Chef education requirements

Q: How long is culinary school?

Culinary school varies widely in terms of length, with some programs being able to be completed within a few months and others taking four years from start to finish. This all depends on several different factors, including:

Q: What degree do you need to be a chef?

You need a degree in culinary arts to be a chef. However, this is not a strict requirement, as many have built careers in the culinary arts by working their way up the kitchen staff ladder. However, a degree in culinary arts can be very helpful in achieving this goal, as it can provide training and knowledge in:

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a chef. Chefs usually study culinary arts, business, or hospitality management. 38% of chefs hold a associate degree, and 27% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 53,484 real chef resumes to see exactly what chef education sections show.

The most common colleges for chefs are the Johnson & Wales University and the Johnson & Wales University.

There are also many online chef courses to help get the education required to be a chef.

There are certain chef certifications that you should consider. These chef certifications include ServSafe Alcohol and Certified Culinary Administrator (CCA).

What education do you need to become a chef?

What degree do you need to be a chef?

The most common degree for chefs is associate degree, with 38% of chefs earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 27% and bachelor's degree degree at 21%.

Associate, 38%

Bachelor's, 27%

High School Diploma, 21%

Diploma, 8%

Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a chef?

You should major in culinary arts to become a chef. 47% of chefs major in culinary arts. Other common majors for a chef include business and hospitality management.

Culinary Arts, 47%

Business, 12%

Hospitality Management, 7%

General Studies, 3%

Other Majors, 31%

Most common colleges for chefs

Chefs often get their degrees at Johnson & Wales University, Culinary Institute of America, and University of Phoenix. Here are the most common colleges for chefs in the US based on their resumes.

Chef common college	Percentages
Johnson & Wales University	34.26%
Culinary Institute of America	28.07%
University of Phoenix	3.89%
New England Culinary Institute	3.45%
Western Washington University	3.18%

Show more common chef colleges

Best majors for chefs

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Culinary Arts	46.7%
2	Business	12.0%
3	Hospitality Management	6.6%
4	General Studies	3.4%
5	Management	3.1%

Show more common chef majors

Best colleges for chefs

The best colleges for chefs are Drexel University, Boston University, and University of Cincinnati.

A chef with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for chefs. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become chefs.

1. Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,244

Enrollment

15,557

2. University of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$11,000

Enrollment

25,973

3. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

4. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

6. Southwest Minnesota State University

Marshall, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$8,612

Enrollment

2,022

7. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce

Mercedita, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,914

Enrollment

4,155

20 best online courses for chefs

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Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...

3. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors

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The Highfield Food Safety Level 3 syllabus presented in two hours of video tutorials. Boost your food safety knowledge...

4. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer

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Master Customer Service using this practical customer care course...

5. Advanced Process Control & Safety Instrumented Systems SIS

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Learn how the main process equipment such as chemical reactors , pumps , compressors & heat exchangers are controlled...

6. Chef for the Absolute Beginners - DevOps

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Learn to automate without scripting using Chef with integrated hands-on labs right in your browser...

7. Fundamentals of Logistics, Supply Chain & Customer Service

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(3,822)

Learn Logistics, Supply Chain and Customer Service. 3 Courses in 1...

8. Fire Safety: Become A Fire Safety Expert

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Become an expert in Fire Safety, Fire Hazards Control, Fire Evacuation Plans, and Fire Risk Assessment...

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Standards, analysis, control points, and risk management related to ISO 22000 for food industry professionals...

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18. Customer Service, Customer Support, And Customer Experience

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20. Customer Service Basics: Improve your Service now

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Top 10 most affordable universities for chefs

The most affordable schools for chefs are Inter American University of Puerto Rico Barranquitas, inter american university of puerto rico aguadilla, and inter american university of puerto rico bayamon.

If the best universities for chefs are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for chefs.

1. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Barranquitas

Barranquitas, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,902

Cost of attendance

13,479

2. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Aguadilla

Aguadilla, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,902

Cost of attendance

13,284

3. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon

Bayamon, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,940

Cost of attendance

13,508

4. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce

Mercedita, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,914

Cost of attendance

13,564

5. University of North Alabama

Florence, AL • Private

In-state tuition

$10,142

Cost of attendance

18,712

6. University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,633

Cost of attendance

19,235

7. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,570

Cost of attendance

23,713

8. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Delhi, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,360

Cost of attendance

23,486

9. Mississippi University for Women

Columbus, MS • Private

In-state tuition

$6,940

Cost of attendance

18,689

10. Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS • Private

In-state tuition

$8,650

Cost of attendance

24,275

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for chefs

The hardest universities for chefs to get into are Drexel University, Boston University, and University of Cincinnati.

Some great schools for chefs are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for chefs based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

77%

SAT average

1,281

2. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

3. University of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH • Private

Admissions rate

73%

SAT average

1,269

4. University of Charleston

Charleston, WV • Private

Admissions rate

50%

SAT average

1,057

5. Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS • Private

Admissions rate

57%

SAT average

1,230

6. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

Admissions rate

63%

SAT average

1,071

7. University of North Alabama

Florence, AL • Private

Admissions rate

64%

SAT average

1,134

8. Delaware Valley University

Doylestown, PA • Private

Admissions rate

66%

SAT average

1,080

9. University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

1,120

10. Hope College

Holland, MI • Private

Admissions rate

76%

SAT average

1,233

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for chefs

The easiest schools for chefs to get into are Life University, drexel university, and university of cincinnati.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a chef without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for chefs.

1. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

2. Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

77%

SAT average

1,281

3. University of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH • Private

Admissions rate

73%

SAT average

1,269

4. University of Charleston

Charleston, WV • Private

Admissions rate

50%

SAT average

1,057

5. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Delhi, NY • Private

Admissions rate

64%

SAT average

1,011

6. Mississippi University for Women

Columbus, MS • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,085

7. Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,070

8. Washington Adventist Hospital

Takoma Park, MD • Private

Admissions rate

52%

SAT average

958

9. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Alfred, NY • Private

Admissions rate

63%

SAT average

1,071

10. University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

1,120

Average chef salary by education level

Chefs with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $51,438 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, chefs earn a median annual income of $50,718 compared to $46,423 for chefs with an High School Diploma degree.

Chef education level	Chef salary
High School Diploma or Less	$46,423
Bachelor's Degree	$50,718
Some College/ Associate Degree	$51,438

Chef education FAQs

How long is culinary school?

What degree do you need to be a chef?

What is the best college for Chefs?

Have more questions? See all answers to common food preparation and restaurant questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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