Is Culinary School Worth It?

Copper & Heat

Is culinary school worth the investment in terms of money and time?

This is a question posed by hundreds of thousands of people as they enter the culinary field. Is it worth spending the money to go to culinary school when I can just work my way up in the industry?

Culinary schools have long been more of a trade school to train potential cooks in the culinary field. However, in the ‘90s, the Culinary Institute of America put in a concerted effort to professionalize the career of chef, and therefore give more value to their school, by educating their students on more than just technical skills.

But as the systemic and cultural pitfalls of the restaurant industry have become more apparent in recent years, people are leaving the industry in droves, and even fewer are looking to enter. So as more culinary schools close their doors, how do educational institutions answer the question - is culinary school worth it?

Guests:

Krishnendu Ray

His book | His faculty bio

Beth Forrest

Her faculty bio

Hanalei Souza

Her website | Instagram | Her book

Annika Altura

Instagram

Kiah Fuller

Her website | Instagram

Resources:

To read more about what we talked about in this episode:

• Pros & Cons & Thoughts: Is Going to Culinary School Worth It?
• A Fast, Frugal Track to a Cook’s Career? Community College
• Culinary school enrollment drops even as need soars at restaurants
• Does Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan Extend to Culinary School Students?
• Three Charts That Show Why Culinary School Is Not Worth It
• Is Culinary School Still Worth It? Four Chefs Weigh In
• Culinary School: The Pros and Cons of Culinary Education