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Top Culinary Scholarships in 2022
Aspiring chefs, we cooked up a special batch of scholarships just for you! Here at Scholarships360, we have a special place for those of you enjoy cooking and baking! If you are seeking a culinary, restaurant management, or hospitality degree, the following scholarships are an excellent opportunity to help fund your education. Four of the scholarships are open to graduating high school seniors. There are a variety of requirements for each of the scholarships, so give yourself enough time to look them over! Julia Child once said, “Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” These scholarships will help you pursue those interests, whether they are in the kitchen, restaurant, or hotel.
Jump ahead to:
- Top culinary scholarships
- Summary of scholarships
- Upcoming scholarships
- Explore these other scholarship categories
Below you will learn more about scholarship eligibility, deadlines, and award amounts for these tasty scholarships!
Top culinary scholarships in 2022
Chef John Patrick Thompson Culinary Arts Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors planning to attend culinary school or pursue a culinary-related degree
- Amount: $1,500
- Deadline: March 31, 2022
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Scholarships
- Eligibility: Enrolled or accepted as a full time or part-time student majoring in a restaurant or foodservice-related program
- Amount: $2,500 to $10,000
- Deadline: March 15, 2022
ACFEF Scholarships
- Eligibility: High school seniors accepted to college, undergraduate and graduate majoring in culinary education
- Amount: $1,500 to $2,500
- Deadline: April 30th and October 31st of each year
TigerChef.com Culinary and Hospitality Scholarship Program
- Eligibility: U.S. and Canadian students taking food-related classes
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: May 15th and November 15th of each year
GoFoodservice Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to high school and current college students enrolling or enrolled in a culinary arts or hospitality management program as full or part-time students
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: June 15, 2022
Johnson and Wales University Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors majoring in Culinary or Pastry Arts at Johnson and Wales
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: December 1 of each year
Culinary Institute of America Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors majoring in Culinary or Pastry Arts at the Culinary Institute of America in NYC
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: Varies
Food Dreams Scholarship
- Eligibility: Pell-eligible high school graduates interested in Culinary Arts
- Amount: Varies, up to full tuition, including a one year externship
- Deadline: Rolling
Frequently asked questions about culinary scholarships
Is culinary school cheaper than college?
Culinary school is typically cheaper than college, but costs can vary widely for both college and culinary school. For example, as of 2022, New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute charges about $16,400. This is significantly less than most undergraduate college programs. However, you can find culinary schools that are both cheaper and more expensive than this price. Furthermore, it should be noted that their quoted price does not include housing.
Can you get a scholarship for cooking if you don’t go to culinary school?
Yes! For example, the TigerChef.com scholarship is for any students taking food-related courses. So, this could include classes such as Sociology of Food. It could also include students who take cooking courses but do not plan on going to culinary school. This is not the only cooking-related scholarship that does not require a culinary major. Check out some of the other options on our list for more cooking scholarships.
Can I use the Pell Grant for culinary school?
Yes, you can! Accredited culinary schools count as qualifying undergraduate institutions, so as long as you have not already used up your Pell Grant funds on a Bachelor’s, you can use Pell Grant money for culinary school. Just remember, you will need to qualify for the Pell Grant through economic need, by filling out the FAFSA.
Is culinary school considered college?
Some culinary schools offer bachelor’s degrees, while others offer certificates, and so might be considered more of a trade school. The answer to this question varies based on which school you attend and how long you spend in school. To read more about the differences between these different types of degrees, check out our article on different types of undergraduate degrees.
Summary of scholarships
- Chef John Patrick Thompson Culinary Arts Scholarship
- National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Scholarships
- ACFEF Scholarships
- TigerChef.com Culinary and Hospitality Scholarship Program
- GoFoodservice Scholarship
- Johnson and Wales University Scholarship
- Culinary Institute of America Scholarship
- Food Dreams Scholarship
Upcoming culinary scholarships
“Cooking with Gas” Culinary Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to high school and undergraduate students pursuing a culinary career or are passionate about cooking
- Amount: $5,00
James Beard Foundation Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors, college students, and experienced culinary workers. There are multiple categories and niche awards that are geographically and/or culinary specific
- Amount: Awards range from $1,000 to $20,000
- Opens: February 2022
Sugar Spun Scholarship
- Eligibility: Incoming freshmen, transfer students, undergraduate, and graduate students
- Amount: $500
