An ICE Chef Instructor helps a student prepare fresh pasta at the Institute of Culinary Education

Financial Aid Options at ICE

Financing Your Culinary or Hospitality Education

ICE offers financial assistance from both Federal and Private sources.

Below you'll find a list of financial aid opportunities available to those students who qualify.

Questions? Our Financial Aid advisors are here to help you explore all your financial aid options. See contact information below for campus-specific Office of Student Financial Services:

  • New York Campus Programs: Advisors can be reached at NYFinAid@ice.edu or (888) 921-CHEF.
  • Los Angeles Campus and Online Programs Advisors can be reached at LAFinAid@ice.edu or (888) 826-CHEF.

Pell grants are offered through the Federal Government for certain eligible programs as part of a Financial Aid package. These grants do not have to be repaid unless you withdraw from school and owe a pro-rated refund. Pell grants are offered to students who have not earned a Bachelor’s degree and demonstrate financial need. Students wishing to apply must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). 

Click here to access FAFSA.

What you may need to refer to when applying for this type of Financial Aid:

  • Your Social Security Card
  • Your valid Driver’s License or state ID
  • Your alien registration card or Permanent Resident Card (if you are not a U.S. citizen) — both sides
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship if you are a naturalized citizen
  • Your previous year’s W-2 Forms and other records of money earned and / or received (social security benefits, disability, pension, etc.)
  • Your (and your spouse’s, if married) signed previous year’s Federal Income Tax Return
  • IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ
  • Foreign Tax Return
  • Two different contact references, with valid addresses and telephone numbers

The FSEOG Program provides need-based grants to help undergraduate students finance the costs of postsecondary education as part of a Financial Aid package. When making FSEOG awards, the institution must give priority to those students with “exceptional need” (those with the lowest Expected Family Contributions, or EFCs, at the institution) and those who are also Federal Pell Grant recipients. To get an FSEOG, you must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) so that the Financial Aid Office can determine how much financial need you have. Students who will receive Federal Pell Grants and have the most financial need will receive FSEOGs first. The FSEOG does not need to be repaid. Each year, ICE receives a certain amount of FSEOG funds from the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid. Once the full amount of the school’s FSEOG funds has been awarded to students, no more FSEOG awards can be made for that year.

Click here for further details.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan: Student loans, unlike grants, must be repaid with interest. The amount you may borrow depends on the program you choose.

  • Subsidized Direct Loans: The government pays the interest while the student is in school, up until six months after the student graduates or stops attending and during deferment periods (postponement of loan payment). The student has between 10 and 25 years to repay depending on the loan amount.
  • Unsubsidized Direct Loans: The student is responsible for paying the interest while they are in school and during the deferment period. Unpaid interest is accrued and capitalized. Any unpaid interest is added to the principal of the loan and will be billed once the loan goes into repayment.

Click here to view the current interest rate.

Learn how to apply here. 

What you may need to refer to when applying for this type of Financial Aid:

  • Your Social Security Card
  • Your valid Driver’s License or state ID
  • Your alien registration card or Permanent Resident Card (if you are not a U.S. citizen) — both sides
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship if you are a naturalized citizen
  • Your previous year’s W-2 Forms and other records of money earned and / or received (social security benefits, disability, pension, etc.)
  • Your (and your spouse’s, if married) signed previous year’s Federal Income Tax Return
  • IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ
  • Foreign Tax Return
  • Two different contact references, with valid addresses and telephone numbers

Parents of dependent students can borrow from the Parent PLUS Loan Program on behalf of the dependent. The parent should not have an adverse credit history, and if so, may warrant an endorser. Parent PLUS Loans disbursed after July 1, 2008, have the option of delaying their repayment on the PLUS loan either 60 days after the loan is fully disbursed or 6 months after the dependent student is not enrolled. During this time interest may be paid or accrued and capitalized.

What you and your parent may need to refer to when applying for this type of Financial Aid:

  • Your parents’ Social Security Card
  • Your parents’ valid Driver’s License or state ID
  • Your parents’ alien registration card or Permanent Resident Card (if they are not a U.S. citizen) — both sides
  • Your parents’ Proof of U.S. citizenship if they are a naturalized citizen(s)

Learn how to apply here. 

Smart Option Loan from Sallie Mae: The Smart Option Student Loan is a private, credit-based student loan. Fixed or variable interest rates are available. Variable interest rates are reset on a monthly basis. Borrowers may apply for a co-signer release upon successful completion of their program.

Click here to get started.

New Jersey Residents New Jersey residents may be eligible for assistance through the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority of New Jersey (HESAA) after federal financial aid is exhausted. The assistance that is available through the HESAA is the NJCLASS loan. There are no annual and/or aggregate loan limits. NJCLASS may be used for school related expenses including tuition and fees, books, supplies and room & board. HESAA reduces the interest rate during school and for the first 48 monthly payments of principal and interest.

Click here for more information and eligibility requirements.

Note: You must borrow the Subsidized portion of your Stafford Loan, if eligible.

California Residents
California residents may be eligible for the Cal Grant Program, a state-funded grant program to assist students with financing tuition for higher education. 

Click here for more information and eligibility requirements.

Rhode Island Residents
Grants are available to Rhode Island residents. 

Click here for more information and eligibility requirements.

The short-term payment plan, available to ICE NY, ICE LA and ICE Online students, originated with and is serviced by Launch, Inc. The student is required to put 10% down to reserve their seat. The balance due must be paid 30 days prior to the start of the student’s externship (Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts, Plant-Based Culinary Arts, and Hospitality & Hotel Management) or 30 days prior to the end of their Restaurant & Culinary Management program.

To learn more about financial aid options, feel free to contact our Office of Student Financial Services directly:

  • For Los Angeles Campus programs and our Online Arts and Food Operations programs,  call  (888) 826-CHEF or email LAfinaid@ice.edu.
  • For New York Campus programs, call (888) 921-CHEF or email NYFinAid@ice.edu

Tip: Consider funds from your 529 savings plan when choosing a payment plan for your education. Certain tax benefits may be available to you.

If you have exhausted all potential scholarships, federal grants, federal loans, private student loans and state funded grants and loans, you may want to explore The TuitionFlex Program to cover the balance of your tuition. A TuitionFlex loan can cover up to $33,000. The interest rate is based on credit score and repayment time is five or 10 years. Other conditions may apply. Contact the ICE Office of Student Financial Services for more information.

To learn more about financial aid options, feel free to contact our Office of Student Financial Services directly:

  • For Los Angeles Campus programs and our Online Arts and Food Operations programs,  call  (888) 826-CHEF or email LAfinaid@ice.edu.
  • For New York Campus programs, call (888) 921-CHEF or email NYFinAid@ice.edu