Info FOr:
High School Students
Welcome to your new college!
Food is Your Future
Your Life In Food Starts Here
Have you dreamed of becoming a renowned chef or running your own restaurant or bakery? How about exploring a career as an event planner, food policy advocate, or even a food technologist? You’ve come to the right place! The world of food and hospitality has never been more exciting, and with our food focused degree programs, CIA is where you’ll explore it all. Here you’ll master techniques, explore global cuisines, develop creative menus, and learn to lead in the kitchen or anywhere else you want to go in food. If a future in food is your passion—you’ve just found your dream school!
Ready to hear more about CIA? Sharing your info is the best way to learn more about our academic programs, life on campus, scholarship opportunities, and get invited to fun campus events. We can’t wait to tell you more about CIA—so take a minute and submit your info below. You’ll love it here!
Application Process
Your Time Is Now—Fall 2026 Is Filling Fast
Your Time Is Now—Fall 2026 Is Filling Fast
You know CIA is the best place to begin your future in food. Now it’s time to make it official. Join our incoming Fall 2026 class before it’s too late.
Apply now and you can:
- Get a fast, non-binding decision within one week
- Be automatically considered for CIA scholarships
Take the next step—apply today.
High School Students
I’m a Senior
You’ve found your dream school! Find out why CIA is the perfect college for you.
I’m a Junior
There are SO many career possibilities in food and hospitality. See where a CIA degree can take you!
I’m a Sophomore or Younger
You love, love, love food. We do too! Learn how you can make food your career and your life.
Home of Netflix’s Next Gen Chef
As the global leader in culinary education, CIA was the perfect starting place for a competition to find the leading chef of the next generation. Learn more about faculty and alumni appearing on the show.
Reasons to be #OnlyAtCIA
Real-World Experience
Spend a full semester getting hands-on experience in our nine award-winning public service restaurants.
More Specialized, Hands-on Classes
Two times the foundational skills and deeper dives into specializations than most colleges.
Built-in, Paid Internship
World-class paid internships at one of 2,000+ CIA-approved organizations.
Scholarships
CIA offers generous scholarships—and awarded over $45 million last year alone.
College Life with a Culinary Twist
Join a diverse, close-knit community where everyone speaks your language—food!
Custom-Fit Education
Choose from programs, electives, and travel experiences that fit your unique interests and goals.
Industry’s Best Career Fair
Three times a year, every year, 150+ of the best food, beverage and hospitality companies visit CIA looking to hire. In fact, CIA students average three job offers at graduation.
Unrivaled Network
The food world’s most powerful alumni network—50k+ strong—that not only hire CIA grads, but also help make the connections to advance careers.
Chat with a Student
Are you curious about what it’s really like to attend CIA? We’ve got you covered. Our students are ready to answer the questions you haven’t asked anyone else, share their own personal experiences, and give you genuine advice—because they’ve gone through it, too.
CIA Campuses
Join a community, where everyone speaks your language—food.
Explore everything CIA has to offer beyond the classroom! Whether you’re into cook-off competitions, open mic nights, student clubs, athletics, or heading on an off-campus adventure, you’re sure to find endless opportunities for food, friends, and fun. And did we mention every dorm comes with a full-sized kitchen, perfect for trying out new recipes!
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