½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯Scholarships
Scholarships to Help Pay For Your ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯Education
We offer Culinary Institute of America scholarships and grants through our New York, California, and Texas campuses for qualified students. More than $40 Million in student scholarships was awarded by ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯last year.
New York Campus
½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯Assistance Grant
- Awarded if you’re in a degree program and demonstrate need as determined by the .
- Renewable if you complete the FAFSA by the priority deadline, have a calculated financial need, and maintain requirements.
- $1,000–$5,000 per year.
½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯Alumni Referral Scholarship
- Awarded if you’re a prospective student (domestic or international) and submit a letter from a ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯graduate who encourages you to enroll.
- Include a copy of the letter with your application for admission.
- Available only for the freshman year.
- $1,000 one time.
½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯Excellence Award
- Available if you’ve demonstrated academic excellence as shown by your GPA (high school, college, or both) and leadership qualities.
- This merit-based scholarship is applied specifically to tuition charges.
- Our admissions team will identify you automatically during the application process; you do not need to apply separately for this scholarship.
- Award is renewable with a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- $5,500–$15,000 per year, depending on program and enrollment season.
½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯Geographic Scholarships
½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯has merit scholarships for students enrolling at the New York campus from specific states and geographic areas.
- ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯Pittsburgh Scholarship: A $2,000/year scholarship for students enrolling from specific zip codes in and around the city of Pittsburgh. This scholarship is offered for the Fall, Spring, and Summer entry dates.
- Empire Scholarship: A $1,000/year scholarship for students enrolling from the state of New York. This scholarship is offered for the Fall, Spring, and Summer entry dates.
- First in Flight scholarship: A $1,000/year scholarship for students enrolling from the state of North Carolina. This scholarship is offered for the Fall entry date.
- Garden State Scholarship: A $1,000/year scholarship for students enrolling from the state of New Jersey. This scholarship is offered for the Fall entry date.
- Keystone State Scholarship: A $1,000/year scholarship for students enrolling from the state of Pennsylvania. This scholarship is offered for the Fall entry date.
- Sunshine State Scholarship: A $1,000/year scholarship for students enrolling from the state of Florida. This scholarship is offered for the Fall entry date.
½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯Recognition Award
- Awarded in recognition of personal and professional achievement.
- Award is dependent on your degree program and time of enrollment.
- Renewable if you maintain requirements.
- $1,500–$3,500 per year.
National Student Organization (NSO) Scholarship—World, National and State Level Competitions
- Receive a scholarship certificate to attend the ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯if you place in the top three for a CIA-supported competition.
- Renewable if you maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, with the exception of the NAACP competition, for which you must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better.
- Available to high school students only, with the exception of the SkillsUSA first-place winner in the national post-secondary culinary arts or restaurant management competitions.
- Scholarships must be used within 12 months of high school graduation.
- Competition sponsors include:
SkillsUSA (World)
³Ò´Ç±ô»å—$12,000
³§¾±±ô±¹±ð°ù—$10,000
µþ°ù´Ç²Ô³ú±ð—$6,000
SkillsUSA (National)
1st Place—Full Tuition
2nd Place—$4,000
3rd Place—$3,500
SkillsUSA (State)
1st Place—$3,000
2nd Place—$2,000
3rd Place—$1,000
FCCLA (National)
1st Place—$4,000
2nd Place—$3,500
3rd Place—$3,000
FCCLA (State)
1st Place—$2,000
2nd Place—$1,500
3rd Place—$1,000
Prostart (National)
1st Place—$4,000
2nd Place—$3,500
3rd Place—$2,000
Prostart (State)
1st Place—$2,000
2nd Place—$1,500
3rd Place—$1,000
NAACP Scholarship (National, Culinary Individuals)
1st Place—Half Tuition
2nd Place—$4,000
3rd Place—$3,500
NAACP Scholarship (National, Hospitality Teams)
1st Place—$4,000
2nd Place—$3,500
3rd Place—$3,000
California Campus
½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯Assistance Grant
- Awarded if you’re in a degree program and demonstrate need as determined by the .
- Renewable if you complete the FAFSA by the priority deadline, have a calculated financial need, and maintain requirements.
- $3,000–$7,000 per year.
½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯Alumni Referral Scholarship (degree only)
- Awarded if you’re a prospective student (domestic or international) and submit a letter from a ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯graduate who encourages you to enroll.
- Include a copy of the letter with your application for admission.
- Available only for the freshman year.
- $1,000 one time.
½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯ACAP Alumni Referral Scholarship
- Awarded if you’re a prospective student (domestic or international) and submit a letter from a ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯graduate who encourages you to enroll in ACAP.
- Include a copy of the letter with your application for admission.
- Available for two semesters of the certificate program.
OR - For graduates of a ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯bachelor’s degree with a letter from a former ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯instructor encouraging you to enroll in ACAP.
- Available for two semesters of the certificate program.
½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯Excellence Award
- Available if you’ve demonstrated academic excellence as shown by your GPA (high school, college, or both) and leadership qualities.
- This merit-based scholarship is applied specifically to tuition charges.
- Our admissions team will identify you automatically during the application process; you do not need to apply separately for this scholarship.
- Award is renewable with a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- $4,000–$6,000 per year, depending on program and enrollment season.
National Student Organization (NSO) Scholarship—World, National and State Level Competitions
- Receive a scholarship certificate to attend the ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯if you place in the top three for a CIA-supported competition.
- Renewable if you maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, with the exception of the NAACP competition, for which you must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better.
- Available to high school students only, with the exception of the SkillsUSA first-place winner in the national post-secondary culinary arts or restaurant management competitions.
- Scholarships must be used within 12 months of high school graduation.
- Competition sponsors include:
SkillsUSA (World)
³Ò´Ç±ô»å—$12,000
³§¾±±ô±¹±ð°ù—$10,000
µþ°ù´Ç²Ô³ú±ð—$6,000
SkillsUSA (National)
1st Place—Full Tuition
2nd Place—$4,000
3rd Place—$3,500
SkillsUSA (State)
1st Place—$3,000
2nd Place—$2,000
3rd Place—$1,000
FCCLA (National)
1st Place—$4,000
2nd Place—$3,500
3rd Place—$3,000
FCCLA (State)
1st Place—$2,000
2nd Place—$1,500
3rd Place—$1,000
Prostart (National)
1st Place—$4,000
2nd Place—$3,500
3rd Place—$2,000
Prostart (State)
1st Place—$2,000
2nd Place—$1,500
3rd Place—$1,000
NAACP Scholarship (National, Culinary Individuals)
1st Place—Half Tuition
2nd Place—$4,000
3rd Place—$3,500
NAACP Scholarship (National, Hospitality Teams)
1st Place—$4,000
2nd Place—$3,500
3rd Place—$3,000
Texas Campus
½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯Assistance Grant
- Awarded if you’re in a degree program and demonstrate need as determined by the .
- Renewable if you complete the FAFSA by the priority deadline, have a calculated financial need, and maintain requirements.
- $1,000–$4,000 per year.
½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯Alumni Referral Scholarship
- Awarded if you’re a prospective student (domestic or international) and submit a letter from a ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯graduate who encourages you to enroll.
- Include a copy of the letter with your application for admission.
- Available only for the freshman year.
- $1,000 one time.
El Sueño Scholarship
- Covers a significant portion of program costs.
- Must have a completed ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯San Antonio application for admission on file and submit the .
- Submit a 400- to 500-word essay describing how the El Sueño Scholarship will assist you in fulfilling your dream of pursuing a culinary arts or baking and pastry arts degree.
- Renewable for the sophomore year if you maintain and continue to demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
National Student Organization (NSO) Scholarship—World, National and State Level Competitions
- Receive a scholarship certificate to attend the ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯if you place in the top three for a CIA-supported competition.
- Renewable if you maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, with the exception of the NAACP competition, for which you must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better.
- Available to high school students only, with the exception of the SkillsUSA first-place winner in the national post-secondary culinary arts or restaurant management competitions.
- Scholarships must be used within 12 months of high school graduation.
- Competition sponsors include:
SkillsUSA (World)
³Ò´Ç±ô»å—$12,000
³§¾±±ô±¹±ð°ù—$10,000
µþ°ù´Ç²Ô³ú±ð—$6,000
SkillsUSA (National)
1st Place—Full Tuition
2nd Place—$4,000
3rd Place—$3,500
SkillsUSA (State)
1st Place—$3,000
2nd Place—$2,000
3rd Place—$1,000
FCCLA (National)
1st Place—$4,000
2nd Place—$3,500
3rd Place—$3,000
FCCLA (State)
1st Place—$2,000
2nd Place—$1,500
3rd Place—$1,000
Prostart (National)
1st Place—$4,000
2nd Place—$3,500
3rd Place—$2,000
Prostart (State)
1st Place—$2,000
2nd Place—$1,500
3rd Place—$1,000
NAACP Scholarship (National, Culinary Individuals)
1st Place—Half Tuition
2nd Place—$4,000
3rd Place—$3,500
NAACP Scholarship (National, Hospitality Teams)
1st Place—$4,000
2nd Place—$3,500
3rd Place—$3,000
Additional Scholarship and grant Opportunities
Many organizations, corporations, and individual donors generously offer scholarship assistance to ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯students. Once accepted, incoming and current students have access to the ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯scholarship site, , which provides opportunities to apply throughout the year to more than 200 scholarships donated by friends of the college. More than $5 million was awarded last year from these donated funds.
A variety of sources outside the ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯offer private grants and scholarships. Accepted students also have access to information about additional private scholarship opportunities for which they would apply directly through the specific granting organization. View some .
The Internet, public libraries, and high school guidance counselor offices are also great sources for scholarship information.
There are a variety of industry organizations that support students pursuing culinary, restaurant management, and/or hospitality degrees. Here are a few such organizations:
Remember:
- For need-based scholarships, you must complete a .
- Be sure to read about ways to avoid errors when filling out this application.
- Contact Student Financial and Registration Services at 845-451-1500 or [email protected] if you have any questions about scholarships, eligibility, or other requirements.
Also in this section
Grants, Loans, and Work-Study
There are several ways to fund your ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯education. In addition to scholarships, your financial aid package might also include federal aid—such as grants, loans, and work-study—and other state aid options.
Earn & Learn
Scholarship recipients will work a fixed number of hours in roles specifically chosen for their professional-level experience.
Veterans Aid
As a veteran, you can use the Post-9/11 GI Bill® to help finance your Culinary Institute of America education.
College Calculator
Your ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯education is an investment in your future as a food industry professional. It’s important to know how you’re spending every dollar.
Code of Conduct
½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯ (CIA) prohibits a conflict of interest with the responsibilities of an officer, employee, or agent of the ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯regarding Title IV loans.
Forms and Publications
Download These Financial Aid Resources
Tutorial Videos
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