How To Apply
If Food is Your Passion, Your Future
Awaits you
Get the best practical education and hands-on experience at CIA, whether your goal is to be a chef, entrepreneur, hospitality professional, or food innovator.
4-step Application Process
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Application Form
- Click on Apply now.
- Sign up with your email.
- Create a new application.
- Fill in the application form.
Official Transcripts
Download the Transcript Request Form and ask your high school and/or any postsecondary colleges to provide your transcripts electronically via Parchment Exchange.
Or, mail your official transcripts directly to the CIA Admissions Office.*
Submit an Essay
Submit a personal statement (200–500 words) telling us:
- Why you’re passionate about the food and hospitality industry.
- What experiences you have – How you feel that your experiences have prepared you for The Culinary Institute of America.
Recommendation
One character recommendation is also required. It could be from:
- An employer
- A teacher
- A professional colleague
Submit our online recommendation form.
Or you can provide CIA Admissions with your recommender’s contact information and we will contact them for a verbal recommendation.
International students Requirements
CIA’s application has several required documents:
- School transcripts.
- Recommendations.
- Personal statements.
- Resume (Optional) .
All documentation must be provided in English (or must be supplemented by a notarized translation into English).
Proof of funding can be one of the following:
- A Copy of a bank statement from a savings account.
- Certificate of deposit.
- Money market account showing proof of funding by your sponsor.
- A letter from the bank verifying that the required funds are reserved for your education.
‘We require proof of one year’s tuition and fees, equal to $50,000 USD for our undergraduate programs.
A letter from your sponsor stating that they intend to cover all tuition and living expenses during your education at the CIA. Students must submit this even if supporting themselves.
Download the declaration form for Undergraduate Students >
Download the declaration form for Graduate Students >
If English is not your native language, you will need to a proof of English proficiency. You can do this in one of two ways:
- Test results
- Participation in classroom instruction
Learn about the CIA’s English proficiency requirement by scrolling up.
International students Requirements
CIA’s application has several required documents:
- School transcripts.
- Recommendations.
- Personal statements.
- Resume (Optional) .
All documentation must be provided in English (or must be supplemented by a notarized translation into English).
Proof of funding can be one of the following:
- A Copy of a bank statement from a savings account.
- Certificate of deposit.
- Money market account showing proof of funding by your sponsor.
- A letter from the bank verifying that the required funds are reserved for your education.
‘We require proof of one year’s tuition and fees, equal to $50,000 USD for our undergraduate programs.
A letter from your sponsor stating that they intend to cover all tuition and living expenses during your education at the CIA. Students must submit this even if supporting themselves.
Download the declaration form for Undergraduate Students >
Download the declaration form for Graduate Students >
If English is not your native language, you will need to a proof of English proficiency. You can do this in one of two ways:
- Test results
- Participation in classroom instruction
Learn about the CIA’s English proficiency requirement by scrolling up.
English Language Requirement
Scores from any one of the following exams qualifies as proof for English proficiency:
- IELTS—Overall minimum score of 6.0
- TOEFL—Overall minimum score of 80 with a minimum band score of 20 in each section.
- Pearson—Overall minimum score of 53
- Cambridge English—Advanced (CAE): Overall score of 180, with minimum score of 175 in each skill.
- Duo Lingo—Overall minimum score of 10
Language Cert—Overall minimum score of 33
If you are unable to successfully complete a language exam, you may use the conditional acceptance pathway to the CIA. The CIA works with numerous language schools for the same:
- SUNY New Paltz Haggerty English Language Program (HELP): HELP Level 4 Academic Pathway Program.
- ELS Language Centers: You must complete ELS English for Academic Purposes Program Level 112.
- International Mid Pacific College (IMPAC): You must complete the IMPAC Level 5-Low Advanced course combined with a 75+ score on the Michigan Test of English Language.
- Empire State English (ESE): You must complete the ESE General English Level Advanced C combined with a score of 100 or above on the ESE exit test.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
The CIA is committed to helping you keep costs down and providing as much financial assistance as possible. If costs still seem high, always remember that a CIA degree is an investment in yourself and will pay dividends (financially and otherwise) throughout your career.
- We offer Tuition and Fees by Campus as well. Connect with our counselor to know more about this.
- We also offer grants and scholarships that meet certain criteria
New students who have demonstrated academic excellence as shown by their GPA (high school, college, or both), are eligible for merit-based scholarship applied specifically to tuition charges. Our admissions team will evaluate your academic records automatically during the application process; students do not need to apply separately for this scholarship. The award is renewable with a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
New students who are referred to the CIA by a graduate will receive a one-time $1,000 scholarship. To be eligible, you must include a letter of recommendation from the CIA graduate with your application.
Tuition Installment Plan: This interest-free monthly payment option allows you to maximize your savings and income by spreading your college education expenses across equal monthly payments. Enrollment is simple with a small, one-time fee.
Payment in full: This option allows you to pay online using your checking or savings account.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
The CIA is committed to helping you keep costs down and providing as much financial assistance as possible. If costs still seem high, always remember that a CIA degree is an investment in yourself and will pay dividends (financially and otherwise) throughout your career.
- We offer Tuition and Fees by Campus as well. Connect with our counselor to know more about this.
- We also offer grants and scholarships that meet certain criteria
New students who have demonstrated academic excellence as shown by their GPA (high school, college, or both), are eligible for merit-based scholarship applied specifically to tuition charges. Our admissions team will evaluate your academic records automatically during the application process; students do not need to apply separately for this scholarship. The award is renewable with a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
New students who are referred to the CIA by a graduate will receive a one-time $1,000 scholarship. To be eligible, you must include a letter of recommendation from the CIA graduate with your application.
Tuition Installment Plan: This interest-free monthly payment option allows you to maximize your savings and income by spreading your college education expenses across equal monthly payments. Enrollment is simple with a small, one-time fee.
Payment in full: This option allows you to pay online using your checking or savings account.
The CIA is committed to making your CIA education as affordable as possible. Our costs are comparable to similar colleges, and here’s even better news—more than 90% of our students receive some form of financial aid.
The Earn and Learn Program:
Save on your Tuition fee while you are building your Resume Scholarship recipients will work for a fixed number of hours in a role chosen for their professional experience. You will be receiving up to $2,625 per semester in tution credit while you gain work experience on campus.
Here are a few benefits:
- Gain loads of valuable skills while supporting student dining, public-service restaurants, catering and more.
- Grow and learn under decorated professional chefs and managers while holding the same position for the semester.
- Additionally receive an evaluation from your manager – this will act as a catalyst your future career and your professional development.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Be enrolled full-time in a qualifying degree program at one of CIA’s domestic campuses.
- Complete the $HEF general application AND the CIA Earn & Learn program application on the CIA $HEF scholarship website.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress as described in the Academic Catalog (individual positions may require a higher GPA).
- Not have financial aid, including loans, grants, scholarships, and federal work study, that exceed your cost of attendance.
Bachelor's
Associate
Here you can find our academic calendar for each campus in more detail!
