New York Spring Accepted Student FAQs

Congratulations and welcome to the CIA family! The first place you should visit is your student portal. It’s a one-stop shop for all required enrollment paperwork and tasks. If you were accepted more than a week ago and have not yet received an e-mail with your login information, please e-mail enrollment@culinary.edu.

Check out our accepted students page for details.

There are several airports within two hours of the CIA. While Stewart is the closest to campus, many students choose to use NYC-area airports because they offer a larger array of flight options, often with fewer connections and at reduced costs. We’ve listed them here in order of proximity to campus:

• Stewart International Airport is the closest airport. It is approximately 45 minutes from campus. Students need to take an Uber or taxi to get to campus; public transportation is not available.
• Westchester County Airport is approximately one hour and 15 minutes from campus. Students would need to take an Uber or taxi to get to campus; public transportation is not available.
• John F. Kennedy International Airport is located in the New York City area. Students can use the Jamaica AirTrain to get to New York Penn Station. From there, students can use Amtrak to get to the Poughkeepsie Train Station—only 3.5 miles from campus.
• LaGuardia Airport is located in the New York City area. There is bus service from the airport to Grand Central Station. From there, students can use Metro-North Railroad to get to the Poughkeepsie Train Station—only 3.5 miles from campus.
• Newark Liberty International Airport is located in New Jersey. There is train service to New York Penn Station. From there, students can use Amtrak to get to the Poughkeepsie Train Station—only 3.5 miles from campus.
• Albany International Airport is located north of campus. Students can use the bus or train to travel from the airport to Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station. From there, students can use Amtrak to get to the Poughkeepsie Train Station—only 3.5 miles from campus.

Unfortunately, the CIA is unable to provide transport from airports to campus. If you’re interested in coordinating with other traveling students, we encourage you to engage with your peers in the Admitted Student Facebook Group.

The CIA is open for weekday walking tours. Tours last 60 minutes. Check our calendar and reserve your spot.

Complete the housing form on the CIA Main Menu—your student portal. You’ll find link on your checklist (while you’re there, make sure you’ve completed all your to-do items!).

First, have you considered all the benefits of living on campus? Off-campus housing costs are more than just rent. You will be financially responsible for many services provided as part of on-campus housing—including garbage service, wireless Internet connection, snow removal, and heat/electric. You’ll save travel time to and from campus—and can use that time to connect with classmates, attend club meetings, and more!

If, after weighing your options, you still choose to live off campus—please complete the CIA’s housing form on the CIA Main Menu so we know your plans. (You’ll find the link on your checklist.)

Take a peek at all of the different housing options and styles of residence halls you will have to choose from! And explore how some current students have decorated their rooms in these Instagram posts: Room Decorating Contest and Current Student Rooms.

Fun fact: famous vlogging channel Hellthy Junk Food came to campus and filmed one of their videos! It includes some fun snapshots of campus!

On top of getting the world’s best culinary education, you will have access to a multitude of services, amenities, and resources! There are ALWAYS activities and events for students to attend. Check them out:

• Academic Advising
• Campus Safety
• CIA Bookstore
• Counseling and psychological services (CAPS)
• Health Services
• International Student Resources
• Learning strategies/disability services
• Sports Team
• Student Activities, Clubs, and Organizations
• Student Commons and The Egg
• Student Financial Planning
• Veteran Resources

Move-in day for our January 2022 class is Sunday, January 2.

All new students who have not submitted proof of COVID-19 vaccination must bring proof of a negative COVID-19 test. This test must have been administered within 72 hours of move-in. Both rapid and PCR tests will be accepted, and your documentation can be either paper or digital (on your phone). If your vaccination status has changed since you submitted your medical paperwork, please visit your student portal to update your information.

At the CIA we have a variety of housing options for students. Most first-year students are assigned double rooms that measure 12 x 20 feet. A limited number of triple rooms will be available. All triple rooms include their own bathroom. While a small number of single rooms exist on campus, these are reserved for students with certain medical needs. The CIA also has a very small number of quad rooms that may be used, upon request by roommate groups.

Yes. Whether it’s something you ship from your own home, Amazon, or anywhere else—all you need is your room number. Our mail room has limited storage space, so we ask that you plan the arrival of your packages as close as possible to your move-in date. If you want to pick up your package during move-in on January 2, it must arrive at the mail room by January 1. We will not be able to accommodate same-day pick up of arriving packages. Ship your packages to:

The Culinary Institute of America
[Your Name]
PO Box NSS21 - Room #[Your Room Number]
1946 Campus Drive
Hyde Park, NY 12538-1499

You need to register your car with this online form. Additional information about policies and parking areas is available in our Student Parking Guide (PDF).

The frequency of cleaning and sanitation in common areas remains at an increased level. Hand sanitizing stations are located throughout each campus. Disinfectant cleaning supplies for faculty, staff, and student use have been made available for classrooms, academic buildings, dining rooms, residence halls, and student facilities.

Yes, all CIA students, faculty, and staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

For the past several months, the CIA has strongly recommended that students be vaccinated against COVID-19. Due to the rise of new variants, lower-than-anticipated vaccination rates across the United States, and increasing evidence that vaccines lower the risk of serious illness and hospitalization—the CIA has decided to require the vaccine for all students, faculty, and staff. By creating a fully vaccinated community, the college will be able to relax restrictions, allow students to host visitors, resume beloved campus traditions (such as cook-offs and sporting events), and continue in-person learning with minimal disruptions.

Our policy is recommended by the American College Health Association, is consistent with practices at an increasing number of colleges and universities, private employers, and government agencies, and is similar to existing state-mandated requirements for other student vaccinations already required by the CIA. We thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

You can upload an image of your completed vaccination card to Medicat—the student health records system. For international students, the CIA is accepting any emergency use vaccines authorized by the WHO or the FDA.

The CIA’s policy allows for exemptions for medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs. Those with an approved exemption will be required to remain masked on-campus in all indoor areas and any outdoor area when physical distancing cannot be maintained, consistent with CDC guidance. Please complete the appropriate accommodation request form.

The Admissions Office is available to answer your questions. Please contact us at 1-800-CULINARY (285-4627).

Virtual orientation is happening now! Check out upcoming online events and recorded on-demand sessions designed to get you ready to enroll. In-person, on-campus orientation will take place starting Move-In Day, January 2.

Join our facebook group exclusively for accepted students. And check your e-mail for additional opportunities to meet and chat with your future classmates.

Green and Gold Orientation is an exciting series of events designed to help you get to know your classmates, learn your way around campus, and feel more at home at the CIA. We’re busy planning and will share more information as soon as we can!

Check out some cool featured courses. If you are looking to dive even deeper, feel free to explore the course catalog for curriculum details.

The CIA will register you for classes and create your first-semester schedule for you! No need to worry about trying to squeeze into classes or schedule your first semester all by yourself. Once you begin classes, you will have an academic advisor that will help you plan your future semesters.

The CIA has long recognized the importance of in-person, hands-on coursework. And our faculty and staff remain committed to providing you with the same exceptional educational experiences—and small class sizes—that have made us the world’s premier culinary college. We’ve successfully conducted in-person classes for the past year and we’re not going to stop now! The majority of your first-semester coursework will be delivered in-person, including all laboratory classes.

Maximize your financial aid award package. Your enrollment manager and student financial planner will help you learn about your options and understand the process! Check your student portal and CIA e-mail regularly for updates!

Here is personalized information for New York Campus.

There are lots of additional resources on your portal regarding:

• Private Loans and options for financing your education (PDF)
• Setting up a four-pay payment plan (PDF)

The CIA provides numerous scholarship opportunities. You will need to complete a General Application at CIA $hef, our internal scholarship website ONLY for CIA students! New scholarships are added every few weeks and you’ll be notified at your CIA e-mail address when they match your profile.

We're here to answer any questions you have about your balance or these options. E-mail us at enrollment@culinary.edu or call 845-905-4918.