Culinary students in class at the Institute of Culinary Education

Scholarships

Explore Available Financial Awards

ICE provides culinary scholarship opportunities to help students launch careers in food and hospitality.

Start your scholarship search by reviewing the below list, including scholarships from ICE as well as our food industry partners and other organizations. Please note the varying deadlines and application requirements for each individual scholarship program.

For additional information about any of these scholarships, feel free to contact your Admissions Representative.

For some applicants the dream of attending ICE seems impossible due to an inability to obtain financing. The ICE Cares Scholarship is a need-based scholarship to enable applicants to enroll in Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts or Plant-Based Culinary Arts diploma or associate degree programs by bridging the gap between financial aid with a grant of up to $25,000. Up to 20 scholarships will be awarded each year to academically qualified applicants who have completed the financial aid process but were unable to secure sufficient funds.

Applicants must:

  1. Apply to ICE and pay the application fee.
  2. Complete the ICE financial aid process including submitting a FAFSA (a copy must be submitted to ICE to demonstrate financial need) and have been disapproved by Plus, NJ Class, Sallie Mae and Tuition Flex.
  3. Have a grade point average of at least 2.75 in high school or college. Applicants whose only academic qualification is a GED are not eligible for this scholarship.
  4. Be planning a career in the culinary industry.
  5. Satisfy the entrance requirements for ICE
    1. Applicants must be a high school graduate.
    2. Those with international documentation must have an official certified translation indicating that the student completed the equivalent of at least a secondary school in the U.S.A.
  6. The amount of the scholarship will depend on the amount of financial aid received. All financial aid must be applied to the cost of tuition, books, uniforms and equipment (as applicable) before utilizing the ICE Cares Scholarship funds to cover the remaining balance due. The maximum value of the Scholarship is $25,000.

There is no deadline for this scholarship opportunity — awards are announced monthly. The scholarship will be in the form of a tuition credit applied to the student's Balance Due upon enrollment in the Culinary Arts, Career Pastry & Baking Arts or Plant-Based Culinary Arts program. The scholarship must be redeemed within one year of being awarded and placement in class will be on a space-available basis. ICE will notify the student at least 30 days before the start date of an available class.

Please contact your Admissions Representative for additional information.
 

The ICE High School Senior Scholarship is intended for current high school senior applicants, and may be applied towards tuition for all degree and diploma programs in Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts or Plant-Based Culinary Arts. Up to thirty (30) scholarships, each worth a maximum of $5000 will be awarded annually, up to 15 from the New York campus and up to 15 from the Los Angeles campus.

Applicants must:

  1. Meet entrance requirements (except having a high school diploma)
  2. Be in their senior year of high school at time of application (with documentation from their school)
  3. Take the Wonderlic Basic Skills Test  (Visit the ICE Scholarship for High School Seniors page for upcoming test dates)

The highest scoring applicants on the Wonderlic Basic Skills Test administered at the New York and Los Angeles campuses will receive a scholarship. An applicant may take the examination only once. The scholarship is paid via a tuition credit issued by ICE to the student’s account. The credit is good until the end of the calendar year (December 31) of the date of award and may not be transferred. In the event that an applicant fails to graduate from high school, is unable to utilize the scholarship, enrolls at a different school, or declines the scholarship, the scholarship will be awarded to the next highest-scoring applicant.

In Los Angeles, Scholarships will be awarded on the third Monday in July of each year. 
In New York, scholarships will be awarded on the first Monday in August of each year.

 

Founded in 1990, Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) has worked to enhance the culinary arts curriculum in public schools as well as better prepare underserved students for college and career opportunities in the culinary and hospitality industries. 

Each year, ICE partners with C-CAP to offer culinary scholarships to students enrolled at our New York and Los Angeles campuses. 

New York Campus Scholarships:
ICE NY partners with C-CAP to offer one culinary scholarship through the C-CAP Scholarship Program: One (1) tuition credit towards the Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts or Plant-Based Culinary Arts diploma program.

The scholarship amount varies by program and class schedule selected. The scholarship covers tuition only for the program selected; student’s own funds must cover expenses for program supplies. The scholarship recipient needs to pay the $85 application fee but will be refunded upon enrollment.

ICE NY also partners with C-CAP to offer one management scholarship through the C-CAP Scholarship Program: One (1) tuition scholarship is awarded each year for the Restaurant & Culinary Management diploma program in the amount of full tuition. The scholarship recipient needs to pay the $85 application fee but will be refunded upon enrollment. The scholarship does not apply to expenses for the program such as books and supplies. Applicants must be a current or past participant in C-CAP in high school. Winners are selected by C-CAP in April and October annually.

Los Angeles Campus Scholarships:
ICE LA partners with C-CAP to offer up to four (4) scholarships through the C-CAP Scholarship Program:

  • One (1) full-tuition scholarship for the Culinary Arts program.
  • One (1) full-tuition scholarship for the Pastry & Baking Arts program.
  • One (1) full-tuition scholarship for the Plant-Based Culinary Arts program.
  • One (1) full-tuition scholarship for the Restaurant & Culinary Management program.

In addition to these scholarships, the Los Angeles campus is also proud to offer all graduating Los Angeles area C-CAP students a scholarship to attend ICE. 

  • Graduates are eligible for a $4,500 scholarship for the Culinary Arts and Management Associate Degree program, $3,000 scholarship for the Culinary Arts, Plant-Based Culinary Arts or Pastry and Baking Arts programs, or a $1,500 scholarship for the Restaurant & Culinary Management program.

The scholarships cover tuition only for the program selected; student’s own funds must cover expenses for program supplies such as uniforms and knives.

Eligibility Requirements: 
To be eligible for the NY or LA scholarships offered through the C-CAP Scholarship Program, applicants must be currently attending a C-CAP partner public high school or after school program and must complete the C-CAP Competition application process. Applications are submitted through a student’s culinary teacher or local C-CAP Coordinator (https://ccapinc.org/who-we-are/our-team/) and are accepted typically from September through December annually.

The culinary scholarships are awarded to finalists in the C-CAP Cooking Competition for Scholarships, which is typically held in April of each year. Finalists and scholarship winners are selected based on performance in the competition, soft skills (such as attitude and integrity), scholarship eligibility, financial need and the applicant’s school preferences.

To qualify for the additional scholarships offered to graduating Los Angeles area C-CAP students, a recipient must:

  • Be graduating from a Southern California or Arizona C-CAP program with a high school graduation date within one year of their start date at ICE.
  • Have at least a 2.75 GPA.
  • Meet ICE’s general admissions requirements.

Please speak with your Admissions Representative or contact C-CAP with any questions regarding the scholarship at info@ccapinc.org.

This is an ongoing scholarship opportunity offered in partnership with the Jean-Georges Food Dreams Foundation. Students who have received a scholarship directly from the Food Dreams Foundation may be eligible for an additional culinary scholarship from ICE. Eligible applicants must satisfy the entrance requirements to ICE and have applied to the school but not yet enrolled. 

Scholarship value varies by program and class schedule selected. Up to 25 scholarships per year will be awarded. Please visit www.fooddreams.org for additional information.

James Beard is recognized as the father of American gastronomy. After his death, Julia Child and Peter Kump, founder of Institute of Culinary Education, founded the James Beard Foundation. The Foundation's mission is to foster the appreciation and development of gastronomy by preserving culinary heritage and recognizing and promoting excellence in all aspects of the culinary arts. To qualify for these scholarships, you may not be a current or enrolled student of ICE, you must be between 18 and 32, be highly motivated for a career in the culinary, food or hospitality sector, and meet ICE's admission requirements.

General Tuition Waivers: Up to four waivers are awarded for each of the below programs.

  • $4,000 for the Career Culinary Arts Program, the Career Plant-Based Culinary Arts Program, or the Career Pastry & Baking Arts Program in NYC or LA.
  • $4,000 for the online Culinary Arts & Food Operations Diploma Program offered through the LA Campus.
  • $2,500 for the Restaurant & Culinary Management Program, or the Hospitality & Hotel Management Program in NYC or LA.
  • $2,500 for the Intensive Sommelier Training in NYC or LA.

The Chef Mashama Bailey Tuition Waiver: Up to one waiver for $20,000 is awarded each year for the Career Culinary Arts Program in NYC or LA. 

Chef Mashama Bailey is a 2001 graduate of ICE’s Culinary Arts program.  She is the Executive Chef / co-owner of The Grey, in Savannah, GA and Austin, TX.  In 2022, Chef Bailey won the James Beard Foundation’s “Outstanding Chef in America” award, generally considered the most esteemed individual honor given annually to an American chef. This tuition waiver was established to honor her achievement. 

Preference will be given to applicants who can communicate a clear personal interest and appreciation for regional cuisine, particularly southern regional cuisine, in America.

The FCI Legacy of Excellence Tuition Waiver: Up to one waiver for $15,000 is awarded each year for one of the below programs in NYC or LA.

  • Career Culinary Arts Program 
  • Career Plant-Based Culinary Arts Program 
  • Career Pastry & Baking Arts Program 
  • Restaurant & Culinary Management Program 
  • Hospitality & Hotel Management  Program

The French Culinary Institute (FCI) was established in 1984 in New York City, with a focus on French technique as the foundation for teaching professional cooking. For many years, FCI was recognized as one of the nation's leading culinary institutes, and served as the training ground for Chefs Bobby Flay, David Chang, Dan Barber, Christina Tosi and Wylie Dufresne. At the same time, FCI had esteemed visiting Deans including the French-born, but NY-based Chefs Jacques Pepin, Alain Sailhac and Andre Soltner.  

In 2021, ICE acquired by license FCI, which had earlier changed its name to the International Culinary Center (ICC). This tuition waiver was established to honor the legacy of FCI, and how that spirit and tradition of excellence lives on today at ICE.

Preference will be given to applicants who can communicate a clear personal interest in elevated, chef-driven cuisine, and a desire to one day be the Executive Chef of a highly regarded restaurant. 

For Scholarship info, submission dates, guidelines and applications go to: 
https://www.jamesbeard.org/scholarships

APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED THROUGH APRIL 5, 2024.

Applicants for the National ProStart Competition Scholarship must have participated in the ProStart program in high school and won 1st, 2nd or 3rd prize in the National Invitational ProStart Culinary Competition.

Up to 30 Scholarships will be awarded each year. Each member of the prize-winning teams will be eligible to receive the scholarship, if they plan to attend ICE.  The scholarship may be applied to the following programs: Culinary Arts, Plant-Based Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts, Restaurant & Culinary Management or Hospitality & Hotel Management.

Amount of Scholarships

  1. Up to 10 first prize scholarships of $8,000 each
  2. Up to 10 second prize scholarships of $5,000 each
  3. Up to 10 third prize scholarships of $2,500 each.

Scholarships will be awarded at the end of the competition which is held annually.

Kevin Nurse graduated from ICE's Culinary Arts Program in 2008. Kevin triumphed over remarkable odds with his own health to graduate from ICE and become a chef. Shortly before enrolling at ICE, he underwent a lifesaving heart transplant and discovered that in an amazing coincidence his heart donor had also attended culinary school and worked as a chef. Kevin felt that he was meant to carry on the donor's legacy. Sadly, Kevin passed in July 2010. This scholarship program honors his memory and celebrates his life and passion for the culinary arts, helping further carry on his inspirational story.

The scholarship is intended for a student who has overcome a medical hardship afflicting him or herself, or who has a family member with a medical hardship. Applicants should submit a 1,000-word essay explaining the applicant's medical hardship, passion for cooking and why he or she is deserving of the scholarship. 

Details:
Up to one total scholarship awarded in the amount listed below (varies by program):

  • Culinary Arts Program: $10,000
  • Pastry & Baking Arts Program: $10,000
  • Plant-Based Culinary Arts Program: $10,000
  • Restaurant & Culinary Management Program: $5,000
  • Hospitality & Hotel Management Program: $5,000

Submission timeframe: Applications are typically accepted annually from January through March. The winner is typically announced each year in July. 

All submissions should be sent electronically to kevinnurse-memorial@ice.edu. No paper submissions will be accepted.
 

Each year, up to three (3) scholarships are offered by ICE through the Emma’s Torch Scholarship Program. Scholarships may be applied to the Culinary Arts, Plant-Based Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts, Restaurant & Culinary Management or Hospitality & Hotel Management diploma programs.

Scholarship value varies by program and class schedule selected. The amount of the scholarship includes full tuition, excluding books, uniforms, and supplies (where applicable) for the program selected.

Scholarship applicants must be graduates of the Emma’s Torch Program and meet their scholarship requirements. In addition, the applicants must meet ICE admissions requirements.

The ACF Education Foundation, with the support of the American Academy of Chefs (AAC), offers educational scholarships to high school students, college students, current culinary students and professional chefs looking to further their education.

Please visit https://www.acfchefs.org/ACF/Education/Scholarships/ACF/Education/Scholarships/ for additional information.

Each year, the trust provides merit-based scholarships to students at member institutions who are committed to pursuing careers in accredited programs in the foodservice profession or related areas.

Please visit https://www.nacufs.org/Scholarships for additional information.

The leading scholarship research database. Visit https://www.fastweb.com/ to find additional culinary scholarships.

A collection of regional chapters, the Hospitality Industry Network (NEWH) seeks to promote scholarship, education and interest in the Hospitality Industry and related fields.

Please visit https://newh.org/scholarship/about-scholarships/ for additional information.

International Foodservice Editorial Council (IFEC) strives to increase awareness and understanding of career opportunities available in the fields of foodservice and food communications and to encourage the entry of qualified individuals into these fields.

Please visit https://www.ifeconline.com/scholarships/ for additional information.

The Jeanette Rankin Foundation provides scholarships and support for students across the U.S.

Please visit https://rankinfoundation.org/scholar-grants/ for additional information.

National Restaurant Association (NRA) Education Foundation offers a variety of merit-based scholarships to students who want an education and a career in the foodservice industry, starting at $2,500 per award.

Please visit https://chooserestaurants.org/programs/scholarships-grants/ for additional information.

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