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Culinary Scholarships

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.

For this reason, these students should be reaching out for additional types of financial aid, namely culinary scholarships and grants. Many scholarship awards are available for those who do the research.

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.

AAC Culinary Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $2,500
  • 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. Applicant must be an exemplary student with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher and be currently accepted to an accredited, post-secondary college, with a major in either culinary [...] More

Cancer for College Leonard Family Entrepreneurial Spirit Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 1/31/2020
  • Amount: $5,000
  • 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 are typically $5,000. Scholarship [...] More

Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: Varies
  • 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

Hungry To Lead Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 7/1/2020
  • Amount: $2,500
  • 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

Hyatt Hotels Fund for Minority Lodging Management Students

  • Application Deadline: 4/15/2020
  • Amount: $3,000
  • 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

IFA Foundation Scholarship - Marriott Foundation

  • Application Deadline: 10/31/2019
  • Amount: $1,500
  • The IFA 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 one-time award, each applicant [...] More

Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 5/21/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • Since its inception, the IRA Educational Foundation has awarded almost $2.8 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

JWU ProStart Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $1,000
  • 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

National Candy Technologists Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/2/2020
  • Amount: $5,000
  • 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

Nellie Martin Carman Scholarship Fund

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2020
  • Amount: $2,000
  • 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

The American Express Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 5/1/2020
  • Amount: $2,000
  • 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

The Ecolab Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/15/2020
  • Amount: $2,000
  • 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 Vegetarian Resource Group College Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/20/2020
  • Amount: $10,000
  • 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

WGA Mary Macey Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 6/15/2020
  • Amount: $1,500
  • 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

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Last Reviewed: September 2019

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