An education from a culinary arts school is equivalent to getting a college degree. Culinary schools offer associate and bachelor degree programs. Many schools offer certificate programs in one area such as pastry. Potential students need to have a high-school education or GED before they apply.

If your interest in culinary classes is for personal use you have only to worry which one to choose. If you want a career in culinary arts, a culinary degree will be very helpful to you. Do you want a career as a baker or chef or caterer? Or is your interest hospitality management or to be a sommelier? If you want to attend a school of the culinary arts keep in mind these factors.

1. Accredited schools and programs count for a lot in a culinary career. Make sure the school or program you attend is accredited. Also, schools should offer career services for their grads.

2. A prestigious chef school is expensive but usually has financial aid options. The top-rated schools gained their reputations because of high levels of excellence in teachers, range of courses, number of its kitchens, and success of their alumni.

3. Making the choice of what area you wish to work in--food preparation, baking, management, wine and beverages--will aid you in choosing a school.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose the right culinary arts school for you

There are approximately 100 accredited cooking schools in the U.S. that offer associate, bachelor and certificate programs. You want to choose the best culinary school for you; but where do you begin? Is location a factor? Do you want to be a chef or caterer? How do you judge the quality of a culinary school or program?

I recommend: All Culinary Schools lists accredited culinary schools in the U.S. by location. CulinarySchools.com helps you get started in your search with a where-do-I-start list. The Institute of Culinary Education lists the qualities of a good culinary school.

Decide which culinary classes you want to study

Do you want to study French cuisine or Italian cuisine? Or some of both? Or are you interested in studying hospitality management?

I recommend: Le Cordon Bleu College of the Culinary Arts (Miami) teaches French and American cuisine. There are many Cordon Bleu colleges and Cordon Bleu programs throughout the U.S. The Connecticut Culinary Institute offers an advanced program in Italian cooking. Kendall College offers a school of culinary arts and a school of hospitality management.

Try the food at the culinary schools' student-run restaurants

Not all schools have student-run restaurants but many do. Take the opportunity to dine at a student-run restaurant. Some restaurants are formal others casual; most require reservations.

I recommend: The Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia has four student-restaurants on a beautiful campus. The Scottsdale Culinary Institute is home to the award-winning L'Ecole Restaurant. The Art Institute of California-Orange County - is home to 50 Forks restaurant.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  It is a good idea to work in a restaurant before you apply to a culinary school. It will look good on your application. More importantly, restaurant work is hard work with an average 10-hour day. This is your opportunity to find out if this is the right career for you.