Culinary arts students enter a useful and interesting profession, but the road to this particular career is undeniably difficult. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage-and-salary earnings of restaurant cooks was $38,770 in 2008 but some reported earning less than $22,120 — barely a living wage, depending upon where you live. As you may have guessed, this means that culinary arts students are much more likely to default on student loans than students with higher-paying majors.
While average wages may make paying for an education tough for culinary arts students, things will certainly be easier for those without hefty loans to worry about. Students in need of additional financial aid for their education should seriously consider applying for culinary scholarships. By concentrating on awards especially made for chefs in the making, students can eliminate a great deal of the competition.
Sites like the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and Le Cordon Bleu are very helpful to potential and current students but to find culinary scholarships as well as other scholarships and grants you may be eligible to receive based on different criteria, try conducting a free college scholarship search at Scholarships.com. The road to making a good living in this career may be tough, but getting through school will bring you one step closer.
The American Culinary Federation Education Foundation, with the support of the American Academy of Chefs, will award a limited number of scholarships annually, based on the availability of institutional and private funds. To be considered by the scholarship committee, an application must meet the following requirements: -Be an exemplary student -Have or maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or [...] More
This scholarship is for any student pursuing an education in a restaurant, food-service, or hospitality related major who has an entrepreneurial spirit, a minimum 3.0 GPA and attending one of the following schools: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Cornell University, Culinary Institute of America, DePaul University, Johnson & Wales University, Kendall College, Lynn University, [...] More
Since 1993, Cancer for College has provided hope and inspiration to cancer survivors in the form of college scholarships. Applicants are not discriminated against based on sex, race or religious belief. Community college applicants are eligible for the minimum scholarship level. All remaining applicants will be eligible for other one-time awards. Awards range from $1,000-$5,000. Scholarship [...] More
Undergraduate and graduate scholarships are available for California African-American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian American, Pacific Islander or Latino/Hispanic students expressing financial need to study nutrition, physical education or culinary arts in the state of California. By providing undergraduate and graduate scholarships, CANFIT hopes to encourage more students to consider [...] More
The Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) Scholarships are awarded to incoming students who participated in C-CAP's competition events; eligible students must have a minimum combined score of 1030 on SAT math and reading sections (or 22 on ACT composite). All finalists are selected by C-CAP and the scholarships are renewable for up to 4 years so long as recipients maintain a 2.75 GPA. For [...] More
The Clark E. DeHaven Scholarship is intended to provide financial support to students who demonstrate a commitment to a foodservice career. Applicants must be currently enrolled in an accredited program that will lead to an undergraduate degree in a field of study designed to prepare students for careers in food service, or related areas. Students must also have a minimum 2.75 GPA.
The Hungry To Lead scholarship was initiated in 2014 in an effort to provide financial assistance to future leaders in the foodservice and hospitality industry. Since 2014, 10 scholarships have been awarded topping $17,000 in awards! There are two scholarships available for the coming academic school year. Two finalists will be awarded scholarships: First place is the Hungry To Lead Scholarship, [...] More
In 1988, Hyatt established this fund to provide financial aid to minority students pursuing a degree in hotel management. Eligible students must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours for the upcoming fall and spring semesters, or just the fall semester if graduating in December. Applicants must be pursuing a baccalaureate hospitality management major in a U.S. college or university and be at [...] More
The Franchise Education and Research Foundation and the Marriott Foundation have collaborated to sponsor this scholarship award. A competitive one-time award will be presented annually. Additionally, the individual selected will be invited to the International Franchise Association's (IFA) Annual Convention and will receive a travel stipend (up to $1,500) to attend. To be eligible for this [...] More
Since its inception, the IRA Educational Foundation has awarded almost $2.5 million to deserving students pursuing Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management in college. To qualify for a scholarship, you must be a permanent resident of the State of Illinois (under the age of 30); be accepted and plan to enroll in an accredited culinary school, college, or university; be enrolled as a full-time or [...] More
The JWU ProStart Scholarship is awarded to accepted incoming students who participated in a ProStart curriculum. This award is renewable up to four years and can be used at all campuses. The amount of scholarships awarded for participation in specific high school curricula is limited to one per student.
For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's [...] More
The Colorado Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier offers two $1,000 scholarships, available to qualified female students who are enrolled or planning to enroll in an applicable program in the upcoming fall. Applicants must have a focus in a food-related industry (such as culinary, food science, dietetics, nutrition, beverage and fermentation, hospitality and restaurant management, animal science, [...] More
The National Candy Technologists Scholarship is $5,000, paid in two $2,500 installments. To qualify, the student must be either a college sophomore, junior or senior for the upcoming academic year, have a demonstrated interest in confectionery technology, and be majoring in food science, chemical science, biological science or related area. A minimum 3.0 GPA is also required. For more information [...] More
The Nellie Martin Carman Scholarship is available to graduating seniors from public high schools in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties in Washington state. Application forms are only available through these high schools and candidates for the scholarship are nominated by their school each year. Scholarships are renewable for four years of college in the state of Washington. Music, sculpture, [...] More
NEWH, Inc. and its chapters are tasked with fundraising to provide scholarship dollars for eligible students wishing to enter the Hospitality Industry. NEWH Chapters offer scholarships annually. All applicants must be a currently enrolled student attending an accredited college in: Arkansas, Louisiana or Southern Texas; have completed half the requirements for a degree or certification in the [...] More
NEWH New England Regional Group is offering a scholarship to a student pursuing a career affiliated in the hospitality industry. The selected scholarship recipient will be awarded during the New England Region NEWH Holiday Event.
Eligibility: -Must be a currently enrolled student attending an accredited college in: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire or Massachusetts -Must have completed half [...] More
NEWH, Inc. and its chapters are tasked with fundraising to provide scholarship dollars for eligible students wishing to enter the Hospitality Industry. NEWH Chapters offer scholarships annually.
Eligibility: -You must be attending an accredited institution of higher learning -You must have completed one-half of the requirements for a degree or certification in the program which you are [...] More
NEWH, Inc. and its chapters are tasked with fundraising to provide scholarship dollars for eligible students wishing to enter the hospitality industry. In order to apply for the NEWH Orange County Region Scholarship, you must be a currently enrolled student attending an accredited college in - Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County, San Diego, Imperial County and Hawaii; have [...] More
NEWH, Inc. and its chapters are tasked with fundraising to provide scholarship dollars for eligible students wishing to enter the Hospitality Industry. NEWH Chapters offer scholarships annually.
Eligibility: -Currently enrolled at an accredited college/university in Colorado, Wyoming, or Nebraska -Completed at least half of the degree requirements -Demonstrate financial need and have [...] More
South Dakota Retailer Association's (SDRA) Jerry Wheeler Scholarship program is designed to encourage and support students studying for a career in retailing. To be eligible, the applicant must be enrolled in or planning to enroll in a retail-related course of study at a technical school, college or university, or other trade schools in the fall of the application year. Students must meet one of [...] More
The American Express Scholarship program is designed specifically for current lodging employees and their dependents. Students must be enrolled full- or part-time in an undergraduate hospitality management program at a U.S. college or university. Additionally, applicants must either be working a minimum of 20 hours per week at an AH&LA member hotel with at least 12 months' hotel experience, or be [...] More
This program was established by Ecolab in 1996 as a commitment to the lodging industry and to support the development of its future leaders. Eligible applicants must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours for both the upcoming fall and spring semesters and be an undergraduate hospitality management major at a U.S. college or university (associate or baccalaureate). Awards are $1,000 for [...] More
The Russ Casey / Maine Restaurant Associates Scholarship Fund was established to promote careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry in Maine. This scholarship honors the integrity and memory of Russell Casey, a beloved and extraordinary employee of the Jordan's Foods Corporation.
Any student who is a resident of Maine and is, or will be attending an institution of higher education in [...] More
Due to the generosity of an anonymous donor, The Vegetarian Resource Group each year will award $20,000 in college scholarship money to graduating U.S. high school students who have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and/or communities. Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or fowl. Vegans are vegetarians who do not use other animal products such as dairy or eggs. Entries may only be sent by [...] More
The Women Grocers of America (WGA) is pleased to assist the National Grocers Association (NGA) in its pursuit to recruit and retain the next generation of quality managers and entrepreneurs. We offer academic scholarships worth $1,500 each to students who intend to pursue a career in the independent sector of the grocery industry. Applicants must be independent grocery retailers and wholesalers, [...] More
The Wisconsin Bakers Association’s education committee submitted recommendations to the Board of Governors on Oct. 24, 1983, to implement the WBA Scholarship Program. The first scholarship awards were later presented in 1984. Since then, the WBA has awarded more than $25,000 in WBA Scholarships! If you are a student who wants to take commercial baking courses you may be eligible for a WBA [...] More
A blind New York resident is suing 50 colleges nationwide over the accessibility of their websites. According to Jason Camacho, the "colleges are in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as their websites are not accessible to people with disabilities." This is not the first time Camacho has sued higher education institutions over website accessibility. [...]
In a letter to the influential ranker of colleges, U.S. News & World Report, a group of Democratic senators urged them to use their "influential platform" to overhaul their college ranking formula by giving more weight to institutions that open their doors to students from underrepresented backgrounds when ranking schools. [...]
Despite being voted the top choice for a fast-food restaurant last year at the college, Chick-fil-A will no longer be a restaurant franchise option at Rider University "based on the company's record widely perceived to be in opposition to the LGBTQ+ community." The decision to remove Chick-fil-A as a new restaurant franchise option "required a difficult assessment of competing interests." [...]
