Culinary School Cost

Typical costs:

• A culinary arts certificate or diploma program typically costs $17,550-$47,000 and lasts seven to 12 months with 600-1,000 combined hours of classroom and hands-on instruction. For example, the San Diego Culinary Institute^[1] offers a seven- to nine-month cuisine diploma program for $23,408, which includes extra costs such as uniforms, a knife kit, a baking kit, textbooks and fees. An eight-month program through the International Culinary Center^[2] includes classes held in New York and Italy, an externship at a restaurant in Italy and more than 1,000 hours of hands-on and classroom instruction.
• An associate's degree in culinary arts typically costs $35,000-$56,000. For example, the two-year associate's program in culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu^[3] schools, located across the country, costs $35,050. The 2.5-year associate's degree program at The Culinary Institute of America costs $55,670 and lasts five semesters. One of those semesters includes a paid externship in which the student does not pay tuition but works in a kitchen and continues learning on the job. The price also includes one meal a day and all program supplies and fees.
• A bachelor's degree in culinary arts or culinary management typically costs $47,000-$120,000. For instance, a bachelor's degree from the New England Culinary Institute^[4] costs $94,000 for off-campus students or $114,000 for on-campus students. The price includes all materials, class fees, and room and board for on-campus students.

• A culinary arts degree or certificate program typically ranges from seven months to four years and includes coursework in preparing entrees, exotic cuisine and desserts, and techniques such as knife skills, plating and menu design. All programs should include some type of in-class training as well as externship or on-the-job experience.
• Culinary training programs should be accredited by the American Culinary Federation^[5] .
• Education requirements vary for each intended career path. The American Culinary Federation lists a variety of certifications available^[6] and applicable education requirements to go along with each, such as a certificate or diploma (can be earned in several months), an associate's (two years) or bachelor's degree (four years). For example, someone earning a certificate might go on to become an entry-level culinarian, while a student earning an associate's degree might become a personal chef or an executive sous chef, overseeing various stations in a professional kitchen. A bachelor's degree plus many years' experience may qualify a chef for a career as a culinary educator.
• A Diplome Professionnel du Commis de Cuisine is a common name for a Cuisine Diploma, although schools may refer to the cuisine diploma program in different ways. For instance, the Culinary Institute Le Notre^[7] in Houston offers an Elite Diplome in Culinary Arts while the San Diego Culinary Institute^[8] uses the term Diplome Professionnel du Commis de Cuisine for its culinary diploma, with a separate program for pastry chefs.

• Books and supplies for culinary school, such as a knife set, kitchen supplies or laptop computer, typically cost $1,000-$4,000. For example, the Utah Valley University Culinary Arts Institute^[9] estimates additional costs of $510 for cooking tools, $240 for uniforms (chef coat, apron, necktie, pants, and chef hat), black non-skid leather shoes and books, with costs that vary.
• Culinary school knife sets typically cost $80-$300. The Wusthof Culinary School Knife Bag^[10] , for example, costs $90 shipped.
• A single chef's uniform typically costs $60-$300. For example, a chef's coat at Chef Wear ranges from $14 for a three-star jacket to $70 for a premier chef's coat. Shoes^[11] at Chef Wear cost $80 or more, pants cost $20-$40 and a chef's hat^[12] or toque costs $14-$16.

• Scholarships for cooking school may be available to students that demonstrate a financial need. For example, the American Academy of Chefs^[13] offers scholarships to high school and college students as well as professional chefs looking to pursue education or certification.

• All Culinary Schools gives tips on what to look for^[14] in a program and explains the difference between a culinary institute and cooking schools or classes.
• The American Culinary Federation, the industry's dominant trade group, has a searchable database^[15] of accredited schools, including degree and non-degree programs.

1.  www.sdci-inc.com/faq.html#cost
2.  www.internationalculinarycenter.com/courses/ny/it/chef/italian_culinary_experience
3.  www.chefs.edu/Tuition-And-Financial-Aid
4.  www.neci.edu/admissions/tuition-fees
5.  www.acfchefs.org/ACF/Education/Accreditation/ACF/Education/Accreditation/
6.  www.acfchefs.org/download/documents/certify/Certification_Requirements.pdf
7.  www.culinaryinstitute.edu/programs/diploma-programs/diploma-elite-diplome-in-culinary-a...
8.  www.sdci-inc.com/faq.html
9.  www.uvu.edu/ca/CA%20Info%20Sheet%202009-2010.pdf
10.  www.amazon.com/Wusthof-Culinary-school-Knife-bag/dp/B00186IBLU
11.  www.chefwear.com/store/index.asp?DEPARTMENT_ID=28
12.  www.chefwear.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=34&DEPARTMENT_ID=49&
13.  www.acfchefs.org/ACF/Education/Scholarships/ACF/Education/Scholarships/
14.  www.allculinaryschools.com/culinary-careers/article/how-to-choose-cooking-school
15.  www.acfchefs.org/ACF/Education/Enrollment/ACF/Education/Enrollment/

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