What It Costs
What you can expect to spend on culinary school depends on what type of program, and what geographic location as well, that you select. For instance, if you don’t mind spending in the range of $40,000 to $50,000 for an associate’s degree, you can attend one of the well-respected culinary specialty programs like those offered through the Culinary Institute of America (which has locations in New York and California), the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago and the Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts Dallas program.
However, if that’s a little too rich for your blood, you can opt instead to attend a smaller – and less known -- culinary arts program for an investment of between $10,000 and $30,000. And even if you go with a well-known cooking school, some offer you the option of earning a certificate in this price. For instance, the Institute of Culinary Education, which is housed in NYC, offers a Culinary Management Diploma program for a cost of about $13,000.
Keep in mind that community colleges are also a wonderful training resource for people with an interest in the culinary field, with programs that can start at anywhere from a few thousand dollars on up to, depending on where you go and what you get.
Of course if you want to have a broader four-year education from a public or private college or university to fall back on, you may have to spend more but in the end, the investment just may be worth it. For instance, one chef says he spent $73,866 for a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Management from the Art Institute of California.
When comparing prices among different schools, just remember to find out how long a program is, what type of degree you will earn and what, if any, living expenses and extras (such as equipment and uniforms) you need to add in to get the full picture.
So attending a well-known culinary school can cost $40,000 to $50,000 for an associate’s degree, while certificate programs, smaller schools and also trade schools can be in the range of $10,000 to $30,000.
The Bottom Line
Overall, getting a degree in cooking or culinary arts will usually be a costly endeavor. Some experts point out that at the lower salaries that most culinary workers command, at least in the early years of their career, it can take you many years on the job to pay back your student loans, That being said, many culinary experts do feel that the professional training and expertise they received in culinary classes can make it a wise investment as long as you understand what you are getting into. The bottom line, though, is that you should weigh the costs and benefits carefully before making a commitment.