Best institutions to study Culinary Science/Culinology
A program that focuses on the blending of food science and the culinary arts and that prepares individuals to work as research chefs and related research and development positions in the food industry.
8 U.S. institutions graduated 261 Culinary Science/Culinology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 12.0509, a specialization of Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05), and leads most directly to the Food Scientists and Technologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1012).
About Culinary Science/Culinology programs
A program that focuses on the blending of food science and the culinary arts and that prepares individuals to work as research chefs and related research and development positions in the food industry. Includes instruction in culinary arts, food chemistry, food safety and quality, food processing, nutrition, and business management.
See also: 01.1001 - Food Science.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
Culinary Science/Culinology is a specialized program that merges food science with culinary arts, preparing students for careers as research chefs and other roles in food industry research and development. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about food and science, who wish to innovate and improve food products and processes.
Students in this program gain essential skills in food chemistry, safety, nutrition, and business management, alongside hands-on culinary training. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, active learning, and a solid understanding of food production and processing.
Credentials awarded
What Culinary Science/Culinology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year162 graduates / yr · 1 institution62%
- Bachelor's degree97 graduates / yr · 7 institutions37%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.8%
Graduates over time
Culinary Science/Culinology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 52 |
| 2013 | 209 |
| 2014 | 144 |
| 2015 | 277 |
| 2016 | 216 |
| 2017 | 170 |
| 2018 | 240 |
| 2019 | 229 |
| 2020 | 158 |
| 2021 | 196 |
| 2022 | 203 |
| 2023 | 278 |
| 2024 | 301 |
| 2025 | 261 |
Top 8 institutions for Culinary Science/Culinology, 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 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 162 | 40% | — | — |
| 2 | Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 54 | 63% | $31,271 | $28,049 |
| 3 | Johnson & Wales University - Providence Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 20 | 55% | $31,634 | $27,514 |
| 4 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 9 | 78% | $36,004 | — |
| 5 | Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte Charlotte, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 49% | $29,446 | $27,514 |
| 6 | Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, MNPublicBachelor's | 5 | 45% | — | — |
| 7 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MSPublicBachelor's | 3 | 67% | — | — |
| 8 | Texas Woman's University Denton, TXPublicBachelor's | 1 | 49% | — | — |
* 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 8 states
Where Culinary Science/Culinology graduates come from. Each state links to all Culinary Arts and Related Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 1 | 162 | Ivy Tech Community College162 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 54 | Culinary Institute of America54 / yr |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 20 | Johnson & Wales University - Providence20 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 9 | Drexel University9 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 7 | Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte7 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 5 | Southwest Minnesota State University5 / yr |
| Mississippi | 1 | 3 | Mississippi State University3 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 1 | Texas Woman's University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1012, Food Scientists and Technologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of Culinary Science/Culinology can pursue careers as Food Scientists and Technologists, with a faster than average job outlook of 6.5% growth and approximately 1,200 annual openings. The median wage for this field is $85,310, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 12.0509
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Food Scientists and Technologistsprimary SOC 19-1012 | $88,720 | +6.5% Faster than average | ~1,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Food Service Managers SOC 11-9051 | $69,390 | +6.4% Faster than average | ~42,000 | 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 |
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other SOC 25-1199 | $77,640 | +1.8% Little or no change | ~13,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Cooks, All Other SOC 35-2019 | $37,690 | +5.5% Faster than average | ~3,700 | No formal educational credential |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Culinary Science/Culinology 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
- Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management.
- Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing, and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
- Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
- Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
- Stay up to date on new regulations and current events regarding food science by reviewing scientific literature.
- Study the structure and composition of food or the changes foods undergo in storage and processing.
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).
- Culinary Arts/CIP 12.0503
Chef Training 11,808 graduates / yr353 institutions - 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
- 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 is Culinary Science/Culinology?+
It is a program that combines food science and culinary arts to prepare students for research and development roles in the food industry.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn skills in food chemistry, safety, nutrition, business management, and critical thinking.
What careers can I pursue?+
You can work as a Food Scientist, Food Service Manager, Chef, or in related roles within the food industry.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is strong, with a growth rate of 6.5% and about 1,200 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Culinary Science/Culinology?+
Culinary Science/Culinology is CIP 12.0509 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 focuses on the blending of food science and the culinary arts and that prepares individuals to work as research chefs and related research and development positions in the food industry. Includes instruction in culinary arts, food chemistry, food safety and quality, food processing, nutrition, and business management.
How many institutions offer Culinary Science/Culinology programs?+
8 U.S. institutions reported Culinary Science/Culinology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 8 states, awarding 261 credentials in the year. That is 1.0% of all Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates.
How much do Culinary Science/Culinology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Food Scientists and Technologists occupation, which Culinary Science/Culinology most directly leads to, pays a median of $88,720 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Culinary Arts and Related Services field report median earnings of $27,514 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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