Culinary Institute of America: 2024 Requirements, Scores & GPAs

This is the go-to guide for getting into Culinary Institute of America. We suggest you read until the end... Not only will we layout the exact GPA and test scores you should aim for when applying to Culinary Institute of America, but we’ll also offer creative ways to help your application stand out from the pack. We breakdown Culinary Institute of America statistics better than any article out there and show you how these have changed over time. Also, make sure to check out Culinary Institute of America on CampusReel to see what it’s really like here. If you're interesting in transferring to Culinary Institute of America, the read our transfer guide. You can also use the below calculator to help determine your likelihood of acceptance at Culinary Institute of America

What GPA do you need to get into Culinary Institute of America?

Culinary Institute of America’s average GPA is 3.2. Culinary Institute of America does require GPA. This average GPA means Culinary Institute of America is very selective. Often times, schools in this range are trying to increase their selectivity and “prestige”. We can’t read the minds of Culinary Institute of America application readers, but they likely want to increase the average GPA from 3.2 to 3.36 this year - to play it safe, we recommend striving for the 3.36 GPA.

*BEFORE CONTINUING PLEASE NOTE: GPA and “prestige” DO NOT mean a college is right for you. Culinary Institute of America may seem amazing on paper, but you may hate it... That’s why 700,000 students transfer colleges every year - they end up going to the wrong school. It’s crucial to watch the videos on CampusReel and make sure you can envision yourself on Culinary Institute of America’s campus. These Culinary Institute of America admission statistics do not sufficiently tell you what a college or university is like.

What is Culinary Institute of America’s acceptance rate?

Last year Culinary Institute of America’s acceptance rate was 0.0. However, check out how the acceptance rate has changed over time.

As you can see, Culinary Institute of America is just as competitive as it was last year.

Acceptance rate alone does not indicate your likelihood for getting into Culinary Institute of America - it’s a very high level understanding of the true competition. Use the acceptance rate as a general guide for curating a list of 10-15 schools that fall into different ranges of competitiveness. Then, use the below data to get a deeper understanding of how your application will compare to the rest of the pool.

Does Culinary Institute of America Require Test Scores?

Culinary Institute of America requires that you either take the SAT or ACT. See the table below for how Culinary Institute of America’s accepted students have performed on both tests. You may be wondering how many test scores should you submit. Generally, don’t freak out about taking the test too often. Industry consensus is that you can submit up to 6 tests as a reasonable limit.

Culinary Institute of America SAT Requirements

Culinary Institute of America’s average SAT score is 1090 - this is the sum of the math and reading portions of the SAT (the 1600 scale). Check out the below table for a deeper look into how students performed - it’s also very interesting to look at the average test score over time. The trend over time helps give insight into whether Culinary Institute of America is getting more or less competitive.

Culinary Institute of America’s average SAT score is 1090. To be a competitive applicant for Culinary Institute of America your SAT score should come close to the average. If you’re closer to the 980, you’re likely going to have a tougher time getting accepted. To consider Culinary Institute of America a “target” school (one that you are likely to get into) you should aim for a score of 1200.

Culinary Institute of America ACT Requirements

Culinary Institute of America’s average ACT score is 0. To be a competitive applicant for Culinary Institute of America your ACT score should come close to the average. If you’re closer to the 0, you’re likely going to have a tougher time getting accepted. To consider Culinary Institute of America a “target” school (one that you have a good chance of getting into) you should aim for a score of 0.

How hard is it to get into Culinary Institute of America?

As you can see from the data above, Culinary Institute of America is exceptionally difficult to get into. Not only should you be aiming for a 3.2 but also SAT scores around 1090. Getting into Culinary Institute of America is no easy feat and you will need to set yourself apart with more than just numbers and data. Read on to learn how.

Culinary Institute of America Requirements

Now you know where you need to be for getting into Culinary Institute of America from a grade and test score perspective. Let’s quickly outline what else you’ll need to provide for your application to get reviewed, and then we’ll move onto the most important section: differentiating your app.

How to get into Culinary Institute of America

Follow these steps to maximize your chances of getting into Culinary Institute of America. Everything you read above will help prepare you for what you need to achieve to have a shot at Culinary Institute of America, but these steps will take you even further in applying that knowledge and differentiating your application.

Main Academic Excellence that is in line with Culinary Institute of America admission standards.

1. Score at least a 1090 on the SAT or 0 on the ACT.
2. Maintain a GPA of at least a 3.2.

Join Extracurriculars that Align with Culinary Institute of America’s Values.

1. Join your school band, a sports team or another group activity. If Culinary Institute of America values music heavily, for example, then try to participate in an organization related to that topic.
2. Volunteer in your hometown. Hyde Park has tons of ways to be involved beyond just the college. Culinary Institute of America wants applicants that are also good ambassadors for the school - they want students who will give back to the local community and broader Hyde Park area in general.
3. Spend your summer doing something that speaks to your values, personal growth, leadership qualities and other less quantifiable characteristics. Culinary Institute of America needs to see past your test scores and grades - they need to know that you will be a valuable and contributing member of their community. You are more than grades and test scores - your experiences should demonstrate that.

Prepare Your Application

1. Write a stellar essay that shows Culinary Institute of America something they can’t figure out from the other parts of your application. For a detailed guide on writing the best college essay, check this out.
2. Get teacher recs that speak to your character. If you know what you’re majoring in and include that in your Culinary Institute of America app, try to have at least 1 recommendation from a teacher in that department.
3. Apply Before the Deadline. Too many students wait until the last minute to submit their application, and too much can go wrong during this precious time window. Since many students are applying on the last day, it’s possible that Culinary Institute of America’s own system crashes. Don’t risk the added stress this can cause - submit your app a few days early.