Top culinary schools in the world 2024

Best culinary schools and Colleges

In this blog post, we delve into the world of culinary arts at the best culinary schools in the world, exploring more than just cooking skills. These schools teach food and kitchen management, menu design, and food safety, offering a comprehensive view of gastronomy. For aspiring chefs seeking specialized training, this guide provides key insights to kickstart your culinary career.

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, USA 

Campus locations: Boulder, Colorado, and Austin, Texas.

When Auguste Escoffier was just 13 years old, he became one of the world’s most famous chefs. With his unmoving pursuit of perfection, he rose to the status of legendary chef, redefining modern French cuisine and leaving a lasting imprint on the field’s history.

Located in the United States, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts is one of the best culinary arts schools in the world that provides diploma and degree programs in both areas at campuses in Boulder, Colorado, and Austin, Texas. Career services are available to students both while in school and after graduation.

They teach children where their food originates from and urge them to use sustainable methods in their daily lives.  Chef Escoffier was the first to introduce the a-la-carte menu – the practice of ordering individual dishes from a menu in a restaurant. Auguste Escoffier’s innovative kitchen hierarchy, known as Emperor of Chefs’ practices, ideas, and systems, is applied in smaller modules for students. 

Those who qualify for financial help can choose from various programs and campuses.

• Culinary Arts Associate of Applied Science Degree: $30,285 + $650= $30,935
• Diploma in pastry arts costs $17,635 + $450 in equipment and materials for a total of $18,085
• Master’s degree in Culinary Arts: $17,770

Culinary Arts Academy, Switzerland

Campus locations: Lucerne and Le Bouveret

The Culinary Arts Academy in Switzerland, a member of the Swiss Education Group, is known as one of the top 10 best culinary schools globally. This culinary arts school emphasizes both entrepreneurship and kitchen skills as it prepares students for their future professional journeys. The school’s two campuses, together, only accept 300 students

Many educational alternatives are available at the Academy, from one-term courses to three-year Bachelor’s degree programs. 

The Swiss Grand Diploma in Culinary Arts, the Swiss Grand Diploma in Pastry and Chocolate Arts, and the Swiss Diploma in Vegetarian Culinary Arts are all equivalent to bachelor’s degrees in the field.

The university has introduced a postgraduate degree program by the end of 2020. Additionally, the Culinary Arts Academy also offers students a Master’s degree in International Business in Culinary Management.

With a contemporary perspective on culinary traditions, students will develop expertise in world cuisine, from traditional culinary fundamentals to international fine-dining techniques. Culinary Arts Academy is one of the best culinary schools in the world ranking.

Students get access to unique internship opportunities with industry titans such as the Ritz Paris and Ritz Escoffier. Scholarships are available on a merit basis, provided that the student’s financial background qualifies for the scholarship.

Course expenses — which include student housing and one or two semesters per year:

• Bachelor’s degree program – starting at 19,543.00 Swiss francs per term
• Swiss Grand Diploma programs – starting at 17,000.00 Swiss Francs per term
• Diploma in Vegetarian Culinary Arts – starting at 17,000.00 Swiss Francs per term
• Master’s program – starting at 18,850.00 Swiss francs per term

Culinary Institute of America, USA

Campus locations: Hyde Park, NY, San Antonio, TX, Napa, CA, and Singapore.

In 1946, the first school of its sort in the United States opened in downtown New Haven.

Today, the Culinary Institute of America has campuses from coast to coast, including one in Singapore. The institute taught returning World War II veterans, with an initial enrollment of 50 students. While all three US sites offer associate degrees, uniquely, only the institute’s flagship campus in New York extends to offering a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts. Consequently, this distinction cements its status as a notable contender among the top culinary schools globally.

The California Campus in Napa Valley is home to a one-of-a-kind Food Business School that trains prospective restaurant owners on how to overcome the obstacles inherent in operating a food service.

Students at the Hudson Valley school in New York get a taste of real life by working in the campus’ four public eateries, which provide Italian, French, and American cuisines and café fares such as sandwiches, soups, and baked goods.

The on-campus eateries at the universities in California and Texas also employ students. However, the variety of cooking techniques available here isn’t as comprehensive as in New York.

With a rich history in the culinary world, this school deserves to be on the list of top culinary schools in the world. The schools provide a number of programs for wine and food aficionados, some lasting only a couple of hours and others lasting several days like a crash course.

Greystone in St. Helena, California, offers a 21-month Culinary Arts Associate Degree program which further splits into four semesters. It is a well-known program where many people participate.

Culinary arts students in New York, California, and Texas can apply for additional financial aid. Anthony Bourdain is another alumnus who received a scholarship and became a renowned name in the culinary world.

Famous former students and faculty include Charlie Palmer and Geoffrey Zakarian, as well as Michael Mina, Grant Achatz, Cat Cora, and Anne Burrell.

Le Cordon Bleu, Paris, France

Campus locations:  Paris, France, London, UK, Ottawa, Canada, Bangkok, Thailand, Sydney, Australia

One of the top culinary schools in the world , Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, is the place to go if you want to learn how to cook French cuisine perfectly.

Julia Child, the first woman in her class, graduated in 1949, and the school even honors her with a famous demonstration on how to make boeuf bourguignon.

Amateur chefs can take one- to four-day classes and workshops at most of the university’s 40 locations. Le Cordon Bleu is the largest culinary and hospitality school globally, stretching from Tokyo to Lima.

It is known that the Le Grand Diplôme®, which combines the Diplôme de Pâtisserie with the Diplôme de Cuisine, is the key to a wide range of career options in the French culinary arts.

They offer courses in a wide array of topics, such as pastry and confectionery, the cuisine of the world, hospitality management & gastronomy, wine & spirits, global cuisine, gastronomy, and nutritional science. Furthermore, the program encompasses various short-term and long-term options in the realms of bakery, Danish pastries, artisan bread, and cheese. Consequently, Le Cordon boasts a more diverse culinary school course list compared to its counterparts.

Institute of Culinary Education, New York, USA 

Campus locations: New York, NY, and Los Angeles, California

The Institute of Culinary Education, located in the heart of New York City’s financial district, was recognized by The Daily Meal as the top culinary school in the US in 2016.

Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts, Culinary Management, and Hospitality Management are just a few of the disciplines offered by the institute. Initially, these courses were introduced in 1975 and later, they were rebranded as Peter Kump’s New York Cooking School.

Every level of skill and area of interest is catered for. The institute offers recreational cooking workshops to continuing education courses, with 1,500 programs held each year.

Key takeaways

The benefits of studying culinary arts at one of the most prestigious culinary schools are listed below. Some of the disadvantages of learning gastronomy/culinary arts include:

• Culinary art is one of the most versatile courses where the possibilities are endless. You can achieve these skills and pursue a career in any country across the world.
• Chef roles are among the highest-paying in the hospitality business, as well as the rest of the economy.
• Professionals get to learn and upskill daily whilst being on the job. As a result of the rising use of technology, chef professions are getting more inventive and exciting.

Want to pursue your love for the culinary arts but don’t know how to proceed? Contact us at iSchoolConnect to get started on your applications now!

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FAQ

Q1. How much does it cost to attend a culinary institute?

Answer: Culinary arts degrees can cost anywhere from $35,000 to $54,000, depending on an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. A student chef can reduce costs by enrolling in an affordable culinary program at a community college or an institution.

Q2. Does pursuing a career in Culinary arts worth it?

Answer: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment in the culinary arts will grow by 25 percent by 2030. In light of anticipated wage growth and the economy’s expected to rebound from the Covid-19 recession, this is significantly higher than the average occupation growth rate. It’s an excellent time to get a culinary degree because of the bright outlook for the industry.

Q3. Do culinary schools have dorms?

Answer: Traditional dorms are available at many major institutions, such as the Culinary Institute of America. An estimated 1,700 students dwell each year. Similar accommodation alternatives are available at other four-year universities and colleges that are known as destination schools.