Admissions & Aid High School Juniors

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High School Juniors

Welcome to your new college!

Love Food? Make it Your Life! Food is Your Future.

You love everything about food—growing it, cooking it, sharing it, blogging about it—or you wouldn’t be here, reading this. If you see yourself shining in a food or hospitality-focused career, then CIA might be your perfect college fit. At CIA, you’ll learn practical hands-on skills, explore big ideas and be mentored by some of the best minds in food, hospitality and academics from all over the world.

Hands Down—the Best Hands-On Experience

College Life with a Culinary Twist

Variety is the spice of life when it comes to campus activities. Whatever your passion, you’re sure to find countless opportunities involving food, friends, and fun. Get involved in student-led clubs, join a sports team, or mix things up at our many special events, like the annual chili cookoff and the Run for Your Knives 5K.

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Explore Cool Careers

The world of food and hospitality has never been more exciting, and CIA is where you’ll explore it all! You’ll definitely discover new career interests because food is everywhere—in every facet of business, culture, and society. And with the foundation of skills, knowledge, and professionalism you’ll get here, you’ll be prepared for anything you choose to do. Check out what CIA graduates are doing now.

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Get Hands-On

If you’re like the typical CIA student (and we suspect you are), you enjoy learning by doing, by trying new things and seeing how they work in the real world. That’s exactly what a CIA education is like. Here you’ll get hands-on in our kitchens, bakeshops, restaurants, paid internships, and travel experiences; harvest ingredients from our gardens; and study traditional academic subjects through the lens of food. It’s an experience you’ll only find at CIA!

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Get an Up-close Look at CIA

Check out an informative walking tour or join us for a convenient online event. Our campus visits and virtual events are a great way to learn about the total CIA experience firsthand—from academic programs and residence halls to meal plans and student life.

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A woman in a white chef jacket takes a photo with her phone of two men, also in chef jackets, conversing with a man in a blue checkered jacket. The interaction appears to take place outdoors, possibly during one of the CIA Greystone Tours, in front of a building with stone walls and green foliage.

Just Want to Know More?

If this sounds like the college and the life you want, then find out more about CIA and careers in food and hospitality.

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Benefits and Opportunities

A chef wearing a white uniform is carefully plating food in a busy kitchen. Several dishes with various gourmet foods are on the counter, embodying the skills learned through CIA admissions. Other kitchen staff members are visible in the background, focusing on their tasks.

Real-World Experience

Spend a full semester getting hands-on experience in our nine award-winning public service restaurants.

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A chef in a white uniform and hat instructs a group of eight students, also in white uniforms and hats, in a commercial kitchen. The kitchen features several pots, pans, and stacks of plates. Stainless steel appliances and a tiled wall are visible in the background.

More Specialized, Hands-on Classes

Two Times the foundational skills and deeper dives into specializations than most colleges.

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Built-in, Paid Internship

World-class paid internships at one of 2,000+ CIA-approved organizations.

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Scholarships

CIA offers generous scholarships—and awarded over $40 million last year alone.

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A group of eleven diverse students smiling and hugging a large bee mascot dressed in a yellow and black costume with "CIA" on its chest. They are standing on an outdoor terrace with a river and green hills in the background.

College Life with a Culinary Twist

Join a diverse, close-knit community where everyone speaks your language—food!

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Two chefs in white uniforms are sitting at a table, focused on paperwork. Both chefs are looking at documents in front of them, with one chef pointing at a specific page. They appear to be engaged in a discussion or review related to their work.

Custom-Fit Education

Choose from programs, electives, and travel experiences that fit your unique interests and goals.

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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.

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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.

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Don’t Take Our Word for It:

Here’s What CIA Students Have to Say

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Chat With a High School 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.

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Chat with a High School Student Ambassador
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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?

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Here’s what happening at CIA…

The Culinary Institute of America

1946 Campus Drive
Hyde Park, NY 12538

1-800-CULINARY

[email protected]

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