Best institutions to study Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant
A program that prepares individuals to serve under the supervision of chefs and other food service professionals as kitchen support staff and commercial food preparation workers.
56 U.S. institutions graduated 1,230 Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 12.0505, a specialization of Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05), and leads most directly to the Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria occupation (BLS SOC 35-2012).
About Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant programs
A program that prepares individuals to serve under the supervision of chefs and other food service professionals as kitchen support staff and commercial food preparation workers. Includes instruction in kitchen organization and operations, sanitation and quality control, basic food preparation and cooking skills, kitchen and kitchen equipment maintenance, and quantity food measurement and monitoring.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant program is designed for individuals aspiring to work in the culinary field as kitchen support staff and commercial food preparation workers. This program provides essential training under the supervision of chefs and food service professionals, preparing students for a variety of roles in the kitchen environment.
Students in this program will gain skills in kitchen organization, sanitation, quality control, and basic food preparation techniques. Coursework includes training in kitchen equipment maintenance and quantity food measurement, equipping graduates with the necessary knowledge to succeed in various culinary settings.
Credentials awarded
What Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year787 graduates / yr · 36 institutions64%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years300 graduates / yr · 18 institutions24%
- Associate's degree86 graduates / yr · 3 institutions7.0%
- Award of less than 12 weeks56 graduates / yr · 3 institutions4.6%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,424 |
| 2013 | 1,661 |
| 2014 | 1,565 |
| 2015 | 1,556 |
| 2016 | 1,424 |
| 2017 | 1,302 |
| 2018 | 1,233 |
| 2019 | 1,210 |
| 2020 | 932 |
| 2021 | 801 |
| 2022 | 786 |
| 2023 | 804 |
| 2024 | 1,052 |
| 2025 | 1,230 |
Top 50 institutions for Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant, 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's | 182 | 48% | $13,643 | $25,682 |
| 2 | Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 62 | 47% | — | — |
| 3 | Kansas City Kansas Community College Kansas City, KSPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 57 | 42% | — | — |
| 4 | Uintah Basin Technical College Roosevelt, UTPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 52 | 86% | — | — |
| 5 | West Georgia Technical College Waco, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 50 | 35% | — | — |
| 6 | Savannah Technical College Savannah, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 44 | 42% | — | — |
| 7 | Atlanta Technical College Atlanta, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 43 | 49% | — | — |
| 8 | Elgin Community College Elgin, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 43 | 41% | — | — |
| 9 | Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 40 | 58% | — | — |
| 10 | Lanier Technical College Gainesville, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 39 | 34% | — | — |
| 11 | Joliet Junior College Joliet, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 36 | 21% | — | $28,252 |
| 12 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 35 | 50% | — | — |
| 13 | Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 33 | 65% | — | $34,736 |
| 14 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 32 | 41% | — | $28,037 |
| 15 | Augusta Technical College Augusta, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 29 | 31% | — | — |
| 16 | South Georgia Technical College Americus, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 29 | 61% | — | — |
| 17 | McHenry County College Crystal Lake, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 29 | 37% | — | — |
| 18 | Athens Technical College Athens, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 25 | 51% | — | — |
| 19 | Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 22 | 43% | — | — |
| 20 | Ogden - Weber Technical College Ogden, UTPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 22 | 53% | — | — |
| 21 | Johnson & Wales University - Online Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 22 | 0% | $21,981 | $27,514 |
| 22 | Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 21 | 32% | — | — |
| 23 | Commonwealth Technical Institute Johnstown, PAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 21 | 86% | $14,343 | — |
| 24 | ECPI University Virginia Beach, VAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 21 | 42% | $21,909 | $23,320 |
| 25 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs, IAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 20 | 40% | — | — |
| 26 | Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 51% | — | — |
| 27 | Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education Baldwin Park, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 71% | — | — |
| 28 | Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 18 | 28% | — | — |
| 29 | Columbus State Community College Columbus, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 17 | 28% | — | — |
| 30 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 42% | — | — |
| 31 | Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac, WIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 13 | 58% | — | — |
| 32 | Grayson College Denison, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 12 | 40% | — | — |
| 33 | Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, WIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 11 | 44% | — | — |
| 34 | Jna Institute of Culinary Arts Philadelphia, PAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 11 | 60% | $18,245 | $18,774 |
| 35 | Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell Campus Roswell, NMPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 10 | 32% | — | — |
| 36 | North Georgia Technical College Clarkesville, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 39% | — | $17,383 |
| 37 | Washburn Institute of Technology Topeka, KSPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 8 | 68% | — | — |
| 38 | Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 45% | — | — |
| 39 | Ogeechee Technical College Statesboro, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 43% | — | — |
| 40 | Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland, WIPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 6 | 50% | — | — |
| 41 | Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 17% | — | — |
| 42 | Kaskaskia College Centralia, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 49% | — | — |
| 43 | Columbus Technical College Columbus, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 27% | — | — |
| 44 | Luzerne County Community College Nanticoke, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 23% | — | — |
| 45 | Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 25% | — | $25,304 |
| 46 | Sullivan University Louisville, KYPrivate for-profitAward of less than 12 weeks | 3 | 71% | $29,703 | $24,292 |
| 47 | Massasoit Community College Brockton, MAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 19% | — | — |
| 48 | West Virginia Northern Community College Wheeling, WVPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 3 | 33% | — | — |
| 49 | Fort Hays Tech North Central Beloit, KSPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 2 | 78% | — | — |
| 50 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FLPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 1 | 45% | — | — |
* 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 23 states
Where Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant graduates come from. Each state links to all Culinary Arts and Related Services programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 35-2012, Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers such as Cooks in institutions and cafeterias, with an average annual wage of $36,450. The job outlook for culinary positions is projected to grow by 2% with approximately 69,700 annual openings, making it a stable career choice for aspiring culinary professionals.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 12.0505
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, Institution and Cafeteriaprimary SOC 35-2012 | $37,450 | +2.0% About as fast as average | ~69,700 | No formal educational credential |
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 Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant 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
- Monitor and record food temperatures to ensure food safety.
- Cook foodstuffs according to menus, special dietary or nutritional restrictions, or numbers of portions to be served.
- Rotate and store food supplies.
- Wash pots, pans, dishes, utensils, or other cooking equipment.
- Apportion and serve food to facility residents, employees, or patrons.
- Clean and inspect galley equipment, kitchen appliances, and work areas to ensure cleanliness and functional operation.
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 - 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 credentials can I earn from this program?+
You can earn awards ranging from less than 12 weeks to an Associate's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in monitoring, cooking, sanitation, and kitchen organization.
What types of jobs can I get after graduation?+
You can work as a cook in institutions, private households, or other culinary settings.
Is prior experience required to enroll?+
No formal educational credential is required to enroll in this program.
What is the CIP code for Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant?+
Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant is CIP 12.0505 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 serve under the supervision of chefs and other food service professionals as kitchen support staff and commercial food preparation workers. Includes instruction in kitchen organization and operations, sanitation and quality control, basic food preparation and cooking skills, kitchen and kitchen equipment maintenance, and quantity food measurement and monitoring.
How many institutions offer Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant programs?+
56 U.S. institutions reported Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 23 states, awarding 1,230 credentials in the year. That is 4.8% of all Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates.
How much do Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria occupation, which Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant most directly leads to, pays a median of $37,450 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Culinary Arts and Related Services field report median earnings of $25,682 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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