How To Become a Sous Chef: 10 Best Culinary Schools in America

Have you been working in a commercial kitchen for a while now but are still stuck in an entry-level cooking position? Are you interested in climbing the kitchen ranks and reaching the respectable Sous Chef position?

In this article, we discuss the best way to become a Sous Chef — by enrolling in a culinary school.

Most places want Sous Chefs with at least five years of experience working in a professional kitchen and 50 hours of culinary education credits. These credits can be acquired by getting an associate’s or a higher-level degree.

While you can become a Sous Chef without attending a culinary school, finishing one will increase your chances of being hired or promoted.

Please note that the prices provided are general estimates from the respective school websites. For more accurate fees, kindly contact the schools directly.

10 Best Culinary Schools in the U.S.

We list the 10 best culinary schools in the country and discuss their programs. We’ve also included information such as where they’re located, what they teach, how much they cost and how long it takes to finish them.

1. Culinary Institute of America

[source: Culinary Institute of America]

The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) is a world-renowned institution. It has campuses in New York, California and Texas.

CIA offers a large range of programs for aspiring Chefs that cover all aspects of culinary arts, including wine and beverage studies, culinary science, hospitality management, food studies and sustainability, baking and pastry arts.

The cost of admission will depend on the type of program you decide to enroll in. However, you can expect to pay anywhere from $17,790 for the Online Bachelor’s Course (only for CIA alumni), up to $21,660 per semester for their associate and bachelor’s degree programs on the New York Campus.

If you qualify, you can get a scholarship or grant through the New York, California and Texas campuses. In fact, 90% of the students receive some type of scholarship or financial aid.

The length of the associate’s programs lasts two years, whereas the length of the bachelor’s programs lasts four years.

2. Institute of Culinary Education

[source: Institute of Culinary Education]

The Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) is another world-renowned school with locations in New York and Los Angeles.

The ICE offers programs in culinary arts, pastry and baking arts, plant-based culinary arts, restaurant and culinary management and hospitality and hotel management.

Additionally, they offer online programs in culinary arts and food operations, plant-based culinary arts and food operations, as well as courses for aspiring Sommeliers, wine and beverage studies, artisan bread baking and cake decorating.

Admission costs for the Institute of Culinary Education will cost you anywhere between $39,000 and $43,250 in tuition and fees for an eight to twelve-month program. You can check out the tuition costs for different programs on the ICE tuition fees page.

However, just like the Culinary Institute of America, the ICE offers financial aid to help you finance your tuition.

3. Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts

[source: Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts]

The Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts gets its name from legendary French Chef Georges Auguste Escoffier, nicknamed The King of Chefs and Chef of Kings. He is the one who came up with the “brigade de cuisine” system that’s still used in professional kitchens today.

This school is one of the more affordable ones. It puts an emphasis on the farm-to-table experience and commitment to sustainability. The Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts has two campuses: one in Austin, Texas and another in Boulder, Colorado.

Some of their programs include:

Culinary Arts
Baking and Pastry Arts
Food Entrepreneurship
Holistic Nutrition and Wellness
Hospitality and Restaurant Organization and Management
Plant-Based Programs

Acquiring a Diploma in Culinary Arts and Operations will cost you $23,297. On the other hand, an Associate of Occupational Studies Degree in Culinary Arts will cost you $35,170.

However, the school offers an average net price of $11,554 in grant and scholarship aid.

The associate programs last for two years, while acquiring a bachelor’s degree will take you four years.

4. College of Hospitality Studies – Sullivan University

[source: Sullivan University]

The Sullivan University National Center for Hospitality Studies has locations in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky. This school offers a comprehensive range of culinary programs that aim to prepare students for success in the culinary industry.

They offer courses and programs of various lengths. For example, their Culinary Arts program lasts up to 12 months, providing a quick approach to getting an entry-level position in the culinary industry.

On the other hand, you can become a Baker or a Cook by getting a diploma from their Professional Cook and Professional Baker programs that last 9 to 18 months.

Some of the other hospitality-related programs they provide that may interest an aspiring Sous Chef like yourself include:

The cost of admission will depend on which program you want to enroll in. For example, the basic Culinary Arts program will cost you $15,960, whereas a Culinary Arts A.S. program will cost you $53,580.

Check out the list of tuition costs for different programs. Like other culinary schools on this list, Sullivan University also provides loans and grants, as well as scholarships for qualified students.

5. Kendall College – National Louis University

[source: Kendall College – National Louis University]

Kendall College is Chicago’s top hospitality management and culinary arts school. It features state-of-the-art commercial kitchens, a student-run restaurant and cafe and guidance from professional Chefs.

This makes it the premier destination for aspiring Chefs, Bakers, Hotel Managers and tourism professionals.

They offer various programs for aspiring Chefs and established Chefs who want to advance their culinary careers. Some of these programs include:

The tuition cost for attending the Kendall College Culinary and Baking & Pastry programs will cost $35,744 per year. However, the Kendall Opportunity Grant reduces tuition for Culinary Arts students by up to 25%.

Additionally, you can get a scholarship from the National Louis University to make tuition even more affordable.

6. Louisiana Culinary Institute

[source: Louisiana Culinary Institute]

The Louisiana Culinary Institute (LCI) is a premier culinary school located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It gained widespread popularity after The Cooking Channel hosted a series of “The Freshman Class,” which followed four freshmen through their studies at LCI.

LCI is a two-year college offering associate degrees in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry and Hospitality and Culinary Management. All of their programs are designed to be completed in 16 months.

The Associate of Occupational Studies in Culinary Arts program will cost you $36,100 if completed within time. Meanwhile, the Associate of Occupational Studies in Hospitality and Culinary Management program will cost you $31,825.

The Louisiana Culinary Institute offers numerous scholarships and financial aid for aspiring students, so make sure to check if you’re eligible for one.

7. Johnson & Wales University

[source: Johnson & Wales University]

Johnson & Wales University is a private university with campuses in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina. Some of their programs can even be followed online. Here’s a full list of Johnson & Wales University’s programs.

Some of the programs relevant for Sous Chefs are the following:

The cost of attending a program at Johnson & Wales University is $41,782 per academic year. Of course, you can apply for scholarships and grants. In fact, according to the university, 97% of on-campus students receive some type of scholarship or grant.

8. Walnut Hill College

[source: Walnut Hill College]

Formerly known as The Restaurant School, Walnut Hill College is a private college located in Philadelphia. The school offers degrees in culinary arts, pastry arts, restaurant and hotel management and is focused on fine dining and luxury hospitality.

The cost of attending Walnut Hill College will depend on the type of program you choose. Here’s how much their programs cost:

AS in Culinary Arts – $45,800 for tuition; $795 for books and supplies
BS in Culinary Arts – $91,760 for tuition; $782 for books and supplies
AS in Pastry Arts – $45,980 for tuition; $781 for books and supplies
BS in Baking and Pastry Arts – $81,760 for tuition and fees; $782 for books and supplies
AS in Restaurant Management – $45,980 for tuition; $782 for books and supplies
BS in Restaurant/Food Services Management – $91,760 for tuition and fees; $782 for books and supplies
Hotel/Motel Administration Management – $45,800 for tuition and fees; $795 for books and supplies

The Walnut Hill College offers scholarship competitions and summer programs for high school students interested in studying culinary arts.

You can also apply for financial aid when enrolling in their AS/BS programs.

9. Culinary Institute LeNotre

[source: Culinary Institute LeNotre]

The Culinary Institute LeNotre is located in Houston, Texas. It’s considered one of the top culinary schools in America, with about 94% of graduates finding jobs even before graduation.

LeNotre’s program consists of five courses and seven electives with studies in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry Arts and Hospitality and Restaurant Management. They offer a hybrid way of education, combining online lessons and in-person labs for flexibility and efficiency.

The cost of attending LeNotre depends on different factors. You can calculate the estimated costs here. Based on College Confidential, however, the tuition and expenses for the 2023 year were $11,373.

Like all other culinary schools on the list, you can apply for scholarship programs and financial aid.

10. White Mountains Community College

[source: White Mountains Community College]

White Mountains Community College is located in Berlin, New Hampshire. It offers Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry Arts programs for aspiring Sous Chefs.

The tuition cost for attending the Culinary Arts program is $20,257, whereas the cost for attending the Baking and Pastry Arts program is $20,362.

When compared to other programs on the list, these programs are on the more affordable side, especially when you consider the fact that you can take advantage of their scholarship programs, grants and financial aid services.

Is Attending a Culinary School Necessary To Become a Sous Chef?

The short answer is — no. However, finishing a program and acquiring a degree or diploma from one of the aforementioned schools will make you a stronger candidate when applying for Sous Chef jobs.

If you’re already working as a Chef in a restaurant, chances are you’ll eventually be up for promotion if you work at the same place for long enough.

Most restaurants are willing to promote loyal and experienced people to a more managerial Chef role (such as Sous Chef), as long as they’ve shown competence and willingness to advance.

However, if you have no previous experience working in a professional kitchen, you might have to start by working as a Dishwasher or a Prep Cook, before you can advance to a full-time Cook, then Line Cook and finally, Sous Chef.

Frequently Asked Questions on How To Become a Sous Chef

It depends. On average, you can hope to become a Sous Chef after about five years of working at the same place if you start as a Cook with some kitchen experience.

Most places will require their Sous Chefs to have some formal education and training from the aforementioned programs to make sure they’re knowledgeable of menu planning, flavors, textures and kitchen staff management.

So if you take the two to four years of school into account, plus a few years of experience working in a professional restaurant kitchen, you can expect to reach the Sous Chef role in anywhere between five and eight years.

Every restaurant can have different qualification requirements for the Sous Chef role. However, most places require their Sous Chefs to hold at least:

an associate’s degree in culinary arts
a ServSafe certificate for kitchen safety and sanitation
three to six months of training in every area of the kitchen

On top of these qualifications for Sous Chefs, you’ll probably need to prove yourself as a strong communicator and leader, display problem-solving skills and even strong menu planning and organizational skills.

The average base salary for Sous Chefs in the U.S. is $56,013 per year. Sous Chefs working in the District of Columbia, Washington and California command the highest average salaries: $63,015, $62,578 and $61,531, respectively. Find out more about how much Sous Chefs make here.