Classic technique. Hands-on practice. Real-world experience.
Complete your culinary arts education in as little as 8 months, and pursue your culinary career dreams quickly.
Foundational. Exceptional. Transformational. These are just some of the words our alumni use to describe their time at the Institute of Culinary Education.
We're consistently ranked among the top culinary schools in the nation* — and for good reason. We offer a rigorous, career-focused curriculum built on fundamental skills, traditional and contemporary technique, and the practice and art of cooking to professional standards.
Graduates of our New York, Los Angeles and online campuses praise the education they received from the Institute of Culinary Education. Among their ranks are renowned food writers; celebrated philanthropists; Emmy Award winners; and James Beard Award winners, including "Best Chef in America" and Best Chef: New York State.
Excellence is our standard. Empowering you to find your culinary voice is our goal.
Program Name: Career Culinary Arts
Program Duration: 8-12 months
Class Times: morning, afternoon, evening and weekends
Envision a culinary school classroom where mentorship, skills development, and hands-on practice are the starting point. Where creativity, connection and careers that inspire joy are the destination. From recent high school and college graduates to career changers, international students, military veterans and working cooks seeking to refine their skills, you — and your dreams — are celebrated here.
Our Culinary Arts program follows a "structured progression" designed to build technical competence across a range of culinary careers. Chef-Instructors model and emphasize technique, discipline, and personal growth. This combination of focused mentorship and exceptional curriculum has been time-tested over our 50 year history, yielding an alumni network of more than 20,000 graduates.
Real-world industry experience is central to your culinary education. After completing 400+ classroom hours, you'll work a supervised externship in an established food-service setting. Externships provide invaluable hands-on experience and networking opportunities that can lead to job offers.
You can graduate with a diploma in as little as 8 months or an associate degree in as little as 15 months, with flexible scheduling options that include daytime, evening and weekend courses (depending on your campus). No other school in America teaches our unique curriculum in such an accelerated fashion— and puts you in the heart of two culinary capitals: NYC and LA. Online education is also available.
"I loved ICE's campus, instructors, energy and location!"
— Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja: James Beard Award Nominee
"ICE was such a foundational part of my journey."
— Gail Simmons: Emmy Award Winner, "Top Chef" Host and Exec Producer
For students who want to take their culinary education farther, our Advanced Contemporary Cuisine & Technique course teaches leading-edge techniques that can distinguish students in the culinary industry. This course is available only to senior students (alongside professional-level diploma and degree programs), alumni and industry professionals with significant culinary experience.
Study at campuses in Los Angeles or New York City. Flexible schedules include morning, afternoon and evening options — weekends, too, at our NYC campus. Classes meet two to five times per week.
We're also online, enabling distant students the chance to align course and lab work to their schedule.
Tuition and fees include uniform, books, equipment, access to exclusive student events and enrollment in our popular Wine Essentials series. Visit our Tuition and Discounts page for information about discount opportunities, scholarship information and specific class costs.
How to fund your dreams? Payment assistance is available to qualifying students.
Many students are eligible to receive income-based financial support. Options include:
Tuition reductions are available to qualifying students. Options include:
This program's coursework is based on a "structured progression" curriculum: the aim is to layer and strengthen functional skills over time. To see what "structured progression" looks like, view the below Culinary Arts schedule and curriculum at your preferred campus — then contact an Admissions Representative to learn more.
This is the beginning of chasing down your dreams. To learn more about pursuing your creative and career goals, view our campus brochures (NY brochure, LA brochure); speak to Admissions to get detailed program and financing information; or apply now.
Why Choose Us?
You know you've got it — the passion for cooking, and the ambition to turn your passion into a profession.
Tap Today. Transform Tomorrow.
You dreamed it. Now do it. Download our career brochure, talk to Admissions, or apply today.
Students from all over the world train at the Institute of Culinary Education, yielding a vast international and local career network (thanks to our campuses, industry connections and career services teams in two American culinary capitals).
We also have 20,000+ alumni, many of whom regularly engage with our students, offering rich career insights and opportunities.
Exclusive enrichment seminars, extracurriculars and professional development events are central to the ICE advantage. Experts from all parts of the food industry teach, lecture and cook at our campuses, providing students unique interaction and networking opportunities.
