A Not-for-Profit Culinary College
The Culinary Institute of America is an independent, not-for-profit college. That’s a phrase you hear a lot in higher education, but what exactly does it mean, and why is it important to students?
What It Means
- Unlike most cooking schools, the CIA belongs to the world of
prestigious colleges and universities that are typically not-for-profit
institutions. As such, the college has accreditation through the Middle
States Commission on Higher Education, which accredits leading
institutions throughout its region, including Yale University and
Columbia University.
- Not-for-profit colleges act in the public interest without
commercial profit, and exist to provide programs that benefit others and
society. The do not have “owners” or “shareholders.”
- This not-for-profit status enables the CIA to focus on the quality
of education rather than on satisfying the investment expectations of
shareholders.
Why It’s Important to Students
- At not-for-profit colleges, tuition helps to fund the cost of
education, so students can be sure their tuition payments are not being
paid out to owners or shareholders as profits.
- The CIA directs the financial resources it receives right back into
its education mission—providing the best professional culinary education
to thousands of students each year in our degree and professional
development programs.
- The CIA can receive tax-deductible gifts and donations, and does so
each year. These donations often fund scholarships, which offset some of
the cost of a student’s education.
- Students who graduate from not-for-profit institutions show a much
lower education-loan default rate. Since 2008, 25% of students who
borrowed to go to a for-profit school have defaulted. The default rate
among not-for-profit private colleges and universities for the same
period is 7.6% (The New York Times, 02/04/11). Among CIA graduates, the figure is even lower-less than half the overall not-for-profit private rate (CIA Financial Aid Office, 02/07/11).
The bottom line: students attending The Culinary Institute of America
can be confident that their tuition dollars are helping the CIA deliver
on its educational mission—to provide them with the world’s best
professional culinary education—in preparation for their food careers.
Not-For-Profit Educational Organization Statement
The Culinary Institute of America is an independent,
not-for-profit educational organization [Section 501 (c) (3)] pursuing
its mission of providing the highest quality culinary education. This
not-for-profit status distinguishes the Institute from others because it
enables us to focus on the quality of education rather than on
satisfying the investment expectations of shareholders.
Governed by a board of trustees not compensated for its
services, the Institute benefits from the guidance of its board members,
who represent the hospitality field as well as the professional and
educational communities.