- Food defines a people. And for certain individuals, there’s never any doubt they want to work with food. The good news is that culinary fields can yield great opportunities in many different settings. Even the smallest of towns have kitchen manager and chef jobs. If you find yourself drawn towards culinary school, but are also conscious of the money it costs to attend, look no farther! Below we’ve compiled a list of the 50 most lucrative culinary degree related scholarships.
DegreeQuery.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Scholarship
- 180000
- For Illinois high schoolers and college students who want to work in the restaurant industry. Money is divided between 85 students. Must attend a qualifying institution. Deadline to apply is in May.
- Illinois high school and college students interested in working in the restaurant industry.
NEWH Washington DC Metro Area Scholarship
- 75000
- Must be an undergraduate or graduate student in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia or Washington DC with a major and career interest in hospitality. Need a 3.0 GPA. Deadline to apply is June 19th, 2021.
- Undergraduate or graduate students in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia or Washington DC with a major and career interest related to hospitality.
James Beard Foundation Scholarship Program
- 20000
- The James Beard Foundation offers nearly 100 scholarships for students interested in culinary or food-related programs. Must be a high school senior or graduate planning to begin a culinary or food-related program at a licensed institution. The next application deadline is in May.
- High school seniors or graduates intending to begin a culinary or food-related education program.
Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant & Retailers Association
- 20000
- For Alaska residents or those working towards residency. Must be accepted into an accredited university, certificate program, or post-secondary vocational school and intend on a career in hospitality in Alaska. Deadlines to apply are April 1st and October 1st depending on what semester you’re looking to apply for (Fall or Spring).
- Alaska residents or those in the process of becoming one that are pursuing an education and career in hospitality.
Two Ten Higher Education Scholarship
- 16000
- Must have two years employment in the footwear industry. Awards are need based. Recipients must maintain a 2.5 GPA. Deadline to apply is in April.
- People who have worked in the footwear industry for at least two years who want to pursue higher education programs.
The Vegetarian Resource Group College Scholarship
- 10000
- For U.S. high school students that have promoted vegetarianism at school and/or in their communities. Must attend a U.S.-based school. Deadline to apply is 2/20/21.
- High school students that have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and/or communities intending to attend U.S.-based higher education programs.
NEWH San Francisco Bay Area Scholarship
- 10000
- For students in hospitality and interior design who have shown incredible promise in the field. Four awards are offered. Can be an international student. Deadline to apply in July.
- Hospitality and interior design students at applicable California institutions.
The Trotter Project Scholarships
- Varies
- The Trotter Project offers several scholarships for culinary and hospitality students at qualifying institutions. Each have their own requirements. Deadline to apply is in May 15th.
- Hospitality and Culinary students.
Clark E. DeHaven Scholarship Trust
- 5000
- For students currently enrolled at accredited programs that lead to undergraduate degrees preparing for careers in food service, or related areas. Must have a minimum 2.75 GPA. Deadline to apply is 2/15/21.
- Students at undergraduate programs related to food service.
National Candy Technologists Scholarship
- 5000
- For college sophomores, juniors or seniors. Must have a demonstrated interest in confectionery technology, and enrolled in a food science, chemical science, biological science or related program. Need a minimum 3.0 GPA. Deadline to apply is 4/3/21.
- College sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in confectionery technology enrolled in applicable programs.
Cancer for College Leonard Family Entrepreneurial Spirit Scholarship
- 5000
- For students who have been diagnosed with cancer. Must be attending or planning to attend a degree program at an accredited US college or university. Deadline to apply is January 31st.
- Students diagnosed with cancer who are planning to or attending accredited US degree programs.
Minnesota Masonic Charities Vocational Scholarship
- 3000
- For students who have graduated from a Minnesota high school. Must be interested in attending vocational, technical or 2-year college programs. Next application cycle begins on December 1st.
- Students who have graduated from a Minnesota high school with plans to attend vocational, technical or 2-year college programs.
AAC Culinary Scholarships
- 2500
- For students who want to become chefs or pastry chefs. Must have a GPA of 2.75 or higher, and in or accepted to an accredited, post-secondary college, majoring in either culinary or pastry arts, or be an ACF registered apprentice. Deadlines to apply are April 30th and October 31st.
- Students who intend to become chefs or pastry chefs who are accepted in applicable programs, or ACF registered apprentices.
Nellie Martin Carman Scholarship Fund
- 2000
- For graduating high school seniors in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties in Washington State. For those who wish to attend Washington universities and colleges. Students are nominated by their high schools by March 1st.
- High School seniors in applicable Washington State counties who plan to attend Washington colleges or universities
The Ecolab Scholarship
- 2000
- For undergraduate hospitality management students at U.S. colleges and universities. Deadline to apply is April 15th, 2021.
- Undergraduate hospitality management students.
WGA Mary Macey Scholarship
- 1500
- For independent grocery retailers and wholesalers, their employees and families, including WGA and NGA members. Emphasis on women applicants. Must have a 2.0 GPA or better and be entering sophomore year or continuing student at two or four-year programs. Deadline to apply is June 15th.
- Independent grocery workers, WGA and NGA members, women, sophomores or continuing students.
IFA Foundation Scholarship – Marriott Foundation
- 1500
- For sophomores, juniors and seniors in accredited colleges and universities with majors in business, hospitality, or franchise management. Must have financial need. Deadline to apply is 10/31.
- Sophomores, juniors and seniors at colleges and universities studying applicable majors.
George and Donna Nigh Public Service Scholarship
- 1000
- For residents of Oklahoma who will study at a college or university in the state. Must be preparing for a career in public service.
- Oklahoma residents attending in-state colleges and universities preparing for public service careers.
JWU ProStart Scholarship
- 1000
- For incoming Johnson & Wales University students. Must have participated in ProStart curriculum in high school. Award is renewable.
- Incoming JWU students who have participated in ProStart curriculum in high school.
Les Dames d’Escoffier Colorado Chapter Scholarship
- 1000
- For U.S. citizens and female students at Colorado schools. Must have a focus in food-related industries and attend a trade school, technical school, college, or university. Deadline to apply is April 3rd.
- Female U.S. citizens attending Colorado schools in applicable programs.
American Association of Food and Consumer Science
- Varies
- For family and consumer science students an professionals. Various awards have different requirements and deadlines.
- Family and consumer science professionals
$500 Culinary Scholarship – Niche
- 500
- Open to all high schoolers and college students interested in culinary arts. Simply create an account on Niche to apply. Deadline to enter is December 31st.
- High schoolers and college students interested in the culinary arts.
American Culinary Federation
- Varies
- The American Culinary Federation Education Foundation and American Academy of Chefs offers several awards to culinary students. Each has its own requirements. Deadlines to apply are April 30th and October 31st.
- Culinary students
Ecolab Scholarship
- 2000
- For undergraduate hospitality management majors at U.S. colleges and universities. Must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours in the Fall and Spring Semesters.
- Undergraduate hospitality management majors
Incoming Freshman Scholarship
- Varies
- For incoming freshman. Intended to stimulate hospitality-related undergraduate programs.
- Incoming freshmen entering hospitality-related undergraduate programs.
Opening Doors to Opportunity
- 7500
- For undergraduate hospitality management majors at U.S. accredited institutions. Must be a U.S. resident or citizen. Need a minimum GPA of 2.5 and be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours.
- Undergraduate hospitality management students, U.S. residents or citizens.
Banks Brown Graduate Scholarship
- 5000
- For graduate students in hospitality degrees. Can also qualify as a graduate student who has been working in lodging for four years or after completing an undergraduate hospitality degree. Must have a GPA of 3.0 or above.
- Graduate hospitality management students, graduate students who have worked in lodging for four years, graduate students who have an undergraduate degree in hospitality management.
American Express Scholarship
- 2000
- For those enrolled full- or part-time in an undergraduate hospitality management program at a U.S. institutions. Must meet minimum employment requirements or have past hospitality employment experience.
- Undergraduate hospitality management students.
American Institute of Wine and Food
- Varies
- For students interested in the culinary Arts and/or Oenology. Must be a full-time student. Scholarships awarded through local chapters.
- Students interested in culinary arts and/or oenology.
California Hotel and Lodging Association
- Varies
- Must be a studying at a 2 or 4-year institution in California. Need to have declared a culinary arts or hospitality and tourism management major for at least one semester or quarter before applying. Minimum 2.75 GPA overall and 3.0 in applicable courses. Next application cycle begins in February 2021.
- Students at California undergraduate programs majoring in applicable areas.
California Restaurant Association
- Varies
- The CRAF offers a range of awards to high school seniors, undergraduate students, and instructors who are studying or working in areas related to the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industries. The next cycle to apply begins in January 2021.
- High school seniors, undergraduate students, and instructors in applicable fields of study and work.
Golden Gate Restaurant Foundation
- Varies
- GGRA offers several awards to Bay Area residents pursuing higher education degrees in the culinary and hospitality fields. See their website for more information on award amounts and application requirements.
- Bay Area residents pursuing culinary and hospitality degrees.
Hawaii Community Foundation
- Varies
- The Hawaii Community Foundation offers awards to Hawaiian residents based on financial need. Students must attend a not for profit institution in the United States and be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree full time.
- Hawaiian residents.
Institute of Food Technologists
- Varies
- IFT offers a range of awards for incoming freshmen, undergraduates, and graduate students. Your discipline must relate to the science of food. See their website for further details.
- Incoming freshmen, undergraduate students, and graduate students pursuing degrees related to food science.
National Association of College and University Food Services
- Varies
- NACUFS offers several awards to reward excellence in the “culinary arts, menu design, merchandising, marketing, nutrition, and service to the association and the industry.” See their website for specific details on particular awards.
- Students and professionals in the culinary arts, menu design, merchandising, marketing, nutrition, and more.
South Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association
- Varies
- SCRLEF manages scholarships on behalf of organizations that fund hospitality education. Must be enrolled as a full-time student, write an essay, and meet other requirements. Deadline to apply is in May.
- Hospitality students.
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
- Varies
- The NRAEF offers scholarship opportunities to culinary arts and restaurant management students. They range from $2,500 to $10,000 per award. The next application cycle begins January 15th.
- Culinary arts and restaurant management students.
Women Chefs & Restaurateurs
- Varies
- WCR offers a range of awards to its members. These include internships with various partners. See the website for further details.
- Female culinary arts students and professionals who are members of WCR.
The Careers through Culinary Arts Program scholarships are available to incoming JWU students who competed in C-CAP events. These awards are renewable as long as students maintain a 2.75 GPA.
- Varies
- The Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) Scholarships are available to incoming students who participated in C-CAP’s competition events.
- Incoming JWU students who participated in C-CAP competition events.
Colorado Restaurant Association Education Fund Undergraduate Scholarship
- Varies
- For undergraduate or graduate students pursuing food service industry and/or a hospitality management degrees. Deadline to apply is in April.
- Undergraduate or graduate students food service industry and/or a hospitality management students.
NEWH Atlantic City/Philadelphia Scholarship
- Varies
- For eligible students that want to enter the Hospitality Industry. Must be in the Atlantic City/Philadelphia region. See local chapter for further details.
- Atlantic/City Philadelphia region students interested in entering the hospitality industry.
NEWH Dallas Chapter Scholarship
- Varies
- For eligible students that want to enter the Hospitality Industry. Must be in the Dallas area. See local chapter for further details.
- Dallas region students interested in entering the hospitality industry.
NEWH North Carolina Scholarship
- Varies
- For eligible students that want to enter the Hospitality Industry. Must be in the North Carolina area. See local chapter for further details.
- North Carolina region students interested in entering the hospitality industry.
NEWH North Central Chapter Scholarship
- Varies
- For eligible students that want to enter the Hospitality Industry. Must be in the North Central area. See local chapter for further details.
- Minnesota, North/South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin area students interested in entering the hospitality industry.
WRA Education Foundation Scholarship in Culinary & Hospitality
- Varies
- These awards are for Wisconsin residents with future plans in foodservice. Awarded based on academic records and recommendations. The deadline to apply is April 15th, 2021.
- Wisconsin residents with future plans in foodservice.
GNOHLA Hospitality Education Scholarship
- 8000
- For high school juniors or seniors from Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, Iberville, Tangipahoa, or St. James parish. Must have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 and plan to study hospitality at either the University of New Orleans or Delgado Community College. Deadline to apply is April 28th, 2021.
- Juniors or Seniors from applicable parishes with plans to study hospitality at either the University of New Orleans or Delgado Community College.
Culinary Institute of America New York Campus
- Varies
- The Culinary Institute of America offers a range of awards targeted towards students at its New York Campus. See website for full details.
- New York Culinary Institute of America students.
Culinary Institute of America California Campus
- Varies
- The Culinary Institute of America offers a range of awards for its California students. See website for full details.
- California Culinary Institute of America students.
Culinary Institute of America Texas Campus
- Varies
- The Culinary Institute of America offers a range of awards for students at its Texas campus. See website for full details.
- Texas Culinary Institute of America students.
Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) Scholarships
- Varies
- For students pursuing hospitality or culinary degrees at the undergraduate or graduate level. Must have and maintain a 2.5 GPA and have completed at least two semesters of study. Deadline to apply is 1/31/21.
- Undergraduate and graduate culinary and hospitality students.