Affordable Cooking Schools

Students can learn how to cook pastry's at cooking school.

Culinary techniques, cake baking and restaurant management can all be learned at one of America's cooking academies or institutes. Short courses are available to refresh skills alongside degree programs for those wanting to pursue a professional culinary career. Each school teaches a different cooking technique, ranging from classic French culinary skills to Mexican home cooking. Financial aid is available to help pay tuition fees, with certain schools offering veteran discounts and reduced fees if students enroll a friend.

West

The Culinary School of the Rockies teaches students how to bake cupcakes.

The Culinary School of the Rockies (culinaryschoolrockies.com/) in Colorado offers a 15 percent discount to students who enroll with a friend. Available cooking classes include Mexican home cooking, cupcake baking, pasta from scratch, bakery pastry techniques, and culinary skills. All classes are taught by qualified chefs and range in length from a day to 20 weeks. Cooking and pastry technique classes are also offered, with the focus on improving cooking techniques.

The Oregon Culinary Institute (oregonculinaryinstitute.com) can provide students with access to federal financial aid, scholarships and alternative student loans to help pay for classes. The institute takes a hands-on approach to learning, teaching students through practical application in the on-site restaurant. Students can take classes in bakery and pastry, culinary arts, and restaurant management.

Southwest

Students attending the Culinary Academy of Austin (culinaryacademyofaustin.com) can choose between two programs: professional culinary arts or pastry arts. Training at this Texas school takes place in a commercial kitchen, giving pupils practical experience. The culinary arts program allows students to participate in a 400 hour "externship" program, teaching them industry skills in a working kitchen. The pastry arts program is designed for nonprofessional cooks wanting to improve their home cooking as well as learn new skills. Financial aid is available.

The Arizona Culinary Institute (azculinary.com) teaches students skills used in French cooking. The culinary diploma program consists of classes in basic culinary arts, nutrition, restaurant management, basic bakery skills, and restaurant operations. The course ends with a paid, 12-week internship. A financial aid department can guide prospective students, providing information on loans and grants. Veterans could be eligible for benefits, and student scholarships can be earned.

East

The Italian Culinary Academy teaches students how to make traditional pasta.

The Italian Culinary Academy (italianculinaryacademy.com) in New York City specializes in Italian cooking, offering short courses in the essentials of Italian cooking, pasta, desserts, roasting and stews, and antipasti. Courses take a month to complete and in 2011 cost less than $3,000. Students attend classes three nights a week for five hours. Financial aid programs, including a career training smart option loan and NJclass loan, are available as are scholarships.

The Art Institute of Charlotte (artinstitutes.edu) in North Carolina offers an associate of applied science in culinary arts and a bachelor of arts in culinary arts management. The associate program teaches basic culinary skills, knife and hand skills, international and American cuisine, and bakery and pastry skills. Students studying for a bachelor of arts degree focus on restaurant management, learning about Asian cuisine, contemporary cuisine and regional American cuisine. Scholarships, student loans and grants are available.

California

The San Diego Culinary Institute (sdci-inc.com) teaches cooking technique. Pupils learn the Commis Method of cookery, whereby pupils are taught about flavor, taste, sensation and safety. Classes are taught by an instructor or experienced chef, who demonstrates techniques before guiding students as they practice. A career planning service is offered to all pupils, allowing them to discuss their career plans and teaching them how to format and write a resume. Veterans benefits are available along with student loans and vocational rehab programs.

Located in Campbell, California, the French Culinary Institute (frenchculinary.com) teaches classic culinary arts and pastry and classic pastry arts. French cooking is taught in the culinary arts program alongside western cuisine. The beginning of the course focuses on learning new culinary skills, while in the latter stages of training students work in the school's kitchen, preparing dishes for guests and learning management skills. Students in the pastry and bakery program are taught baking techniques and learn about different baking ingredients. Alternative loan programs and culinary school scholarships are offered at the institute.

References

• Culinary School of the Rockies: Cooking Classes Overview
• Culinary School of the Rockies: Culinary Programs
• Oregon Culinary Institute: Culinary Arts
• Oregon Culinary Institute: Culinary Management Degree
• Culinary Academy of Austin: Pastry Arts
• Culinary Academy of Austin: Professional Culinary Arts

Resources

• Arizona Culinary Institute: A Comprehensive Approach to Culinary Greatness
• The Italian Culinary Academy
• The Italian Culinary Academy: Italian Culinary Experience
• The Art Institute of Charlotte: We Can Help Turn Your Creative Vision Into a Creative Career
• The Art Institute of Charlotte: Academics
• San Diego Culinary Institute
• The French Culinary Institute: Classic Culinary Arts
• Cooking Schools: Get Creative With a Culinary Arts Degree