Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Master chef education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a master chef. Master chefs usually study culinary arts, business, or communication. 36% of master chefs hold a bachelor's degree, and 26% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 252 real master chef resumes to see exactly what master chef education sections show.
The most common colleges for master chefs are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online master chef courses to help get the education required to be a master chef.
What education do you need to become a master chef?
What degree do you need to be a master chef?
- Bachelor's, 36%
- Associate, 26%
- Diploma, 14%
- Master's, 12%
- Other Degrees, 12%
What should I major in to become a master chef?
- Culinary Arts, 35%
- Business, 8%
- Communication, 7%
- Other Majors, 44%
Most common colleges for master chefs
| Master chef common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 11.43% |
| University of Texas at Austin | 8.57% |
| West Virginia University | 8.57% |
| University of Colorado at Boulder | 5.71% |
| San Diego Mesa College | 5.71% |
Best majors for master chefs
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Culinary Arts | 34.7% |
| 2 | Business | 8.2% |
| 3 | Communication | 7.1% |
| 4 | Hospitality Management | 6.1% |
| 5 | Photography | 6.1% |
Best colleges for master chefs
The best colleges for master chefs are Drexel University, Boston University, and University of Cincinnati.
A master 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 master 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 master 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 master chefs
Advertising disclosure
1. 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...
2. Navigating Healthcare Supply Chain Operations
This course is the continuation of "Introduction to Healthcare Supply Chain Operations". If you have not visited the first part yet, please check it out before starting this course. If you have finished the first part of this series: Introduction to Healthcare Supply Chain Operations, you will be able to apply what you learned to your own career. The foundational knowledge and project plan from the introduction are carried through in this deeper dive into healthcare supply chain operations. In...
3. 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...
4. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System
Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...
5. 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...
6. Operations and Patient Safety for Healthcare IT Staff
Now that you've been introduced to the world of Health IT and the important role played by electronic health records (EHRs), we'll focus on other technologies that play a role in maintaining ongoing operations in healthcare. Telemedicine, patient portals, barcode scanners, printers, and medical devices are just some of the technologies that impact providers and patients. As an IT support specialist, you’ll be asked to troubleshoot issues with a wide variety of tools. You'll see a scenario with...
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. 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...
9. Stanford Introduction to Food and Health
Around the world, we find ourselves facing global epidemics of obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and other predominantly diet-related diseases. To address these public health crises, we urgently need to explore innovative strategies for promoting healthful eating. There is strong evidence that global increases in the consumption of heavily processed foods, coupled with cultural shifts away from the preparation of food in the home, have contributed to high rates of preventable, chronic disease. In this...
10. ISO 22000 (HACCP and PRPs) for Food Safety
Standards, analysis, control points, and risk management related to ISO 22000 for food industry professionals...
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. Supply Chain Management A-Z: Operations & Logistics Basics
Supply Chain Management Basics: An MBA style course to boost your career as a business operations & logistics manager...
13. The Ultimate Food and Restaurant Business Course
For Existing Food & Restaurant Businesses & Start Ups. This course will significantly improve you chance of success...
14. Fundamentals of Logistics, Supply Chain & Customer Service
Learn Logistics, Supply Chain and Customer Service. 3 Courses in 1...
15. Basic Food Photography
Learn how to take delicious food photos from scratch...
16. Operational Risks Management ORM
Operational Risks Management ORM Case Studies for Risk Management, Compliance, Audit, IS Security, Banking Professionals...
17. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer
Master Customer Service using this practical customer care course...
18. Blockchain applications in Food Safety, Healthcare & Pharma
Best course to learn about Blockchain Business Applications in Pharma, Food Safety, Healthcare and Insurance Industries...
19. Airline Operations: Flight Planning and Flight Dispatch
Airline Operations: Master the essentials of aviation - aircraft operational control and dispatch...
20. Django In Real Life - Build Complex Restaurant Platform
Python Django Multi-Vendor Restaurant Marketplace with location based search, nearby restaurants. Beginner to Expert...
Top 10 most affordable universities for master chefs
The most affordable schools for master 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 master 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 master 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 master chefs
The hardest universities for master chefs to get into are Drexel University, Boston University, and University of Cincinnati.
Some great schools for master 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 master 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 master chefs
The easiest schools for master 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 master 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 master 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 master chef salary by education level
| Master chef education level | Master chef salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $42,074 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $46,938 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $47,763 |
Master chef education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common food preparation and restaurant questions.
Search for master chef jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025