There are many schools that offer culinary training, but not all of them are created equal. Culinary school has evolved from a way to help people become better cooks to a way to help people become better professionals. With proper education, a talented chef can become a sought-after chef executive, a respected executive chef, or even a bona fide culinary celebrity.
There are plenty of reasons to learn how to cook. You can become a better chef. Which is an incredibly attractive career path, or you can just enjoy the recipes. Either way, there are plenty of cooking schools in New York City to choose from.
A culinary school’s purpose is to teach students how to use the various tools of the culinary trade (spoons, knives, and ovens) to prepare food. But also, to teach them how to be creative and use their critical thinking skills, critical thinking skills which are necessary for success in the culinary industry. A culinary school’s course of study is designed to allow students to learn the theoretical and practical aspects of the culinary arts.
10 Top Culinary Arts Schools in NYC
Top culinary schools in NYC will prepare you to pursue a career as a chef. Students who want to become successful chefs will either consider attending a culinary school or enroll in a college to study culinary arts. The best culinary schools in New York will prepare you for a fulfilling career as a chef.
1. The Culinary Institute of America
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York is one of the world’s premier schools for serious cooks. The school offers programs at the Baking and Pastry Arts, Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, and Wine & Beverage programs. The school’s mission is to educate future chefs, food professionals, and hospitality managers to help them become leaders in the culinary industry.
Since 22 May 1946, The private college and culinary school, CIA has been training chefs and leaders in the culinary profession. With campuses in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore, the school offers associate, bachelor’s degree programs, and online master’s degrees plus continuing education and certification courses in culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, and mixology.
- Established: 1946
- Phone: 845-452-9600
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 1946 Campus Drive, Hyde Park, NY 12538-1499
- Website
2. Institute of Culinary Education
SUNY Erie Community College (ICE) is one of the best culinary arts schools in New York where culinary art students get hands-on training. Erie is a private culinary college in NYC, founded in 1975. ICE offers Full Time and Evening courses at its campus in New York City.
Fairly old to the culinary scene, SUNY Erie Community College is on its way to becoming one of the top culinary schools in the country. Recognized for its first-rate faculty and unique curriculum, the school is unique in its ability to combine business and culinary arts instruction.
- Established: 1975
- Phone: (888) 354-2433
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 225 Liberty Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10281
- Website
3. Mohawk Valley Community College
Mohawk Valley Community College is a public institution of higher learning in Utica, New York. Mohawk Valley was established in 1946.
When you attend Mohawk Valley Community College, you will learn the skills you need to have a successful culinary career. The Culinary Arts program prepares students for a career as a cook, cook manager, or front-of-the-house supervisor in a variety of foodservice operations.
Mohawk Valley Community College in Rome Campus offers two culinary programs, Culinary Arts, and Baking & Pastry Arts, so you can learn how to be a chef. They also offer Food Service Administration and Restaurant Management program.
- Established: 1946
- Phone: 315-334-7701; 315-339-3470
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 1101 Floyd Avenue, Rome, NY 13440
- Website
4. SUNY Erie Community College
SUNY Erie Community College offers a wide range of Hospitality & Culinary Arts programs leading to associate degrees, certificates, and diplomas. Erie was founded in 1946, and it has three campuses in western New York; City, North, and South Campus.
The culinary arts program at SUNY Erie Community College offers a broad range of courses to students who wish to enhance their culinary skills and take their passion for food and cooking to an entirely new level. The program offers Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry Arts, Brewing Science & Service, Catering & Event Planning, Food Preparation & Safety, and Food Service Administration.
Courses include:
Culinary Fundamentals: The first course for students, Culinary Fundamentals is an introductory course that focuses on business operations, basic culinary tools and techniques, and standard food preparation procedures.
Dietary Management & Nutrition Care: This course focuses on the practical skills needed to assist in the preparation and serving of meals in a variety of foodservice establishments.
- Established: 1946
- Phone: (716) 270-2886
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: City Campus, 121 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
- Website
5. Monroe College – Culinary Institute of New York
Monroe College’s Culinary Institute of New York (CINY) is the fastest-growing culinary college in New York. CINY is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Named after James Monroe, Monroe College was founded in 1933, but its Culinary Institute was founded in 2009.
CINY offers Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees in Culinary Arts in its Monroe College Culinary Institute of New York in their three campuses Bronx, New Rochelle, and Saint Lucia campus.
- Established: 2009
- Phone: (718) 933-6700; (914) 632-5400; +1 (758) 456-3200
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 2501 Jerome Avenue, Bronx, NY 10468
- Website
If you wish to enroll in a culinary institute to learn the art of cooking, there are ample options near New York. Whether you are looking for a ten-month diploma or a two-year associate degree, you have ample options to choose from.
As we mentioned there are many culinary schools in New York. But if you want to get a taste of the culinary arts, these top 5 culinary schools in New York are the best, those are added above.
The list didn’t end! There are another top five out of the top ten culinary schools in NYC.
6. Paul Smith’s College
Paul Smith’s College is a four-year private college located in the Adirondack Park in Paul Smiths, New York. Founded in 1946, the college is one of the largest colleges in the world with a total of 14,000-acre of campus area.
The college offers graduates programs in culinary management, as well as certificate programs.
- Established: 1946
- Phone: (888) 873-6570
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 7777 NY-30, Paul Smiths, NY 12970
- Website
7. SUNY Schenectady County Community College
The Schenectady County Community College, established in 1967, is a public community college that offers a variety of associate degrees and certificates. It also provides a variety of training programs for those seeking skills to be competitive in the job market. Staffs are ready to help you achieve your goals and build a career that’s right for you.
In this program, you will study culinary arts with a focus on the business side of the foodservice industry. In addition to coursework in foodservice management, marketing, restaurant operations, and culinary arts, you will have the opportunity to work with a business mentor from a local restaurant or foodservice operation. All of these exciting courses offer you a real taste of the business of food service – skills that will prepare you to enter the foodservice industry as a management trainee after graduation!
- Established: 1967
- Phone: 518-381-1325
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: Elston Hall, Room 308 – 78 Washington Avenue, Schenectady, NY 12305
- Website
8. Culinary Arts at SUNY Delhi
SUNY Delhi is a public institution, part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Delhi State College was founded in 1913, and the campus is located in Delhi, New York. SUNY Delhi is committed to providing the best culinary arts education possible.
The college offers a two-year associate in applied science (AAS) degree and a bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts Management (BBA) in the area, Culinary Arts. SUNY Delhi’s culinary arts curriculum provides a solid foundation in culinary fundamentals to its students.
- Established: 1913
- Phone: (607) 746-4000; 607-746-4550
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: SUNY Delhi, 454 Delhi Drive Delhi, NY 13753
- Website
9. SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill
SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill in New York is a public school. It is one of the oldest public colleges in New York, US. It was established in 1911. The school has accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The college has an enrollment of 2,332 undergraduate students.
SUNY Cobleskill offers three courses in the areas of Culinary Arts:
- Culinary Arts: Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS)
- Restaurant Management: Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
- Culinary Arts: Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
The Culinary Arts program at SUNY Cobleskill prepares students for careers as chefs, cooks, and food service managers. Students gain hands-on experience in professional kitchens and work closely with faculty members to develop culinary skills and career-specific knowledge.
- Established: 1911
- Phone: 518-255-5011; 800-295-8988
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 106 Suffolk Circle, Cobleskill, NY 12043
- Website
10. Niagara Falls Culinary Institute
Since September 2012, Niagara Falls Culinary Institute has been one of the most respected culinary schools in the world. Their chefs are professional, experienced, and experts in their field. The culinary institute is based in Niagara Falls, New York.
Niagara Falls Culinary Institute is a part of the Niagara County Community College (NCCC) that was founded in 1962. The Culinary Institute is one of the best culinary schools in New York.
The Institute offers cutting-edge, industry-recognized programs as well as a diverse and dynamic culinary arts curriculum that includes Baking and Pastry Arts (AAS), Baking and Pastry Arts (Certificate), Culinary Arts (AAS), Culinary Skills (Certificate).
- Established: 2012
- Phone: 716-210-2547; 716-210-2539; 716-210-2525
- Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
- Address: 28 Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14303
- Website
List of the 30 Best Culinary Schools in New York City
- Adirondack Community College
- Broome Community College
- Clinton Essex Warren Washington BOCES
- Culinary Institute of America
- Culinary Tech Center
- CUNY Kingsborough Community College
- CUNY New York City College of Technology
- SUNY Erie Community College
- Finger Lakes Community College
- Genesee Community College
- Institute of Culinary Education
- Mohawk Valley Community College
- Monroe College
- Monroe Community College
- Natural Gourmet Institute
- Niagara Falls Culinary Institute
- Onondaga Community College
- Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
- Rockland Community College
- Suffolk County Community College
- Sullivan County Community College
- SUNY Broome Community College
- SUNY College at Brockport
- SUNY College at Buffalo
- SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill
- SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
- SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
- The International Culinary Center
- Trocaire College
- Villa Maria College
Frequently Asked Questions of Top Culinary Schools NYC
The cost of culinary school in New York varies, depending on which school you choose, but can run anywhere from $7,000 to more than $50,000.
The time of a culinary program depends on the kind of program, but the average is about 650 hours. Among them, 440 hours are for the students in class; and 210 hours are for hands-on practice after completing the course.
Yes. New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development offers the Bachelor of Science in Food Studies.
If you’re already working in the culinary industry, it’s much easier to get into culinary school. Also, there are certain prerequisites you will need to fulfill in order to get accepted to culinary school. The acceptance ratio is 98% in culinary school in New York. Nothing hard, it is easy to get into culinary school in NYC.
In conclusion, if you are interested in attending one of the best Culinary Schools in New York, then you should check out the culinary programs offered by these ten schools. With the knowledge you gain at these culinary schools, you will be able to enter the workforce as an executive chef, pastry chef, restaurant manager, sommelier, or food critic. Any of those top 10 culinary schools in New York on our list will provide you with a solid foundation for your career as a culinary professional.