Culinary Institute of America

1. Choose the CIA for our well-deserved reputation as the world's premier culinary college.

• Our mission is to give our students the world's best culinary education – in both the culinary arts and the baking & pastry arts.
• We are recognized and respected as the leader in culinary education. 75% of surveyed employers indicate they prefer to hire CIA graduates.
• A CIA degree is a prized passport into the world of food professions. Our graduates become leading chefs and restaurant owners, food and beverage managers, food service entrepreneurs and executives, media personalities, research chefs and more.

2. Choose the CIA for the great education you'll get.

• As the first culinary college, we literally wrote the book – The Professional Chef – and created the curriculum that gives you the knowledge you need to succeed.
• We have the largest faculty of teaching chefs and certified hospitality educators on one campus, with 130 chefs and instructors from 16 countries at our Hyde Park, NY location.
• Our unique degree programs help you learn in proven stages. You advance from skills kitchens, to meal preparation kitchens, to our award-winning on-campus public restaurants. And you learn about foods, cooking techniques, and cuisines – all in the right sequence.
• No matter which degree program you choose, your CIA education will give you an extraordinary amount of hands-on learning in the kitchen — more than 1,300 kitchen hours.
• Our bachelor's programs include management and liberal-arts courses that prepare you for future leadership in your career. Take courses in restaurant management, finance, marketing, world cultures and more.

3. Choose the CIA for the rich college experience you'll have.

• All kinds of people come to the CIA – some right out of high school, some from the work force or the military, and others from college.
• Our shared passion and language – food – immediately connects you to other students and faculty in a uniquely satisfying community. As a student at the CIA, you'll also build friendships beyond the kitchen through our student clubs, sports, and year-round campus events.
• At the CIA, you'll enjoy world-class facilities: outstanding teaching kitchens and restaurants; computer labs and library; modern housing in a variety of styles; and recreational resources.
• From Hyde Park, you can enjoy recreation in the region, and take advantage of our easy access to New York City for entertainment, top restaurants, and new cultural experiences.

4. Choose the CIA for the best opportunity for career success.

• The college maintains an exclusive listing of more than 3,000 job opportunities from leading national and international employers.
• Top employers come to the Hyde Park campus quarterly to recruit students. They represent the best in restaurant, hotel, resort, club and corporate chain employers.
• Your success begins with your first job. Our graduate surveys show CIA graduates have strong career and salary growth, and their median salaries are significantly higher than industry averages.

5. Choose the CIA to join the club – our famous alumni network.

• Today, the CIA has over 37,000 alumni. They are a supportive network throughout the industry, whatever your career goals. Our graduates advance in the kitchen to become sous chefs, executive chefs and chef/owners. They advance outside the kitchen to become restaurateurs and business owners, food and beverage managers, and restaurant and hotel chain executives. They also lead as media personalities and food writers, research chefs and culinary educators.

Want to check out some of our alumni? The following would be a good place to start:

• CIA grads who educate and entertain on television and in magazines – like Sara Moulton '77, Anthony Bourdain '78, Michael Chiarello '82, Rocco DiSpirito '86, Cat Cora '95, and Duff Goldman '98.
• CIA grads who are leading chefs and restaurateurs – like Roy Yamaguchi '76, Susan Feniger '77, Charlie Palmer '79, Todd English '82, Cameron Mitchell '86, Melissa Kelly '88, Michael Mina '89, Sherry Yard '91, Jonathan Benno '93, Grant Achatz '94, Thaddeus DuBois '94, Michael Schulson '95, Andrew Weissman '96, and Shea Gallante '97.
• CIA grads who impact what millions of Americans eat every day – like Christopher Martone '89, executive chef at Subway Restaurants; Steve Ells '90, who founded Chipotle Mexican Grill; and Dan Coudreaut '95, director of culinary innovation for McDonald's.

Search any one of these accomplished leaders, and we know you'll be impressed. Search thousands more of our graduates, and you'll see the depth of CIA alumni success. Come to The Culinary and join this outstanding network of leading food professionals.

On-Campus Open Houses: It's the perfect excuse to pay us a visit—as if you need an excuse!

Regional Receptions: A great opportunity to find out more about the CIA when we visit your town.

Conversation CIA: Sit down for a one on one with your admissions representative in your area. View our schedule.

CIA Events In Your Area: Check the schedule to see if we're coming soon to a CIA event near you.

Online Events: Online open houses, chats, blogs...it's all here, and it's the inside scoop on The Culinary!

Virtual Tour: Enjoy an interactive online exploration of the CIA's Hyde Park, New York campus.

Meet Your Admissions Officer: Got some questions? Find the admissions officer in your area and make the call. He or she will be happy to speak with you.

WONDERING HOW YOU'RE GOING TO FINANCE YOUR CIA EDUCATION?

Go for your first choice—that's usually the best approach to making your higher-education decision. Put aside any initial financial hesitations and strive for the college that will foster your growth and pay back your investment throughout your career and, indeed, your life—The Culinary Institute.

Don't assume you won't qualify—90% of our students receive some form of aid. Our caring and professional financial aid staff will do everything possible to help you realize your dream of a CIA education.

Find out what aid is available to you and go for it. We'll work with you to determine your true costs and make a CIA degree an affordable investment in your future

Apply for admission—you'll discover that, while our costs are comparable, the enduring value of a CIA education is extraordinary.

CIA ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

The CIA requires that you gain about six months of hands-on food preparation experience in a kitchen in which at least 50% of the food is made to order on the premises. Here are some ways to gain this experience:

• Work in a commercial kitchen (e.g., restaurant, bakery, hospital, and college foodservice).
• Volunteer for a soup kitchen, hospital, or the like.
• Do an apprenticeship.
• Tell potential supervisors of your intention to attend the CIA. Often, they will then give you the opportunity to do hands-on food preparation.
• Work for a caterer (the hours are usually more flexible).
• Complete the hands-on requirements of your high school's ProStart or Hospitality program. (Please check with CIA Admissions to make sure your school's program applies.)

* Please note that you do not need foodservice experience to apply for admission—the requirement must be met before entering the CIA.