Home > Financial Aid > College Scholarships > Scholarships by Major > Culinary Scholarships

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

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

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

Latest College & Financial Aid News

Proposed Pell Grant Expansion for Short-Term Training Programs

July 9, 2019

by Susan Dutca-Lovell

Lawmakers are considering extending Pell Grants to people who pursue short-term training in order to land better jobs, faster. Federal student aid in the form of Pell Grants can currently be used for college degrees and qualifying certificate programs. [...]

3 Women Charged in $1M Student Financial Aid Fraud

July 2, 2019

by Susan Dutca-Lovell

Three San Bernardino County women who have been accused of stealing $1 million in federal financial aid from Fullerton college, in California, have been arrested by the U.S. Justice Department and are charged with various counts of mail and wire fraud. The scheme involved enrolling hundreds of mainly non-existent students, successfully applying for grants and loans and pocketing the money. [...]

Patriotic Scholarships that Celebrate America

June 27, 2019

by Susan Dutca-Lovell

Nothing says 'Merica like these Patriotic Scholarships as we approach Independence Day and remember how, in America, education is a great equalizer. Whether you are an American citizen searching for college scholarships or are studying abroad in the USA, these American-themed scholarships are for those who truly believe in the American dream. In the land of the free, we have plenty of free college scholarships to help you achieve your higher education dreams. [...]

Last Reviewed: July 2019

More