Colleges › New York › Culinary Institute of America
Culinary Institute of America
Admission at Culinary Institute of America is close to open (91.1%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $47,475 median earnings below before the application.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
Culinary Institute of America occupies suburban Hyde Park, NY — a private campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. International students are a visible presence here — 7.7% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Culinary Arts and Related Services, where graduates median $61,944 four years out. 28.9% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 3,011 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 70% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 970 and 1195 — below the NY middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Culinary Institute of America's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Culinary Institute of America received 2,161 applications and admitted 1,983 (91.8%), with 680 enrolling.
Culinary Institute of America is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 970–1195 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Culinary Institute of America's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 500 | 550 | 605 |
| SAT Math | 470 | 530 | 590 |
| ACT Composite | 17 | 22 | 25 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Culinary Institute of America compares
| Culinary Institute of America | New York median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 91.1% | 70.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $39,850 | $17,408 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $47,475 | $60,236 | $53,781 |
At $47,475, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($60,236). Look at Culinary Institute of America's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $39,850 regardless of where you're from. At Culinary Institute of America, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
At 3,011 undergrads, Culinary Institute of America is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
62.9% graduate within six years. Roughly 37% don't — ask a Culinary Institute of America tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Culinary Institute of America
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | $61,944 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $58,165 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $48,525 |
Median earnings for these 3 Culinary Institute of America programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $47,475 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Culinary Institute of America?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 970–1195 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 91.1% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Culinary Institute of America's acceptance rate?
91.8% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,983 admitted from 2,161 applicants.
How much does Culinary Institute of America cost?
At Culinary Institute of America, published tuition is $39,850 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Culinary Institute of America's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Culinary Institute of America graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $47,475 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in New York
- CUNY Medgar Evers College — 86.1% admitted
- Metropolitan College of New York — 90% admitted
- Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz — 87.4% admitted
- Hilbert College — 97.2% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.