The Culinary Institute of America
Hyde Park, NY · Private
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See the full analysis — freeAdmission rate
The Culinary Institute of America admitted 91.1% of applicants university-wide (2,059 of 2,259).
| Cohort | Admit rate | Admitted | Applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| University-wide | 91.1% | 2,059 | 2,259 |
| In-state | 66.7% | 400 | 600 |
| Out-of-state | 60.0% | 600 | 1,000 |
| International applicants | 50.0% | 200 | 400 |
| Men | 88.2% | 795 | 901 |
| Women | 93.6% | 1,125 | 1,202 |
Also offers Early Action (closes Nov 1) — the Common Data Set doesn't publish EA admit counts.
Of 2,059 admitted students, 638 enrolled (31.0% yield).
The Culinary Institute of America U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections C1–C2 · 2023 — Published cohort admit rates — context, not an applicant-specific probability.
Test scores and GPA of admitted students
- SAT (mid-50%)
- 928–1183
- ACT (mid-50%)
- 17–23
- GPA (mid-50%, 4.0 scale)
- 2.50–3.74
Testing policy: Test-optional (considered if submitted)
The Culinary Institute of America U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections C9–C12 · 2023 — Published admit stats reflect the entire incoming class unless explicitly labeled international-only.
Cost and financial aid
Published cost of attendance: $60,380/yr.
| Out-of-state tuition | $39,850 |
| Fees, housing, food, books & other | $20,530 |
| Sticker cost of attendance | $60,380/yr |
Average net price by family income (US, federal aid data)
| Under $30k | $29,690 |
| $30k–48k | $29,527 |
| $48k–75k | $34,603 |
| $75k–110k | $38,087 |
| Over $110k | $41,789 |
US applicants
Need- and merit-based aid available.
- CIA Dean's Scholarship — $15,000 per year (Merit)
- CIA Merit Scholarship — $10,000 per year (Merit)
- Presidential Scholarship — Up to $10,000 per year (Presidential)
- CIA Achievement Scholarship — $5,000 per year (Merit)
- Dean's Scholarship — Up to $5,000 per year (Merit)
- CIA Leadership Scholarship — $2,500 per year (Merit)
- CIA Grant — Varies (Need Based)
- CIA Presidential Scholarship — Full tuition (Full Tuition)
International applicants
No need-based aid reported for internationals.
- CIA Dean's Scholarship — $15,000 per year (Merit)
- CIA Merit Scholarship — $10,000 per year (Merit)
- Presidential Scholarship — Up to $10,000 per year (Presidential)
- CIA Achievement Scholarship — $5,000 per year (Merit)
- Dean's Scholarship — Up to $5,000 per year (Merit)
- CIA Leadership Scholarship — $2,500 per year (Merit)
- CIA Grant — Varies (Need Based)
- CIA Presidential Scholarship — Full tuition (Full Tuition)
The Culinary Institute of America U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections G–H · 2023
Application requirements
US applicants
- Official Transcripts
- Essay
- Letter of Recommendation (optional)
- SAT/ACT Scores (optional)
- Application fee
International applicants
- Official Transcripts
- Essay
- Letter of Recommendation (optional)
- SAT/ACT Scores (optional)
- Application fee
- English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
- GPA credential conversion
- Predicted Class XII marksheet
- Financial documentation (I-20)
The Culinary Institute of America · Application requirements (official admissions pages) · 2025
Essay prompts
- Please submit a personal statement (no less than 200 words, no more than 500) telling us why you’re passionate about the food and hospitality industry, what experiences you have, and how you feel that your experiences have prepared you for the Culinary Institute of America?500 words · Required
Draft these in the free Essay Coach
Prompts from the Common App member feed · verified Jul 3, 2026
Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings
- $47,475
- Median earnings · 10 years after entry
- Graduation rate
- 62.9%
- Within 150% of normal time
- First-year retention
- 70%
- Return for year two · CDS Section B
- Median debt
- $15,750
- At graduation
The Culinary Institute of America · U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (2023 release) · 2023 — Earnings and debt figures are federal data for aid-receiving graduates — cohort outcomes, not a guarantee for any individual student.
Deadlines
- 2026-11-01Early Action — Non-binding early round
- 2026-11-01Early Decision — Binding early round
- 2027-03-01Regular Decision — Standard deadline
Academics and campus
Largest degree fields: Business & marketing (24%), Interdisciplinary studies (5%).
Student–faculty ratio: 10:1 · 56% of class sections have under 20 students.
The Culinary Institute of America U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard · Sections E, F, I · 2023 — Published institutional figures for the reporting year — descriptive of the current student body, not a prediction about your experience.