Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Culinary artist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a culinary artist. Culinary artists usually study business, culinary arts, or electrical engineering. 39% of culinary artists hold a bachelor's degree, and 27% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 80 real culinary artist resumes to see exactly what culinary artist education sections show.
The most common colleges for culinary artists are the Fairmont State University and the Fairmont State University.
There are also many online culinary artist courses to help get the education required to be a culinary artist.
What education do you need to become a culinary artist?
What degree do you need to be a culinary artist?
- Bachelor's, 39%
- High School Diploma, 27%
- Associate, 24%
- Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become a culinary artist?
- Business, 19%
- Culinary Arts, 8%
- Finance, 6%
- Other Majors, 61%
Most common colleges for culinary artists
| Culinary artist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fairmont State University | 5.56% |
| Lee University | 5.56% |
| Florida State University | 5.56% |
| Ball State University | 5.56% |
| Culinary Institute of America | 5.56% |
Best majors for culinary artists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 19.4% |
| 2 | Culinary Arts | 8.3% |
| 3 | Electrical Engineering | 5.6% |
| 4 | Finance | 5.6% |
| 5 | Mathematics | 5.6% |
Best colleges for culinary artists
The best colleges for culinary artists are Northwestern University, Boston University, and University of Southern California.
A culinary artist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for culinary artists. 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 culinary artists.
1. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
4. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
5. Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,244
Enrollment
15,557
6. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
7. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$54,104
Enrollment
7,089
8. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
9. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
10. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce
Mercedita, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,914
Enrollment
4,155
20 best online courses for culinary artists
Advertising disclosure
1. Introduction to Food and Our Environment
This course is designed to help learners around the world become more sustainable eaters. Course videos can be watched in any order. Feel free to explore special areas of interest by skipping ahead and coming back to less familiar topics at a later stage. Together, we’ll explore key topics, like how food production impacts the environment and why meat production and protein consumption are often at the center of the debate around sustainability. We’ll introduce the pros and cons of different...
2. 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...
3. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System
Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...
4. 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...
5. 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...
6. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)
Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...
7. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.
OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...
8. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings
A Brief Safety Management Course for Current and Aspiring Safety Professionals...
9. Basic Fire Safety Awareness
Basic Fire Safety Awareness - Your Gateway towards Career in Fire Safety...
10. Occupational Health & Safety Training
Workplace Health and Safety Course For Employees & Managers...
11. Complete Health and Safety Auditor Course. OHSAS 18001.
How to implement and audit a health & safety management system and obtain certification to OHSAS 18001 Standard...
12. Supervisor Leadership Skills for a Safe Workplace
Learn safety communication skills to foster safety accountability, responsibility and correct safety behaviours...
13. Fire Safety: Become A Fire Safety Expert
Become an expert in Fire Safety, Fire Hazards Control, Fire Evacuation Plans, and Fire Risk Assessment...
14. ISO 22000 (HACCP and PRPs) for Food Safety
Standards, analysis, control points, and risk management related to ISO 22000 for food industry professionals...
15. ISO 45001. Occupational health & safety management system
Upgrate your health and safety career by understanding the requriements for an OH & S management system from ISO 45001...
16. Fire Safety and Prevention Planning
Become an expert in understanding Fire Safety and Prevention Planning for your workplaces and organizations...
17. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management
A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...
18. OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment
Impress management or get that job with you your ability to display life and dollar saving work place safety practices...
19. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer
Master Customer Service using this practical customer care course...
20. The Ultimate Food and Restaurant Business Course
For Existing Food & Restaurant Businesses & Start Ups. This course will significantly improve you chance of success...
Top 10 most affordable universities for culinary artists
The most affordable schools for culinary artists are USF Sarasota-Manatee, baruch college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for culinary artists 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 culinary artists.
1. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
2. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
5. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
6. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
7. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
8. Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$4,831
Cost of attendance
19,559
9. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
10. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for culinary artists
The hardest universities for culinary artists to get into are Northwestern University, Boston University, and University of Southern California.
Some great schools for culinary artists 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 culinary artists 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. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
6. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
7. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,456
8. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
9. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
10. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for culinary artists
The easiest schools for culinary artists to get into are University of North Texas at Dallas, oklahoma wesleyan university, and holy names university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a culinary artist 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 culinary artists.
1. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
3. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
6. Life University
Marietta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
979
7. Grand View University
Des Moines, IA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,060
8. Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,059
9. Cleary University
Howell, MI • Private
Admissions rate
58%
SAT average
1,039
10. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Camden
Camden, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,086
Average culinary artist salary by education level
| Culinary artist education level | Culinary artist salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $40,116 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $47,205 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $48,445 |
Culinary artist education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common food preparation and restaurant questions.
Search for culinary artist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025