Culinary Major
What does a culinary major do?
A culinary major studies the art of cooking and gains practical knowledge in restaurant, facilities, kitchen management, and hospitality.
What types of jobs do culinary majors take after graduation?
There are a variety of career paths available to culinary majors, including:
- Chef
- Nutrition
- Catering
- Restaurant Management/Ownership
What degrees do culinary majors pursue?
Most culinary majors first earn an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts, and may later decide to pursue a Bachelor’s of Culinary Arts. You may be required to complete an internship to receive a culinary degree.
How much does a culinary program cost?
School costs vary widely, depending on the type of school you choose and what type of program you are pursing. You can find average school costs for public culinary colleges and private culinary colleges in our compare colleges section.
How do I pay for a culinary program?
Whether you are paying for an associate, undergraduate or graduate culinary program, it’s important that you complete the FAFSA and review your financial aid options. You should start by trying to obtain college scholarships and college grants (free money) to pay for your culinary program. Then use federal student loans
, such as the Federal Stafford Loan
. If free money and federal loans are not enough to pay for your culinary program, you can begin to research private student loans
to cover the remainder of your school costs.
What is the average salary for culinary majors?
The average pay for culinary majors varies greatly by region and type of employer, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with earnings highest in major metropolitan areas or upscale hotel/restaurant establishments. Median annual wage-and-salary earnings of chefs and head cooks were $38,770 in May 20081.
A culinary major probably performs well in or enjoys the following subjects:
- Health
- Nutrition
- Chemistry