Culinary Institute of America
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who prefer a mid-size campus. no major red flags in the data. a private nonprofit school with 3,011 students.
About This School
Culinary Institute of America is a private nonprofit institution located in Hyde Park, New York with approximately 3,011 undergraduate students enrolled. Culinary Institute of America has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 91%. The average net price after financial aid is $36,113 per year. The graduation rate is 63%, and the typical graduate earns $46,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) is a private culinary school with its main campus in Hyde Park, New York, and branch campuses in St. Helena and Napa, California; San Antonio, Texas; and Singapore. The college, which was the first to teach culinary arts in the United States, offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees, and has the largest staff of American Culinary Federation Certified Master Chefs. The CIA also offers continuing education for professionals in the hospitality industry as well as conferences and consulting services. The college additionally offers recreational classes for non-professionals. The college operates student-run restaurants on its four U.S. campuses.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: while the $12,000 median debt at graduation is impressively low, a 65% graduation rate and 75% freshman retention rate suggest a meaningful share of students struggle to finish — worth asking about before enrolling. For those who do complete a degree, median earnings of $46,300 after 10 years reflect the reality that culinary careers, while rewarding, rarely translate into high salaries. This is a strong option for students deeply committed to the craft who understand the financial ceiling of the industry and have a clear plan for how a CIA credential fits their specific career path.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 12% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (3,011 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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