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Affordable culinary schools in the US for international students
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10 Oct 2024
Culinary school doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, there are many affordable options out there — and they come in the form of a community college education.
Despite their reputation for being second-rate, community colleges are working to develop an education in the culinary arts that rivals prestigious, private US culinary schools.
Plus, going to one of the “better” or more well-known school doesn’t even guarantee you a job in the market — graduates of even the most prestigious culinary schools earn only between 2% to 11% more than chefs with high school diplomas.
International students considering a community college education certainly have more options available to them — and, most importantly, US culinary schools that don’t cost a fortune to attend. Here are some of our top picks:
Restaurants in the US are facing a shortage of capable, competent staff, and many turn to community colleges in their hiring process. Source: AFP
Affordable US culinary schools for international students
Butler Community College
Butler Community College offers both a two-year degree or nine-month certificate, giving you full flexibility to tailor your education around your future career goals.
Learn the history and fundamental techniques of the professional kitchen; analyse ingredients and use taught techniques to maximise their flavour; prepare stocks, butcher meats, bake classic French pastries, and more. Here, you’ll be given all the preparation you need to progress onto the next stage of your culinary career.
Yearly tuition for 30-credit courses at Butler Community College typically costs around US$5,700 — a relatively low price for an education in the culinary field. A number of scholarships are available for students across a variety of categories as well.
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Sussex County Community College
At Sussex County Community College, you’ll receive an education that’s tailored to the needs of the local community — giving you a high chance of finding employment as soon as you graduate. To boost this, you’ll be given training on the technical and management skills required to work in restaurants and food service operations, as well as opportunities to work in real-world environments.
The two-year programme is designed to support your journey into the culinary world, with advisors and practising instructors there to guide you the entire way. On top of that, it may cost you as low as US$6,016 for your degree, and if you’re struggling with your fees, you can opt for a list of scholarship options that support Sussex students in their education every year.
University of Hawaii Maui College
At the University of Hawaii Maui College, students are grounded in the foundational skills of the culinary world in two speciality areas: Culinary Arts and Baking. This two-year programme is competency-based, focusing on the skills, knowledge, and attitudes you’d need to succeed in the hospitality industry.
On top of that, its Culinary Arts programme is fully accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC), speaking for its quality and standards of education at a lower price.
The estimated overall cost of the programme for the culinary arts degree is US$8,810.50, and the baking degree costs US$10,125. Additional costs not included are the book cost at US$1,600 and the cost of uniforms, knives, and supplies at US$585.
Alvin Community College
Located in Texas, Alvin Community College offers both degree and certificate options for its culinary programmes. Here, you’ll be prepared for a wide variety of entry-level positions in the food service industry, learning the core of culinary arts courses that develop cooking skills and provide instruction in purchasing, cost control, sanitation, nutrition, and supervision.
Plus, to help you hone a diverse set of skills outside the kitchen, you’ll also dabble in business, computer, and liberal arts courses to prepare you for a successful career as a culinary professional.
A 13-credit semester will cost approximately US$2,366 for international students, and the full degree here will total to around US$11,005.
Durham Technical Community College
Based in North Carolina, Durham Technical Community College‘s culinary arts programme provides specific training required to prepare students to assume positions as trained culinary professionals in a variety of settings. This includes full-service restaurants, hotels, resorts, clubs, catering operations, and healthcare facilities.
Better yet, graduating from the programme may even score you an American Culinary Federation certification.
The estimated cost of tuition here is US$7,103 — though it may differ slightly for international students.
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Delaware Technical Community College
If a career as a baker, pastry chef, executive chef, food service manager, kitchen manager, or line cook speaks to you, Delaware Techincal Community College will equip you with the skills you need.
The two-year culinary arts programme here teaches innovative trends in the food service industry while providing an atmosphere for learning that encourages growth, teamwork, and diversity. Classes are a combination of classroom lectures and hands-on cooking, so you’ll be ready to join the professional kitchens effortlessly.
Tuition fees here come up to around US$16,012.50 — which might sound expensive but is still relatively affordable compared to the larger institutions around.
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on October 10, 2024.
