industries.

What is a downside of Walnut Hill College? While the school provides excellent hands-on training, its alumni network is smaller than that of larger culinary institutions. This can limit networking opportunities and job placements in more competitive regions or high-end establishments.

Kendall College at National Louis University is one of the top culinary colleges in the country. They offer several culinary programs, including:

• AAS in Culinary Arts
• AAS in Culinary Arts Accelerated
• BA in Culinary Management
• Culinary Arts Certificate
• AAS in Baking and Pastry
• Baking and Pastry Certificate

Each program includes a comprehensive curriculum of courses taught in commercial-grade kitchens by professional chefs and bakers.  In addition to learning culinary skills, students will also gain skills in business as well as innovation and theory.

Students also have the opportunity to add to their resumes by completing the Wine Professional Program. This unique program takes a teacher-directed approach to a “contemporary-driven, rigorous and accelerated programming of wine and beverage education.” Three levels of courses are available, each of which ends in certification. 

What makes Kendall College special? Located in Chicago, a major food and dining hub, Kendall College offers students proximity to top-tier restaurants, internships, and employment opportunities in a vibrant culinary scene. The school’s connections to Chicago’s food industry give students access to networking and hands-on learning opportunities.

What is a downside of Kendall College? Kendall focuses primarily on culinary and hospitality management curriculum, which may not be ideal for students who want a more diverse range of degree offerings in food science, nutrition, or food policy.

The Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) has been educating chefs for nearly five decades. No stranger to “best of” lists, ICE offers a variety of degree programs in:

• culinary arts
• pastry and baking arts
• culinary arts management
• restaurant management
• hospitality and hotel management

Uniquely, ICE also offers one of the country’s few programs in health-supportive culinary arts. 

Each Institute of Culinary Education campus boasts state-of-the-art kitchens, plus education-enhancing features like:

• A bean-to-bar chocolate lab
• Mixology Center
• Culinary Technology Lab
• a hydroponic garden

Sullivan University is home to one of the top culinary arts colleges in the country. The College of Hospitality Studies offers an Associate of Science in Culinary Arts and a B.S. in Hospitality and Event Management, a comprehensive degree that prepares them to work in the best restaurants or even open their own business.

Courses are taught by industry professionals in top-of-the-line kitchen labs. They include:

• Wines and Spirits
• Baking Fundamentals
• Baking Science
• International Cuisine
• Food Service Sanitation

Throughout the degree program, students also take part in practicums and externships with the region’s best restaurants. Sullivan offers courses year-round, meaning students can complete their associate’s degree in as few as 18 months. 

For the competitive Sullivan student, there is a Sullivan culinary arts competition team. To date, the team has won more than 400 gold, silver, and bronze medals at regional, national, and even international competition levels.   

What makes Sullivan University special? In addition to its core culinary arts program, Sullivan University offers a specialized Baking and Pastry Arts degree, catering to students who want to focus specifically on this area. This can be an advantage for students with a strong interest in the pastry field. The University also offers accelerated tracks which can lead to earning your degree in just 18 months.

What is a downside of Sulliven University? The tuition costs of the associate and bachelor’s degree tracks are quite high. The B.S. in Hospitality and Event Management can end up costing over $75,000. This is a tremendous sum and may be prohibitive to many students given the modest salaries of the cullinary industry.

Culinary Institute LeNotre consistently ranks as one of the best cooking schools in the country. The Institute offers seven different degree programs and seven electives in the following:

• culinary arts and cuisine
• baking and pastry arts
• hospitality and restaurant management

Students learn in state-of-the-art kitchens and labs, including brand-new baking, pastry, and cuisine labs. 

Students pursuing degrees at Culinary Institute LeNotre always learn from successful industry professionals. In addition to required coursework, students also have access to hands-on seminars. These seminars, ranging from single sessions to 10 weeks in length, cover a variety of topics and are a great way to add to one’s skill set. 

What makes Culinary Institute LeNotre special? The institute checks all the right boxes: accreditation by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF), multiple cullinary degree tracks, and affordable tuition with generous financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

What is a downside of Culinary Institute LeNotre special? For students looking for a broader education that includes hospitality management, food science, or restaurant entrepreneurship, the school’s offerings may feel limited compared to other institutions that offer a wider array of programs.

Metropolitan Community College is home to a top-ranked culinary school and hospitality program. The program consists of two tracks – one leading to an Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts and Management (Culinary Arts or Baking and Pastry) and the other leading to an A.A.S. in Hospitality and Restaurant Leadership (Food and Event Management or Hospitality Entrepreneurship). 

Regardless of their choice of track, student chefs at Metropolitan are equipped with the leadership and teamwork skills that make for a successful career in the food service industry. Those who want to add to their skillset can even earn a Culinary Arts Foundation career certificate or a Certificate of Achievement in either Culinary Arts and Management or Baking and Pastry. 

What makes Metropolitan Community College special? The outstanding feature of this school is its affordability. At just $70 per credit out for Nebraska residents and $105 per credit hour for non-Nebraska residents, students may earn their cullinary degree at a fraction of the cost of private universities.

What is a downside of Metropolitan Community College? MCC’s alumni network is smaller compared to larger culinary institutions. While the college has connections within the local and regional culinary industries, students may find fewer opportunities for networking on a national or global scale.

One of the best culinary schools in California is the Culinary Institute of America. Situated in the heart of the Napa Valley, The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone is the California branch of the prestigious The Culinary Institute of America. The Institute offers a variety of degree programs for aspiring culinary professionals.

They offer an Associate Degree in Baking and Pastry Arts and Culinary Arts. The culinary arts program focuses on cooking methods as well as responsible sourcing and sustainability. The baking and pastry arts program teaches students how to prepare sweet and savory delights.

The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone is housed in the stunning former home of the Christian Brothers Winery. Built in the 19th Century and included on the National Register of Historic Places, Greystone offers students and the public:

• award-winning restaurants
• illy bakery cafe
• culinary marketplace

What makes CIA at Greystone special? The proximity to vineyards and wineries also opens doors for networking and externships in the hospitality and wine industries.

What is a downside of CIA at Greystone? While the focus on wine and beverages is a strength, students who are not interested in these areas may find that the Greystone campus doesn’t offer the same breadth of opportunities as the New York campus in terms of other specializations or advanced culinary techniques.

One of the best New York Culinary Schools is The Culinary Institute of New York. The Institute is officially a part of the private, for-profit Monroe College. They offer an Associate of Applied Science in:

• Culinary Arts
• Baking and Pastry
• Hospitality Management

They also offer a Bachelor of Business Administration in Hospitality Management. Degree programs combine hands-on learning with theory. Student chefs have the opportunity to put their learning to use in The Dining Lab, the critically acclaimed student-run restaurant. 

Each year, The Culinary Institute of New York plays host to America’s Best High School Chef Competition, a unique educational opportunity for high school seniors. Once enrolled at The Culinary Institute of New York, students are invited to compete with the culinary competition team. The team has won more than 1,000 ACF medals and has even been named Regional Champions. 

The culinary arts program at Henry Ford College has been thoughtfully designed to turn beginners into advanced chefs. Students begin the program by earning a Certificate of Achievement in Culinary Skills.

From there, they continue on to earn an associate degree in culinary arts or hotel/restaurant management before finishing with a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts. They can complete these degree programs without the trouble of transferring schools and losing valuable credits or learning a new program. 

Students may enter the program at any phase. Two internship opportunities in the food industry are included, as is valuable coursework in business. In addition to being accredited by the American Culinary Federation, the culinary program at Henry Ford College has been given the “exemplary” seal from the ACFEFAC. 

Drexel University is one of the top universities with culinary programs. They offer a bachelor’s in culinary arts and science, which is unique amongst culinary degrees. Instead of focusing on either culinary arts or culinary science, Drexel’s degree program covers:

• culinary arts
• food science
• business
• hospitality management

This makes it an ideal program for the student with grand ambitions. The four-year degree culminates in a six-month co-op during which future culinarians are exposed to real-world professionals at places like Food & Wine magazine, America’s Test Kitchen, and Hershey Foods, among others. 

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts and Science at Drexel may choose to spend an additional year completing an MBA degree, or they may supplement their undergraduate degree with a minor in:

• Entrepreneurship
• Business Administration
• Marketing

An opportunity to study abroad in Rome, Italy, also exists for Drexel’s students interested in international culinary arts. 

Oakland Community College features one of the best culinary schools in the country. The Culinary Studies Institute at Oakland Community College offers a certificate in Pastry Arts, plus two Associate of Applied Science degrees in Culinary Arts and Management Development/Hospitality.

Each degree program uses hands-on coursework, event planning opportunities, and even food competitions to prepare future culinarians for a long and successful career. 

Culinary arts school students are given the chance to practice their skills and knowledge in two open-to-the-public restaurants and a campus bakery. The Culinary Arts Institute is also home to an award-winning Ice Carving Team.  

The Great Lakes Culinary Institute is officially a part of Northwestern Michigan College. The Institute offers certificates in Baking Level II and Culinary Arts Level I and III, plus A.A.S. degrees in Culinary Arts. NMC also offers a brand new Culinary Maritime certificate.

The curriculum for each program within the culinary arts school emphasizes proper technique and the science behind selecting, preparing, and serving food to groups big and small.

At The Great Lakes Culinary Institute, students have access to five culinary labs, including an advanced cooking kitchen, a garde manger kitchen, and a 90-seat teaching restaurant.   

Students at the Institute of Technology may choose between two culinary programs: a Culinary Arts Diploma or a Baking and Pastry Specialist Program. Both programs are recognized by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC) as “exemplary,” a status awarded to just two other California-based culinary schools. 

Students may choose to pursue their chosen program:

• part-time
• full-time
• in an accelerated format

From day one, chefs work in the kitchen and learn from real industry professionals. The Institute of Technology recognizes that experience goes a long way in the culinary world. Each culinary program culminates in a 180-hour externship to prepare students for a successful culinary career. 

Paul Smith’s College offers a BPS degree focused on culinary management. Students learn advanced culinary techniques as well as emerging trends in areas like:

• nutrition
• sanitation
• food service operations

Courses are taught by faculty who are members of the American Culinary Federation. Students experience hands-on learning in professional-grade kitchens as well as an on-campus restaurant and a student-run retail bakery outlet. The program is available only to transfer students at this time.

Graduates are well prepared to work in a variety of roles, including chefs de cuisine or sous chefs. They have the skills needed to rapidly advance in their careers.

Louisiana Culinary Institute is the premier culinary school in the south. Louisiana Culinary Institute offers several outstanding culinary education opportunities with their Associate of Occupational Studies degrees in:

• Culinary Arts: Advanced Culinary Arts
• Culinary Arts: Baking & Pastry
• Hospitality and Culinary Management

Each culinary arts associate degree covers a breadth of skills and knowledge. Coursework covers essential areas like:

• writing
• math
• entrepreneurship
• foodservice business management skills

Courses are taught on campus in Baton Rouge, Monday through Thursday, five hours per day. 

Uniquely, Louisiana Culinary Institute also offers a two-year high school program called ProStart. This program focuses on both culinary arts and hospitality management. Young students have the opportunity to earn transfer credits and scholarships.