1. The Culinary Institute of America (CIA)
This is the other CIA, the non-spy one. The 60-year-old Culinary Institute of America is one of the most prestigious culinary schools in the United States, with branches in Hyde Park, New York, and St. Helena in California's Napa Valley. The school offers bachelor’s and AA degrees in culinary arts management and pastry arts management. And its 40,000 alumni include White House chefs, Food Network stars, the head of the Chipotle chain, and the executive chef of the former <i>Gourmet</i> magazine. The Hyde Park facility boasts 41 kitchens and bakeries, five restaurants and an enormous food-related library. The Napa Valley campus has six cooking and baking "suites" and an upscale restaurant. In 2009-10, tuition was around $28,000.
2. Le Cordon Bleu
The story behind the revered Le Cordon Bleu culinary program dates back to 1578, when France began awarding its Order of the Holy Spirit, an honor accompanied by a blue ribbon or Cordon Bleu. The fabulous dinners that accompanied the awards ceremony became famous, and gave rise to an actual Le Cordon Bleu culinary academy, which opened in Paris in 1895. In addition to the Parisian school, where Julia Child studied, there are Cordon Bleu-accredited schools in Japan, Canada, Australia, and Korea, plus 15 in the United States alone. Tuition varies from campus to campus.3. Johnson & Wales University
This university, whose four branches include campuses in Denver, Colorado and Providence, Rhode Island, is renowned for its culinary arts, hospitality and restaurant management degrees, as well as degree programs in education and technology. The four-year university mixes academics and practical skills with work experience. Tuition: $23,000 a year.4. ICC: School of Italian Studies
Formerly known as the Italian Culinary Academy, this New York-based, Italian-focused cooking school is housed in the International Culinary Center, which also hosts the French Culinary Institute. The 29-week course includes Italian language classes and a restaurant internship, as well as culinary training in New York City and Parma, Italy. Tuition: $37,500.
