If you've seen ads on TV for culinary schools, you're probably familiar with either the Art Institutes or Le Cordon Bleu. Both of these college networks have branches all over the country with programs that offer associate's degrees and diplomas in cooking and baking. The advantages to these schools are that there is probably one close to you, no matter where you are, and that they are universally well-known. Le Cordon Bleu has 16 campuses with programs in culinary arts and patisserie and baking, and the Art Institutes has nearly 40 locations that offer similar programs. While each school is unique, they all hold to the standards of their network of schools, offering updated equipment and professional faculty.
For more of a traditional university experience, there are several schools around the country that offer full-degree immersive programs focused on cooking and baking. The most well-known of these are Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York (which also now has branches in California and Texas), and the School of Culinary Arts at Kendall College in Chicago. All of these institutions offer students an in-depth, well-rounded education that mixes theory with real-world training, and you earn a bachelor's degree as well.
Many culinary schools are privately operated, and some focus on a specific cuisine. One of the best-known private cooking schools is the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City, an exclusive establishment that caters to mature students and attracts aspiring chefs from all over the world. The French Culinary Institute, also in New York City, focuses on French technique and offers specific training in areas like artisan bread baking and charcuterie. L'Academie de Cuisine in Washington, D.C., offers cooking and baking programs steeped in French technique for professionals as well as amateurs. Those wishing to focus on Italian cuisine can attend the Italian Culinary Academy, which begins in New York City and then offers students a chance to finish their training in Italy. These schools tend to have the highest tuition.
A major concern for many students considering culinary school is cost. If the five-figure tuition of most cooking schools seem impractical, another option is to attend a community college. Many of them offer a rigorous culinary education at a fraction of the price of most high-ticket schools. Another advantage is a more flexible schedule, often allowing you to work as you attend classes. Check with your local community colleges to see if they offer a culinary program.