A student gets advice about applying to culinary school from an ICE admissions representative

Admissions

For more than four decades, ICE has been a leader in culinary education around the globe.

The admissions process is the start of a lasting relationship with ICE.

Your admissions representative will introduce you to the personal experience the school is known for. His or her mission is to understand your career goals, help you select the right program to fit your needs, and ensure you find a class schedule that suits your lifestyle.

To qualify for acceptance, a prospective student must be a high school graduate or have a GED. Documentation will be required. Acceptable documentation includes a copy of the student’s high school diploma (non-IEP), a copy of a high school transcript indicating the student’s graduation date; or successful completion of at least 60 semester or trimester credit hours or 72 quarter credit hours that does not result in the awarding of an associate’s degree, but that is acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor’s degree at any institution; or enrollment in a bachelor’s degree program where at least at least 60 semester or trimester credit hours or 72 quarter credit hours have been successfully completed, including credit hours transferred into the bachelor’s degree program; or a copy of a college diploma; or a copy of a college transcript indicating graduation from a post-secondary program (associate degree or higher) at a nationally- or regionally-accredited institution; or a copy of the student’s GED or other state-certified high school equivalency test acceptable to the state of California.

International documentation must be accompanied by an official, certified translation noting that the student has completed the equivalent of a secondary school in the U.S.A.

Prospective students must also be able to demonstrate that they are currently or will be in the United States legally. As such, a copy of government-issued photo identification will be required at time of enrollment. A copy of an existing visa will be required for those international students not obtaining a student visa through the Institute. See International Students for additional requirements for ICE-sponsored M-1 visas.

The Institute of Culinary Education does not accept ability-to-benefit students.

All students are required to be proficient in the English language. Students whose first language is not English are required to prove proficiency by providing an acceptable score on a formal proficiency test.

AOS students will be required to take the Wonderlic SLQ test, and a Distance-Learning Readiness Assessment.

Students enrolling in online programs are required to complete a Distance-Learning Readiness Assessment. In addition, the student must be located in one of the states where ICE is authorized to enroll students.

Please contact Admissions for further details.

Tuition, fees and charges at the Institute of Culinary Education include all applicable program expenses, such as uniforms, books, knives and tools; as well as food, enrichment classes, field trips, guest lectures, an application fee and all applicable taxes. Tuition, fees and charges vary by program and campus.

Learn more about financing your culinary education.

Culinary Arts
  • 642 Clock Hours
  • Hands-On Hours: 432
  • Externship Hours: 210
June Schedule
  • Afternoon
    • 8 months
    • Mon-Fri from 12 p.m. — 4 p.m.
    • Tuition: $38,265
    • Start: June 8, 2023
  • Evening
    • 12 months
    • Tues-Thurs from 6 p.m. — 10 p.m.
    • Tuition: $38,265
    • Start: June 8th, 2023

Pastry & Baking Arts
  • 610 Clock Hours
  • Hands-On Hours: 400
  • Externship Hours: 210
June Schedule
  • Afternoon
    • 8 months
    • Mon-Fri from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
    • Tuition: $37,514
    • Start: June 8th, 2023

Plant-Based Culinary Arts
  • 632 Clock Hours
  • Hands-On Hours: 432
  • Externship Hours: 200
June Schedule
  • Morning
    • 8 months
    • Mon-Fri from 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
    • Tuition: $34,948
    • Start: June 8th, 2023

Restaurant & Culinary Management
  • 316 Clock Hours
June Schedule
  • Afternoon
    • 7 months
    • Tues-Thurs from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
    • Tuition: $13,955
    • Start: June 8th, 2023

Culinary Arts & Management AOS
  • 62 Credit Hours
  • Externship: 8 Credit Hours
June Schedule
  • Program Duration: 14 months
  • Tuition: $49,958
  • Start: June 8th, 2023

Pastry & Baking Arts AOS
  • 60 Credit Hours
  • Externship: 8 Credit Hours
June Schedule
  • Program Duration: 14 months
  • Tuition: $49,210
  • Start: June 8th, 2023

Plant-Based Culinary Arts AOS
  • 61 Credit Hours
  • Externship: 8 Credit Hours
June Schedule
  • Program Duration: 14 months
  • Tuition: $47,950
  • Start: June 8th, 2023

Online Culinary Arts & Food Operations
  • 900 Clock Hours
  • Externship Hours: 200
June Schedule
  • Program Duration: 16 months
  • Hours: approximately 13 hours per week
  • Tuition: $19,175
  • Start: June 8th, 2023

Online Plant-Based Culinary Arts & Food Operations
  • 900 Clock Hours
  • Externship Hours: 200
June Schedule
  • Program Duration: 16 months
  • Hours: approximately 13 hours per week
  • Tuition: $18,750
  • Start: June 8th, 2023

The Techniques of Artisan Bread Baking
June Schedule
  • Course Duration: 9 weeks
  • Tuition: $9,973
  • Start: June 8th, 2023

Intensive Sommelier Training
July Schedule
  • Course Duration: 17 weeks
  • Tuition: $9,983
  • Start: July 25th, 2023

Total Institutional Charges include all supplies (uniforms, books, knives and tools, where applicable), registration fee and all applicable taxes. Additionally, all Student Services are included such as enrichment classes, Wine Essentials classes, Meet the Culinary Entrepreneur lecture series, field trips (where applicable) and ongoing career services.


Tuition Discounts

Be sure to ask the Office of Admissions if you qualify for any of the below discounts.

  • Out Of Area Discount: For U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents whose permanent address is more than 50 miles from the school. $2,500 off Culinary, Pastry & Baking, and Plant-Based Culinary Arts. $750 off Restaurant & Culinary Management.
  • Military Discount: For veterans and active-duty service members who provide appropriate military credentials. $2,500 off Culinary, Pastry & Baking, and Plant-Based Culinary Arts. $750 off Restaurant & Culinary Management.
  • Double Diploma Discount: Combine two programs and receive up to 10% off the second program's tuition. No discounts are offered for the third+ programs.

The Double Diploma Discount may be combined with one other discount. No other discounts may be combined.

Information subject to change. Please contact the Office of Admissions for the most details and current information. Please refer to the ICE Catalog for the complete list of textbooks for each program.

Visit the Financial Aid webpage for information on financing options.

Prospective students often wonder whether they should pursue a degree or a diploma. ICE is able to offer students the opportunity to build on their diploma, if they choose. Upon completion of your ICE diploma, you may be able to receive transfer credits at a college or university.

How It Works

ICE is proud to have been evaluated by the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS), an organization chartered by the New York State Board of Regents to make college credit recommendations. As such, graduates of ICE’s Culinary Arts Program can transfer their ICE credits and receive up to 19 college credits, graduates of ICE Pastry & Baking Arts Program can transfer their ICE credits and receive up to 18 college credits, graduates of ICE’s Hospitality & Hotel Management program (New York City) can transfer their ICE credits and receive up to 24 credits and and graduates of ICE’s Restaurant & Culinary Management Program can transfer their ICE credits and receive up to 14 college credits.

Double Your Fun

ICE graduates that earn dual diplomas (Culinary Arts and Restaurant & Culinary Management, Pastry & Baking Arts and Restaurant & Culinary Management or Plant-Based Culinary Arts and Restaurant & Culinary Management) can transfer their credits and receive up to 33 college credits. Did we mention you can earn a dual diploma at ICE, in two award-winning programs, in the time it takes to earn one diploma elsewhere? Plus, we’ll take 10% off the second program's larger tuition.

About NCCRS

NCCRS makes credit recommendations to 1,500 colleges and universities to use as a guide in granting college credit for courses taken at non-degree granting institutions. The privilege of evaluation does not mean that ICE can itself award college credit, only a college or university can do that. In addition, the actual amount of credit that an ICE graduate will receive will be determined by each individual college or university. Please contact the ICE Registrar for more information.

Encourage Your Students' Culinary Career Goals

When it comes to providing education and career guidance, there's no more valuable resource than highly informed school counselors and educators. At ICE, we're committed to helping you better understand the wide range of career options in the food industry and how a foundation in culinary education can make your students' culinary school dreams a reality.

ICE has a School Counselor Coordinator who connects with a network of thousands of professionals in the state of California. This dedicated individual will answer your questions about ICE, provide the information to help your students make an informed decision about their future and discuss the key benefits that an ICE education can offer.

You’ve Come to the Right Place

ICE has launched more than 16,000 careers in the food and hospitality industries. We couple individualized training with ongoing career placement services, arranging hands-on externships at the industry's top food establishments and providing professional support to our graduates long after they leave our teaching kitchens. In short, our mission is to help each student find his or her culinary voice.

A Schedule and Curriculum for Every Student

ICE offers comprehensive diploma programs in the Culinary ArtsPastry & Baking Arts, Plant-Based Culinary Arts and Restaurant & Culinary Management in just six to 12 months. We have convenient morning, afternoon, evening and weekend classes starting each month throughout the calendar year. Our 38,000-square-foot professional facility features small, hands-on classes with attentive, distinguished instructors. Students enjoy a global tour of culinary traditions and techniques and access to the highest quality ingredients, sourced from the same purveyors that cater to the LA's finest restaurants.

If You Can Make It Here, You Can Make It Anywhere

ICE alumni have won the highest awards and gained national recognition over the past four decades. After graduation, they are offered the same, if not better jobs than graduates with two- to four-year degrees and a significantly larger debt burden. We hear it time and time again from the industry's top employers: you do not need a four-year degree to begin a successful career in the food or hospitality world. But don’t take our word for it: see what industry experts have to say about an ICE education. While you’re at it, explore ICE to learn what sets the school apart from the rest.

Come in to Taste the Success

Twice a year, ICE holds a special school counselor social exclusively for counselors, education professionals and career advisors at our facility in Los Angeles. These after-work events provide the opportunity to witness firsthand how ICE's award-winning programs can turn your students' passion for food into a creative, successful career.

Join the Network

To request information to share with your students and colleagues, you can email LAadmissions@ice.edu or call (888) 718-CHEF. Our School Counselor Coordinator will be happy to set up a personal or group tour of the school for you and your students, or provide detailed answers to any further questions you may have.

Students at the Institute of Culinary Education Los Angeles

Financial Aid Is Just a Call, Click or Visit Away

Your education is an investment. Our Financial Aid advisors provide personalized counseling to help make your culinary school dreams a reality. Please email LAfinaid@ice.edu or ask your admissions representative to make an appointment for you with our Financial Aid team. At ICE, financial aid is available to all that qualify.

A pastry arts student takes notes during class in culinary school at the Institute of Culinary Education

Apply for Admission Online 24/7

Apply now in three easy steps, and you’ll be en route to a new career at ICE in less time than it takes to read your Facebook newsfeed. You’ve thought about it for a while now. Go ahead. Find your culinary voice™.

Culinary Careers, Ad Hoc at Home and more books in the library at the Institute of Culinary Education

Hungry for More Info?

Our admissions staff can answer your individual questions and reserve you a seat for our next open house. (Did you know? We wrote the book on culinary careers, literally, and have a limited amount of free copies for prospective students. Be sure to ask your admissions representative for details.) Submit a request for free information or a personal tour of our Los Angeles campus by clicking here or calling (888) 718-CHEF.

Maxime Billet, author of "Modernist Cuisine", shares his experience as a student at the Institute of Culinary Education

"My experience at ICE was shaped by the tremendous quality of the ICE instructors and the wisdom, experience and passion they bestowed on their students."

Maxime Bilet, Head Chef/Inventor The Cooking Lab; Co-author of "Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking"
Culinary Arts '05