Pursue an Associate or Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Arts or Baking & Pastry Arts and write your own recipe for career success. With campuses in Hyde Park, NY; St. Helena, CA; and San Antonio, TX; you’ll study local and world cuisines with our expert chef-instructors, who will share their amazing knowledge with you.
Plus, we offer many of the same essential courses offered at traditional colleges – from business-related topics such as financial management and restaurant operations to courses in history, culture, language, and leadership. Together, these are the ideal ingredients for your fantastic future in the food world.
-
Chef
“The CIA built my personal foundation for success from the ground up. Beyond technique and skill, it gifted me with the other essential ingredients all chefs need – inspiration, passion, and a consistent desire to improve, improve, improve.” Jorge Collazo '82
Executive Chef, New York City Department of Education -
Owner/Restaurateur
“I entered the CIA at a very young age with no fine dining or classic training. The school gave me the foundation that is required to execute the cooking style that I now use.” Grant Achatz '94
Chef/Owner, Alinea, Chicago, IL -
Hospitality & Service Manager
“The CIA made me what I am today, I owe everything in my professional life to the skill set I learned here. Being a CIA grad gave me instantaneous credibility in the marketplace.” Amy Greenberg '80
Senior Vice President, Citigroup Executive Services, New York City -
R&D Professional
“The CIA gave me confidence in the right way to do things. It gave me a baseline of knowledge that I count on. It also opened doors for me. Having ‘CIA’ on your resume gets you an audience.” Dan Coudreaut '95
Director of Culinary Innovation, McDonald's Corporation -
Television Personality
“Even in my day this was the best culinary school in the country, and it’s so much better now.” Anthony Bourdain '78
Chef, Author, TV Personality -
Pastry Chef
“If you want to be a well-rounded chef someday, then you’re going to want to go to a school that provides you with all the necessary information, all the tricks of the trade. And for me no one does it like the CIA does it.” Johnny Iuzzini '94
Pastry Chef and Author -
Foodservice Entrepreneur
“It was here that I found a real passion for food and cooking. That drove me to achieve a level of performance I had not seen before in myself. My time at the CIA not only prepared me to enter the working world as a chef, but also helped me get mentally prepared for everything that has followed.” Steve Ells '90
Founder, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. -
Caterer & Event Planner
“The CIA offered me a first-class education, teaching me not only the fundamentals but the value of professionalism and networking to achieve success. My degree has allowed me to successfully navigate diverse business endeavors in the lifestyle arena.” Eric Hildebrand '05
Founder, Eric Hildebrand Lifestyle and Entertainment, New York City -
Wine & Beverage Professional
“Attending the CIA is an amazing experience – one of the most exciting and inspiring things I have ever done. The skills you learn will influence your life every day no matter what you do. Having in-depth knowledge of the food and wine industries helps me to meet whatever challenge comes up next.” Bijou Robertson '02
Co-Owner, Zhoo Zhoo Wines, Hells Canyon, ID -
Food Writer / Food Stylist
“Attending the CIA thoroughly prepared me for so much more than a career traditionally associated with the foodservice industry. My education experience drove my understanding of the importance of the smallest detail. Creating a plate, setting a table, and even managing my time are all essential skills that have served me as a lifestyle and design expert.” Edward Ross '98
Blogger, Lifestyle Expert, Eddieross.com -
Culinary Educator
“I’m taking the knowledge, the enthusiasm, the passion that I got every day from my chef-instructors and sharing it with my students. The CIA gave me confidence, and I pass that on to them.” Darcy Sala '01
Chef-instructor, Dutchess County BOCES Career and Technical Institute, Poughkeepsie, NY
Culinary careers are as diverse as the cuisines we create; each has a specific focus, a unique presence, and a defined purpose. The amazing world of food is boiling over with opportunity and at the CIA, you’ll gather the ingredients to be a success no matter where life takes you.
Your senses spark to life with each new experience. You feel yourself being enveloped in centuries of rich history, heritage, tradition, and technique. You understand that every ingredient, every dish, and every menu choice brings with it unlimited potential and opportunity.
We all share this incredible passion, a passion that can be summed up in one simple but profound statement that perfectly defines what we stand for... Food is Life.
Come experience the excitement of the world’s premier culinary college, the CIA—where everyone is as passionate about food as you are. You belong here, beginning your life of food at The Culinary Institute of America.
Have you ever dreamed of owning a restaurant? Turning your mother's soul food recipes into a successful business? Taking charge of a five-star kitchen?. Don't let finances keep you from your dreams. Discover how the CIA can make your culinary education even more affordable.
The CIA’s main campus in New York’s scenic Hudson Valley offers everything an aspiring or professional culinarian could want.
With the famed Napa Valley as its backdrop, the CIA at Greystone is one of the world’s most unique and inspiring places for culinary education.
Centrally located in the heart of the American Southwest, the CIA San Antonio provides an educational experience as diverse as the food world itself.
Each of these restaurants is the culmination of a culinary journey that began at the CIA. They are the direct embodiment of a passion that turns students into teachers, cooks into chefs, and enthusiasts into visionaries.
