Apply Today to CIA

How to Apply for CIA Associate and Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Whether you’re considering a career as a master chef, entrepreneur, hospitality leader, or food innovator, a hands-on education at CIA is the best way to make it all possible. Get started today by submitting your application through CIA’s online application or Common App.

Admission Requirements

  1. Request official transcripts
  2. Submit an essay
  3. Ask for a recommendation

If you’re an international student, check our additional admission requirements.

That’s it! You’re on your way to enrolling at CIA. If you’ve already submitted your application, learn more about the essay and supporting materials.

CIA Admissions Deadlines

Apply Anytime!

  • Apply for admission up to 18 months in advance
  • Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed on a rolling basis

Quick Facts

Next Available Start Date:
January 6, 2025

Application Deadline is October 11

April 29, 2025

September 8, 2025

Apply for Fall 2025 admission to our New York campus by November 15, 2024, and receive a $1,000 Early Application Grant!

Enrollment Schedule

Programssepjanapr
Associate Degree: Culinary Arts—NY, CA, and TXXXX
Associate Degree: Baking and Pastry Arts—NY and CAXXX
Associate Degree: Baking and Pastry Arts—TXXX
Bachelor’s Degrees: Applied Food Studies, Culinary Science, and Food Business Mgt.XXX
Bachelor’s Degree: Hospitality ManagementX
CIA Associate Grads Only: Food Business LeadershipX
Degree Completion: Baking and Pastry Arts or Culinary ArtsXX
All Master’s DegreesX
Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate ProgramX
Graduate and Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate Program Candidates

Graduate and Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate Program Candidates

Ready to take your career to the next level? If you already hold a bachelor’s degree and are looking to advance your career within the food, beverage, and hospitality industries, CIA’s School of Graduate Studies has a range of available opportunities. Or choose CIA’s Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate Program (ACAP), which is designed for students who already have a bachelor’s degree.

Online Bachelor’s Degree Students

Combine your hands-on kitchen skills with the business side of food by enrolling in our 100% online Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Food Business Leadership. This program is designed specifically for CIA associate degree alumni with at least four years of full-time work experience after graduating. To apply, you just need your application, an essay, and a copy of your CV or résumé—that’s it!

A woman with curly hair and wearing an orange sweater is sitting at a glass table, smiling while writing in a notebook. She is looking at an open laptop and holding a pen. There is a small plant on the table, and the background is a bright, modern room.
Tuition and Financial Aid

Food Is Your Purpose

If you’re looking to advance your career in food, there is no better investment than a CIA education. From hands-on opportunities and expert faculty instruction to unique concentrations and exclusive networking events, our education and experiences are unparalleled. We are also committed to making your CIA education as affordable as possible. Our costs are comparable to similar colleges, with more than 90% of our students receiving some form of financial aid.

Don’t let applying for financial assistance keep you from going to the world’s premier culinary college. We will work with you, regardless of your individual circumstances, to help make attending CIA an affordable investment in your future.

The Culinary Institute of America