High School Sophomores and Younger

Your Perfect Fit. Food is Your Future.

Psssst! The secret to college success is finding a school that truly fits you. When you make the right match, everything just falls into place. If food is your passion—cooking it, baking it, sharing it, watching videos about it—then ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯may be your perfect fit. Food is our life too! Our bachelor’s and associate degree programs can introduce you to so many different and exciting career paths, where the opportunities are as wide open as your dreams.

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Ready to explore the world of food and hospitality? It’s never too soon to start learning more about ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯and where your future can lead. Let’s do this!

Three chefs in white uniforms and hats stand in a commercial kitchen, smiling. The chef in the foreground is African-American, while the two chefs behind him are Caucasian. The background shows kitchen appliances and workstations, reflecting their training from a renowned culinary school for adults.

So what’s the best way to prepare for your career in food and hospitality? Go to college at CIA! We’re all about hands-on learning in our kitchens and bakeshops; real-world learning in our restaurants, internships, and travel experiences; and food-focused learning when studying important subjects like management, science, history and cultures, and sustainability.

Benefits and Opportunities

A chef wearing a white uniform is carefully plating food in a busy kitchen. Several dishes with various gourmet foods are on the counter, embodying the skills learned through ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯admissions. Other kitchen staff members are visible in the background, focusing on their tasks.
A chef in a white uniform and hat instructs a group of eight students, also in white uniforms and hats, in a commercial kitchen. The kitchen features several pots, pans, and stacks of plates. Stainless steel appliances and a tiled wall are visible in the background.
A waiter, wearing a white shirt, black tie, and dark apron, is holding a plate and a small container while smiling at diners. Various people are seated at tables in the restaurant. A decorative rooster is displayed in the background on a shelf.

World-class paid internships at one of 2,000+ CIA-approved organizations.

Photo of ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯culinary college school scholarship recipient

½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯offers generous scholarships—and awarded over $40 million last year alone.

A group of eleven diverse students smiling and hugging a large bee mascot dressed in a yellow and black costume with "CIA" on its chest. They are standing on an outdoor terrace with a river and green hills in the background.
Two chefs in white uniforms are sitting at a table, focused on paperwork. Both chefs are looking at documents in front of them, with one chef pointing at a specific page. They appear to be engaged in a discussion or review related to their work.
A professional man in a suit shakes hands with a woman in a white chef's coat at an event. Another woman, also in a white chef's coat, stands nearby holding a photo book. People in similar attire are in the background, indicating a culinary event or gathering.

Nearly 475 food and hospitality companies visited ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯looking to hire in 2023—resulting in over 4,000 reported interviews with highly interested employers.

A woman dressed in a white chef's uniform takes a selfie with another woman in a navy blazer and red blouse. They are smiling and posing inside a brightly lit cafe. Some people are seen seated in the background.

The food world’s most powerful alumni network—50K+ strong—that not only hire ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯grads, but also help make the connections to advance careers.

Don’t Take Our Word for It:

Here’s What ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯Students Have to Say

Chat with a High School Student Ambassador
An aerial view of a large campus with multiple buildings surrounded by autumn-colored trees. A wide river runs alongside the campus, and distant mountains are visible in the background under a clear sky.

½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯Campuses

Be part of a vibrant campus and close-knit community, where everyone speaks your language—food.

Discover all that ½ü¾àÀëÄÚÉäºÏ¼¯has to offer beyond the classroom with our full array of athletics, activities, student services, and delicious dining options. From open mic nights and interactive student groups to off-campus adventures and friendly campus cook-offs, we have countless ways to get involved and meet new people. Did we mention every dorm has a full-sized kitchen?

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Here’s what happening at CIA…

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