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Veterans: Right at Home at CIA
Welcome to your new college!
Military Veterans, Food is Your Future.
A sense of purpose. Service. Making a difference. You’ve experienced them all in your military career, so it’s only natural to seek them in your next one. A career in food is a great fit for your skills and drive, and so is the Culinary Institute of America, where you’ll practice mastery, discipline, and teamwork in our professional kitchens every day.
Join our strong and committed community of veteran students at CIA. We’re proud to have been founded in 1946 for the express purpose of preparing World War II veterans for food careers.
The CIA Degree of Your Choice
Use your hard-earned GI Bill® benefits to earn an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree from the world-famous CIA. Why not choose the best? An education from CIA is the best recipe for your success moving into your next chapter.
Free Culinary School for Veterans with GI Bill® Benefits
That’s right—your Yellow Ribbon and Post 9-11 benefits may pay up to 100% of your CIA tuition. Learn more about your benefits due, transferring benefits, and housing allowances.
Resources and Support for a Smooth Transition
Learn about resources available only to veteran students. Location, meal plans, clubs, housing, employment, and other types of support…we can’t name them all. Our hub of information to answer all your questions on how to make your degree a reality.
Fit Easily into Our Family
You’re already familiar with discipline and structure—and fun, too! Check out one of our three amazing campuses to learn more about our center of the food universe.
Application Process
Applying to CIA
CIA admits students three times a year, so you can start whenever the time is right for you—and CIA is here to help you through the process. You can submit your application via Common App or CIA’s website. Our application form takes only 20 minutes to complete. Learn more about application materials, timelines, and review processes.
We’re a Military Friendly® School!
This designation signals that CIA is one of a select few colleges setting the standard for higher education institutions to provide the best opportunities for veterans and their spouses. Learn more >
We’re also proud to be listed yet again as a “Best for Vets” College by MilitaryTimes!
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website.
What Your Fellow Veterans Have to Say
CIA veteran students share their experiences as they prepare to make a difference in their new careers in this segment from Meals Ready to Eat, produced by Navy veteran August Dannehl.
Benefits and Opportunities
GI Bill® Benefits
As a veteran, you can use the Post-9/11 GI Bill® to help finance your education at CIA.
Military Friendly® School
CIA is one of a select few colleges setting the standard for higher education institutions to provide the best opportunities for veterans.
Student Support
Veteran students have access to many veteran-specific support options while studying at CIA.
CIA Turbo Option
Gain college credit for your prior food industry experience and you could have your degree in as little as 15 months.
Bachelor’s Degree Completion
Especially for students with 30+ college credits, this program immerses you in our kitchens or bakeshops.
Industry’s Best Career Fair
Nearly 475 food and hospitality companies visited CIA looking to hire in 2023—resulting in over 4,000 reported interviews with highly interested employers.
Unrivaled Network
The food world’s most powerful alumni network—50k+ strong—that not only hire CIA grads, but also help make the connections to advance careers.
Built-in, Paid Internship
World-class paid internships at one of 2,000+ CIA-approved organizations.
Connect with someone now
Chat With a Veteran Student
Are you curious about what it’s really like to attend CIA? We’ve got you covered. Our students are ready to answer the questions you haven’t asked anyone else, share their own personal experiences, and give you genuine advice—because they’ve gone through it, too.
CIA Campuses
Be part of a vibrant campus and close-knit community, where everyone speaks your language—food.
Discover all that CIA has to offer beyond the classroom with our full array of athletics, activities, student services, and delicious dining options. From open mic nights and interactive student groups to off-campus adventures and friendly campus cook-offs, we have countless ways to get involved and meet new people. Did we mention every dorm has a full-sized kitchen?
Connect with Us
Here’s what happening at CIA…
Contact Us
Susan Lavender, CWP
Assistant Director—Admissions
[email protected]
845-451-1557
Specializes in assisting veterans—New York campus
Gerardo Garant
Admissions Counselor
[email protected]
210-554-6453
Specializes in assisting veterans—Texas campus