Aspiring chefs, we cooked up a special batch of scholarships just for you! If you are seeking a culinary, restaurant management, or hospitality degree, the following culinary scholarships are an excellent opportunity to help fund your education.
Julia Child once said, “Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” These culinary scholarships will help you pursue those interests, whether they are in the kitchen, restaurant, or hotel.
Jump ahead to…
- How to win culinary scholarships
- Resources for culinary students
- Frequently asked questions
- Additional scholarship lists to explore
How to win culinary scholarships
Now that you’ve got a list of great culinary scholarships, it’s time to start applying! Writing effective essays is one of the best ways to stand out from the pack in your applications. We can help you through this process with our guides on how to start a scholarship essay, how to write a winning scholarship essay, and how to respond to “Why do you deserve this scholarship?” prompts. Here are a few more guides worth checking out:
Resources for culinary students
American Culinary Federation
The ACF is a nationwide network of culinary workers offering special benefits and discounts to student members. In addition to access to their summits and conferences, you’ll get access to discounts for a variety of products and services that prove useful to those in the culinary profession. You can even join the Young Chefs Club to meet other aspiring chefs around the country!
USDA Food Service Organizations Hub
This list of resources from the US Department of Agriculture includes organizations geared towards individuals in any subsection of the culinary sector. Check it out today to see which of the posted opportunities suits you!
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, some students taking food-related courses qualify for culinary scholarships. 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. 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.
Additional scholarship lists to explore
- Top no-essay scholarships
- Top scholarships for high school seniors
- Easy scholarships to apply for
- Top scholarships for Black students
- Top scholarships for women
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