Best institutions to study Culinary Arts/Chef Training
A program that prepares individuals to provide professional chef and related cooking services in restaurants and other commercial food establishments.
353 U.S. institutions graduated 11,808 Culinary Arts/Chef Training students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 12.0503, a specialization of Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05), and leads most directly to the Cooks, Restaurant occupation (BLS SOC 35-2014).
About Culinary Arts/Chef Training programs
A program that prepares individuals to provide professional chef and related cooking services in restaurants and other commercial food establishments. Includes instruction in recipe and menu planning, preparing and cooking of foods, supervising and training kitchen assistants, the management of food supplies and kitchen resources, aesthetics of food presentation, and familiarity or mastery of a wide variety of cuisines and culinary techniques.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Culinary Arts/Chef Training program prepares individuals for professional cooking careers in restaurants and commercial food establishments. This program is ideal for those passionate about food and culinary techniques, providing the skills necessary to excel in various culinary roles. Students will learn to create delicious dishes while managing kitchen operations effectively.
In this program, students acquire essential skills in recipe and menu planning, food preparation, and presentation. Coursework covers a wide range of culinary techniques, food safety practices, and the management of kitchen resources, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for the culinary industry.
Credentials awarded
What Culinary Arts/Chef Training graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree4,414 graduates / yr · 248 institutions37%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year3,635 graduates / yr · 144 institutions31%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years3,421 graduates / yr · 169 institutions29%
- Bachelor's degree177 graduates / yr · 11 institutions1.5%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years125 graduates / yr · 16 institutions1.1%
- Award of less than 12 weeks36 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.3%
Graduates over time
Culinary Arts/Chef Training completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 24,195 |
| 2013 | 26,268 |
| 2014 | 22,091 |
| 2015 | 20,113 |
| 2016 | 18,690 |
| 2017 | 16,791 |
| 2018 | 13,230 |
| 2019 | 12,204 |
| 2020 | 9,999 |
| 2021 | 9,052 |
| 2022 | 10,546 |
| 2023 | 10,286 |
| 2024 | 11,189 |
| 2025 | 11,808 |
Top 50 institutions for Culinary Arts/Chef Training, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder Boulder, COPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1,735 | 48% | $13,643 | $25,682 |
| 2 | Institute of Culinary Education New York, NYPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 632 | — | — | $22,759 |
| 3 | Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park, NYPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 450 | 63% | $31,271 | $28,049 |
| 4 | Institute of Culinary Education Pasadena, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 251 | 77% | — | $22,759 |
| 5 | Lake Land College Mattoon, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 227 | 58% | — | $14,366 |
| 6 | Johnson & Wales University - Providence Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 177 | 55% | $31,634 | $27,514 |
| 7 | NUC University Bayamon, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 148 | 54% | $9,377 | $12,403 |
| 8 | Dallas College Dallas, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 141 | 32% | — | $30,484 |
| 9 | Orange Technical College - South Campus Orlando, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 136 | 35% | — | — |
| 10 | Arizona Culinary Institute Scottsdale, AZPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 133 | 91% | $39,067 | $29,223 |
| 11 | Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 125 | 31% | — | $27,127 |
| 12 | Lee College Baytown, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 124 | 53% | — | — |
| 13 | SOWELA Technical Community College Lake Charles, LAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 120 | 43% | — | — |
| 14 | Trident Technical College Charleston, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 118 | 30% | — | — |
| 15 | Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Austin Austin, TXPrivate for-profitAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 118 | 70% | $21,708 | $26,613 |
| 16 | South Louisiana Community College Lafayette, LAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 114 | 30% | — | — |
| 17 | Valencia College Orlando, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 113 | 48% | — | $25,227 |
| 18 | St Philip's College San Antonio, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 113 | 28% | — | — |
| 19 | Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte Charlotte, NCPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 105 | 49% | $29,446 | $27,514 |
| 20 | ECPI University Virginia Beach, VAPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 95 | 42% | $21,909 | $23,320 |
| 21 | National Louis University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 89 | 30% | $18,904 | $24,786 |
| 22 | University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College North Little Rock, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 87 | 36% | — | $25,597 |
| 23 | Lamar State College - Port Arthur Port Arthur, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 81 | 45% | — | — |
| 24 | City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy - King College Chicago, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 80 | 31% | — | $19,447 |
| 25 | The Culinary School of Fort Worth Fort Worth, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 77 | 85% | $24,123 | $21,608 |
| 26 | Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 75 | 31% | — | — |
| 27 | Estrella Mountain Community College Avondale, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 73 | 32% | — | — |
| 28 | NorthWest Arkansas Community College Bentonville, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 68 | 31% | — | $25,996 |
| 29 | Bossier Parish Community College Bossier City, LAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 67 | 15% | — | — |
| 30 | Monroe University Bronx, NYPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 67 | 57% | $12,028 | $18,256 |
| 31 | Tarrant County College District Fort Worth, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 67 | 34% | — | — |
| 32 | Helms College Augusta, GAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 66 | 36% | $23,620 | $25,261 |
| 33 | Hudson County Community College Jersey City, NJPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 65 | 26% | — | $26,170 |
| 34 | Schoolcraft Community College District Livonia, MIPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 62 | 18% | — | $27,248 |
| 35 | Miami Dade College Miami, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 61 | 46% | — | $31,101 |
| 36 | IVAEM College Caguas, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 61 | 83% | $9,106 | — |
| 37 | Nunez Community College Chalmette, LAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 59 | 27% | — | — |
| 38 | Nashville State Community College Nashville, TNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 59 | 18% | — | — |
| 39 | Texarkana College Texarkana, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 59 | 47% | — | $19,284 |
| 40 | Jefferson Community and Technical College Louisville, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 58 | 35% | — | — |
| 41 | Asheville - Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 58 | 40% | — | $32,602 |
| 42 | South Texas College McAllen, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 56 | 27% | — | $24,084 |
| 43 | Pinellas Technical College - Clearwater Clearwater, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 52 | 52% | — | $21,965 |
| 44 | Niagara County Community College Sanborn, NYPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 52 | 32% | — | $26,514 |
| 45 | Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 52 | 33% | — | — |
| 46 | Henry Ford College Dearborn, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sBachelor's | 51 | 17% | — | — |
| 47 | Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MIPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 49 | 21% | — | $27,630 |
| 48 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Cincinnati, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 48 | 16% | — | $36,330 |
| 49 | Tyler Junior College Tyler, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 48 | 27% | — | — |
| 50 | H Councill Trenholm State Community College Montgomery, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 47 | 16% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Culinary Arts and Related Services field (CIP 12.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 48 states & territories
Where Culinary Arts/Chef Training graduates come from. Each state links to all Culinary Arts and Related Services programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 35-2014, Cooks, Restaurant, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Culinary Arts/Chef Training program can pursue careers as cooks, chefs, or kitchen supervisors. The job outlook is promising, with a projected growth rate of 14.9% and approximately 250,700 annual openings in the field. The median wage for culinary professionals is around $36,830, with many positions requiring no formal educational credential.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 12.0503
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cooks, Restaurantprimary SOC 35-2014 | $37,390 | +14.9% Much faster than average | ~250,700 | No formal educational credential |
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers SOC 35-1012 | $44,080 | +6.0% Faster than average | ~183,900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Chefs and Head Cooks SOC 35-1011 | $62,470 | +7.1% Faster than average | ~24,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Cooks, Private Household SOC 35-2013 | $47,940 | +5.1% Faster than average | ~5,300 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Cooks, All Other SOC 35-2019 | $37,690 | +5.5% Faster than average | ~3,700 | No formal educational credential |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Culinary Arts/Chef Training programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Ensure food is stored and cooked at correct temperature by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and roasters.
- Inspect and clean food preparation areas, such as equipment, work surfaces, and serving areas, to ensure safe and sanitary food-handling practices.
- Portion, arrange, and garnish food, and serve food to waiters or patrons.
- Ensure freshness of food and ingredients by checking for quality, keeping track of old and new items, and rotating stock.
- Season and cook food according to recipes or personal judgment and experience.
- Coordinate and supervise work of kitchen staff.
Tools and technology used
Other Culinary Arts and Related Services specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05).
- Baking and Pastry Arts/CIP 12.0501
Baker/ Pastry Chef 5,575 graduates / yr193 institutions - Cooking and Related Culinary ArtsCIP 12.05004,439 graduates / yr153 institutions
- Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/CIP 12.0504
Manager 1,663 graduates / yr115 institutions - Food Preparation/CIP 12.0505
Professional Cooking/ Kitchen Assistant 1,230 graduates / yr56 institutions - Culinary Arts and Related ServicesCIP 12.0599312 graduates / yr17 institutions
- Culinary Science/CIP 12.0509
Culinology partial data261 graduates / yr8 institutions - Institutional Food WorkersCIP 12.0508187 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Bartending/CIP 12.0502
Bartender partial data171 graduates / yr8 institutions - Food Service, Waiter/CIP 12.0507
Waitress, and Dining Room Management/ Manager partial data129 graduates / yr9 institutions - Meat Cutting/CIP 12.0506
Meat Cutter 48 graduates / yr10 institutions - Wine Steward/CIP 12.0510
Sommelier limited data12 graduates / yr2 institutions
Common questions
What types of degrees are offered in this program?+
Degrees include Associate's degrees, awards of less than one academic year, and awards of one to two academic years.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
Students will develop critical thinking, food production knowledge, and skills in food safety and customer service.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Graduates can work as cooks, chefs, or food preparation supervisors in various settings.
What is the job outlook for culinary professionals?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 14.9% and many annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Culinary Arts/Chef Training?+
Culinary Arts/Chef Training is CIP 12.0503 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to provide professional chef and related cooking services in restaurants and other commercial food establishments. Includes instruction in recipe and menu planning, preparing and cooking of foods, supervising and training kitchen assistants, the management of food supplies and kitchen resources, aesthetics of food presentation, and familiarity or mastery of a wide variety of cuisines and culinary techniques.
How many institutions offer Culinary Arts/Chef Training programs?+
353 U.S. institutions reported Culinary Arts/Chef Training graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 48 states & territories, awarding 11,808 credentials in the year. That is 45.7% of all Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates.
How much do Culinary Arts/Chef Training graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Cooks, Restaurant occupation, which Culinary Arts/Chef Training most directly leads to, pays a median of $37,390 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Culinary Arts and Related Services field report median earnings of $25,893 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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