Food is your Passion.

The World’s Premier Culinary College

Food is your calling—and it all starts here.

Food is connected to everything we do at the Culinary Institute of America. Here, within an immersive college environment, you’ll experience a first-class culinary education that opens doors to a world of possibility and helps you discover how to create an impactful future in food.

Expert faculty instruction from top industry professionals

Real-world experience working in award-winning, public-service restaurants

Industry’s Best Career Fair: three times a year, 150+ of the very best restaurant and hospitality companies visit our New York campus

Ability to customize your degree to fit your specific interests and career goals

Food is your journey. Find the path that’s right for you.

A chef in a white uniform and striped apron is using a large pipette to measure liquid into a container in a busy commercial kitchen. Other chefs are visible in the background working on their tasks. The chef is smiling and appears focused on her work.

Undergraduate Degrees

Are you ready for an exciting and meaningful future in food? We offer a variety of associate and bachelor’s degree programs that will prepare you with the skills, knowledge, and expertise to succeed in the career of your choosing.

A smiling man wearing a blazer over a sweater leans forward on a kitchen counter. He is standing in a professional kitchen with chefs in white uniforms working in the background.

Graduate Degrees

CIA’s School of Graduate Studies offers a variety of online programs designed to help professionals advance their careers and prepare for the emerging needs of the dynamic food and hospitality industry.

Don’t Take Our Word for It:

Here’s What CIA Students Have to Say

Interested in learning more about the #OnlyAtCIA experience? Not sure which degree program is right for you? Consider attending one of our admissions events!

A group of eleven diverse students smiling and hugging a large bee mascot dressed in a yellow and black costume with "CIA" on its chest. They are standing on an outdoor terrace with a river and green hills in the background.
A large, stately brick building with a white facade and green awnings, featuring a prominent "Welcome" sign and banners. In front, a circular plaza with an elegant fountain sprays water into the air, surrounded by well-manicured greenery under a clear blue sky. It resembles one of the distinguished Culinary Institute of America locations.

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CIA has campuses in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore.

2K+

Learn alongside expert mentors who will help prepare you for a future in food and hospitality.

90%

We’ll help you navigate the financial aid process so that you can invest in your future.

50K+

Our strong alumni network provides unparalleled support and meaningful industry connections.

Admissions

Interested in learning more about our academic programs? We’re ready to help and provide you with more information.

Ask a Student

What’s it really like to study at CIA? Our students will answer any questions you may have—including ones about their favorite activities and spots to eat.

How to Apply

Learn more about the application process, deadlines, and our enrollment schedule.

“I was taking the tour and looking through the glass at CIA students in the bakeshops and kitchens. I got tears in my eyes envisioning myself in those kitchens and seeing the potential that they held for me.”
Camille Cogswell Pastry Chef Zahav
“I fell in love day one. Everyone who goes to the school has one common goal and passion, and you’re learning from the best.”
Tasha Mabin Catering Director The Compass Group USA
“The scientific process that you learn in this degree is second to none. You get very well prepared in the program here.”
James Bickmore-Hutt Culinary R&D Manager and Corporate Chef Dole
“The faculty truly is the most valuable aspect of the Applied Food Studies program.”
Ramona Nahapetian Office and Restaurant Accounts Manager Masienda
“You have legends here. What I love about CIA is that the professors that have been teaching here 25, 30 years…they evolve with the times.”
Roy Choi Chef, Restaurateur, Author
“The CIA gave me the foundation and understanding of the business, from the basics to the complex, through both the associate and bachelor’s programs.”
Adam Crocini Global Head and Vice President of Food & Beverage Luxury & Lifestyle Group, Hilton

CIA News