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Cooking teacher education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a cooking teacher. Cooking teachers usually study business, early childhood education, or culinary arts. 37% of cooking teachers hold a high school diploma, and 22% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 976 real cooking teacher resumes to see exactly what cooking teacher education sections show.
The most common colleges for cooking teachers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online cooking teacher courses to help get the education required to be a cooking teacher.
There are certain cooking teacher certifications that you should consider. These cooking teacher certifications include Child Development Associate (CDA) and Certified Food Manager (CFM).
What education do you need to become a cooking teacher?
What degree do you need to be a cooking teacher?
- High School Diploma, 37%
- Associate, 22%
- Bachelor's, 22%
- Diploma, 10%
- Other Degrees, 9%
What should I major in to become a cooking teacher?
- Business, 14%
- Culinary Arts, 11%
- Other Majors, 56%
Most common colleges for cooking teachers
| Cooking teacher common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 12.24% |
| Remington College | 8.16% |
| Bryan College | 6.12% |
| San Jose State University | 6.12% |
| Ashford University | 6.12% |
Best majors for cooking teachers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 14.5% |
| 2 | Early Childhood Education | 13.0% |
| 3 | Culinary Arts | 11.2% |
| 4 | Human Development | 5.6% |
| 5 | Health Care Administration | 5.6% |
Best colleges for cooking teachers
The best colleges for cooking teachers are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
A cooking teacher with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for cooking teachers. 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 cooking teachers.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
3. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
4. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
5. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
6. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
7. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Enrollment
9,394
8. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
20 best online courses for cooking teachers
Advertising disclosure
1. Child Nutrition and Cooking
Eating patterns that begin in childhood affect health and well-being across the lifespan. The culture of eating has changed significantly in recent decades, especially in parts of the world where processed foods dominate our dietary intake. This course examines contemporary child nutrition and the impact of the individual decisions made by each family. The health risks associated with obesity in childhood are also discussed. Participants will learn what constitutes a healthy diet for children...
2. Cooking for Busy Healthy People
Cooking is one of the most powerful ways in which we can optimize our enjoyment of great quality food while protecting our health. Even on a tight budget, cooking can be a cost-effective, joyful and rewarding way to love the food that will love us back for a lifetime. In this course, you’ll learn some basic recipes from a home cook and two professional chefs who prioritize healthful eating. You’ll also learn some of the fundamentals of principle-based cooking that can help you break free from...
3. Cook Real Food: How to Make Simple Plant-Based Meals
Learn how to cook whole plant foods to make quick, easy, and healthy vegan meals for practical everyday eating...
4. Fun food safety and sanitation course
The food safety course will help prepare you for safely working in a kitchen and food handler tests like Servesafe...
5. Food Sustainability, Mindful Eating, and Healthy Cooking
This specialization is intended for anyone seeking to improve their health, protect our planet and build a stronger, more positive relationship with food. The courses aim to improve knowledge about the relationships between our health, our food, how our food is made, and our environment, while inspiring us to make decisions that will protect our health and the health of the environment. After completing the specialization a learner with no previous food, nutrition, sustainable, mindful eating,...
6. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System
Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...
7. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors
The Highfield Food Safety Level 3 syllabus presented in two hours of video tutorials. Boost your food safety knowledge...
8. Healthy Cooking Fundamentals
A practical course to take your cooking skills from dull to delicious...
9. Cooking 101: Kitchen Basics to Advanced
Culinary Skills for Home Cooks and Aspiring Chefs...
10. Thai Cooking Master Class
Learn to how cook better than restaurant Thai food as you discover new ingredients and elevate your cooking skills...
11. Food Photography: Capturing Food in Your Kitchen
With DIY Food Photography, you'll be taking better photos in no time with what you have in your own kitchen!...
12. Indian Culinary World - Master the art of Indian Cooking
Secrets of cooking delicious Indian food, from Sizzling Pots - join 8000+ students in 125 countries in this masterclass!...
13. Essential Cooking Skills
Cook like a pro, master the basic techniques used in the World's culinary industry! Key Techniques - Part 1...
14. Vegan Nutrition: Build Your Plant Based Diet & Meal Plan
Learn How To Set Up A Vegan Diet For Weight Loss, Building Muscle, Healthy Eating, Meal Planning & Vegan Bodybuilding...
15. More Essential Cooking Skills
Cook like a pro, master the basic techniques used in the World's culinary industry! Key Techniques - part 2...
16. Basic Food Photography
Learn how to take delicious food photos from scratch...
17. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer
Master Customer Service using this practical customer care course...
18. Mindfulness for Life Coaching Success: Teacher Certificate
Transform Lives with Mindfulness & Meditation: Accredited Life Coach Teacher Certificate (2023)...
19. INDIAN COOKING - RESTAURANT STYLE COOKING COURSE
Learn - Base gravies (Red, Yellow, Green, White, Yellow Non veg & Makhani gravy) Karahi chicken, Palak Paneer & more...
20. Mindfulness Teacher Training Certificate
Become a certified mindfulness teacher with this accredited mindfulness teacher training programme...
Top 10 most affordable universities for cooking teachers
The most affordable schools for cooking teachers are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and california state university - dominguez hills.
If the best universities for cooking teachers 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 cooking teachers.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
3. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
5. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
6. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
7. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
8. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,238
Cost of attendance
21,567
9. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
10. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for cooking teachers
The hardest universities for cooking teachers to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for cooking teachers 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 cooking teachers 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. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
6. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
7. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
8. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
9. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions rate
40%
SAT average
1,376
10. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for cooking teachers
The easiest schools for cooking teachers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, d'youville college, and holy names university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a cooking teacher 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 cooking teachers.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
3. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
4. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
5. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
6. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
7. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
8. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
9. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
10. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
Average cooking teacher salary by education level
| Cooking teacher education level | Cooking teacher salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $34,383 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $30,036 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $31,419 |
| Doctorate Degree | $35,235 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $30,463 |
Cooking teacher education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025