Our Opportunities

Welcome to $hef!

Welcome to the scholarship website for enrolled and incoming students at The Culinary Institute of America.
Most scholarships require students to have a FAFSA for the current academic year. You can file the FAFSA here.

When Scholarships are Posted:

We post 50-70 scholarship opportunities each semester.
Scholarships for the following semesters will be accepting applications between the corresponding date range:

  • Fall 2025: April 21, 2025 – June 2, 2025
  • Spring 2026: August 11, 2025 – October 6, 2025
  • Summer 2026: December 22, 2025 – February 2, 2026

How to Apply for Scholarships:

  • To apply for any $hef scholarship, complete your incoming student deposit.
  • Your deposit will automatically create a general application, allowing you to sign in and apply for scholarships the following day.
  • Upon signing in, you will be brought to the “Recommended Opportunities” page which lists scholarships you likely qualify for.
  • To apply, click the scholarship’s name and review the description. Then, click the orange “Apply” button at the bottom.

Checking Your Scholarship Application Status:
View your application status anytime by visiting the My Applications page after logging in.

  • Submitted = Applications are still being reviewed.
  • Offered = You have been selected for the scholarship.
  • Not Selected = You were not selected for the scholarship.

You will only receive an email if you are selected for a scholarship.
Most scholarships will be awarded within 3-4 weeks of the scholarship’s deadline, but some may take longer.

External Scholarships:
Additional scholarships from outside organizations are posted on the External Scholarships page throughout the year.
To acess the external scholarships, hover or click on the “Opportunities” tab and click “External”. These scholarships are not managed or funded by the CIA.

Helpful Resources:

Scholarship Essay Checklist
Recipe Scholarship Tips
File the FAFSA
Learn More About $hef

Questions?
For questions about the Earn and Learn program: studentworkprograms@culinary.edu
For all other scholarship-related questions: $hef@culinary.edu

Opportunities Table
Award Name Actions
$5,000 Arlyn Asch Memorial Scholarship
Students who meet the following criteria may apply: U.S Citizen or...
Deadline03/31/2025
$1,000 Chaine des Rotisseurs Scholarship
This is an opportunity for students only at the San Antonio and...
Deadline03/31/2025
Six awards of at least $3,000 Jones Dairy Farm San Antonio Endowed Scholarship
San Antonio students who meet the following criteria may apply: Are...
Deadline03/31/2025
Multiple Awards of $5,000 CIA Excellence Expendable Scholarship
Students meeting the following criteria are encouraged to apply: Class...
Deadline04/14/2025
Up to three awards of $10,000 Compass Group Scholarship
Students meeting the following criteria are encouraged to apply: Class...
Deadline04/14/2025
Varies Anthony Bourdain '78 Legacy Scholarship
Students who meet the following criteria may apply for this...
Deadline05/13/2025
Multiple one-year complimentary ACF Professional Culinarian Memberships ACF Professional Culinarian Membership Award for Graduating Students
Criteria: Must be in your final semester and graduating from the...
$3,804 Julia Child Fund at the Boston Foundation Scholarship
Students from any campus in any program may apply if they meet the...
Ended
$2,000 AIWF San Diego Chapter Scholarship
Have a personal connection to San Diego County Any campus Culinary...
Ended
$5,300.00 Brandy Brandenburger Endowed Scholarship
Any campus Sophomore, Junior, or Senior 3.5+ GPA Completed...
Ended
$3,000 Chef Robert Briggs Memorial Scholarship
Hyde Park students may apply if they meet the following criteria: Have...
Ended
Two awards of $4,100 each Debragga & Spitler Endowed Scholarship
Bachelor’s of Food Business Management program with Culinary Arts...
Ended
$2,000 Fisher Faucet Scholarship
Greystone students who meet the following criteria may apply: In the...
Ended
$1,600 Fuller Goldsmith Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Any Campus Incoming, Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior Any...
Ended
$1,100.00 Harry M. Stevens Endowed Scholarship
Greystone students who meet the following criteria may apply. are in...
Ended
Two awards of $1,000 each IFMA Gold & Silver
Students attending any campus who match the following criteria may...
Ended
$32,000 International Wine & Food Society Scholarship
Hyde Park Any undergraduate program Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or...
Ended
Two awards of $6,450 J.M. Smucker Endowed Scholarship
Students from any campus and any degree program who meet these criteria...
Ended
$4,000 John J. Profaci Legacy Endowed Scholarship
Students attending the Hyde Park campus and pursuing a Culinary Arts...
Ended
Three awards of $5,333 Joseph Amendola Endowed Scholarship
Hyde Park students Baking and Pastry Sophomore, Junior, or...
Ended
$6,900.00 Roger Vergé Endowed Scholarship
Students currently enrolled at any campus in any undergraduate program...
Ended
Two awards of $5500 Southern Wine & Spirits Endowed Scholarship
Hyde Park Culinary Arts 3.0+ GPA Sophomore, Junior, or...
Ended
$5,100.00 The Colin Dewey Scholarship
Any Campus Incoming, Freshman, Sophomore, Junior,...
Ended
Up to three awards of $2,500 each Wegmans Scholarship
Students who meet the following criteria may apply: Any campus Any...
Ended
Two awards of $5,700 each Bob Gildersleeve '90 Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Hyde Park Incoming or first semester freshman Associates...
Ended
$5,000 Island Entertainment "Island Spirit" Scholarship
Any Campus Incoming, Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior No FAFSA...
Ended
Two $2,500 Awards Richard Capizzi ’00 Memorial Scholarship
Hyde Park students Associate Baking and Pastry program Incoming,...
Ended
$3,100 Aramark - James Hutton Endowed Scholarship
Any campus Any undergraduate program Sophomore, Junior, or...
Ended
$800.00 Borck Country Home Bakers Endowed Scholarship
Hyde Park students who meet the following criteria may apply: Baking...
Ended
$8,000 C. H. Guenther & Son, Inc. Scholarship
Any Campus Culinary Arts Sophomore, Junior, Senior 3.0+ GPA Filed...
Ended
$2,700 Chef Brian Kaywork '02 Legacy Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Hyde Park students who meet the following criteria may apply: Current...
Ended
$4,200.00 Chipotle Mexican Grill Endowed Scholarship
Students from any campus may apply for this award if they meet the...
Ended
$14,000 Enrico Monti Endowed Scholarship
The Enrico Monti Endowed Scholarship is for students who have a passion...
Ended
$2,500 Faye "Jeannie" Borgedahl Memorial Scholarship in Baking and Pastry Arts
Any campus Associates Baking and Pastry Program Completed Freshman...
Ended
6,900.00 Follow Your Dreams Endowed Scholarship
Greystone students who meet the following criteria may apply: Be...
Ended
Up to three awards of $5,000 each IFMA Award for Juniors and Seniors
Hyde Park students who meet the following criteria may apply for this...
Ended
Two awards of $2,700 J. Frances Massie Endowed Scholarship
Hudson Valley resident Second semester freshman, sophomore, junior,...
Ended
$2,500 John C. Metz Sr. Memorial Scholarship
Students who meet the following criteria may apply: Hyde Park...
Ended
Up to $7300 Miljenko "Mike" Grgich Endowed Scholarship
Students who meet the following criteria may apply: Enrolled in the...
Ended
Two awards of $4,300 Murphy Family Endowed Scholarship
Any campus All class levels, including incoming students. Pursuing...
Ended
$6700 Nielsen-Massey Foundation Endowed Scholarship
Any Campus All incoming, freshman, sophomore, junior,...
Ended
$2,500.00 NRI International/Flavors Beyond Borders Scholarship
Students who meet the following criteria may apply: Hyde Park Any...
Ended
$8,100 Royal H. Durst Endowed Scholarship
Hyde Park Culinary Arts Sophomore, Junior, or Senior 3.0+...
Ended
$2,000 Ryan Volker and Rose Scarpa '14 Memorial Scholarship
Greystone Students Second semester Freshman or Sophomore Baking and...
Ended
$2,500 Seth Ian Schimberg ’96 Memorial Scholarship
Incoming and Freshman Students Enrolled in the CIA right after high...
Ended
Several awards of up to $3,000 each The Statler Foundation Study Abroad Award
This scholarship is available to students at any campus who meet the...
Ended
Two awards of $3,150 each Vi Endowed Scholarship
Only incoming or continuing ACAP students at the CIA California campus...
Ended
Two awards of $5,000 each Edlong Dairy Technologies Scholarship in Honor of Eugene L. Rondenet
Hyde Park Junior or Senior Enrolled in the Culinary Science degree...
Ended
Two awards of $6,100 Gutenstein Family Endowed Scholarship
Hyde Park students who meet the following criteria may apply: Must be...
Ended
$2,000 Timothy Upton Memorial Scholarship
Hyde Park students who match the following criteria may apply: Area of...
Ended