Letter to Prospective Students

Thank you for your interest in the Cascade Culinary Institute®.

“True culinary artists must feel, smell, breathe and conceptualize with their minds and hearts, as well as their tactile responses to create the most uncompromising cuisine.” -- Chef Julian Darwin

Located in Bend, Oregon the Cascade Culinary Institute® is accredited by the American Culinary Federation Foundation's Accrediting Commission. Located at Central Oregon Community College Bend campus Cascade Culinary Institute® attracts students from around the world. Central Oregon is known for many things, including beautiful surroundings and versatility. Check out Central Oregon and event links. 
 

Our culinary program is full-time; classes meet Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm with additional event commitments selected Fridays and Saturdays. Baking units may start as early as 6:00 am. Our program allows you to enroll at the beginning of fall, winter, spring, or summer term. It is possible to complete the certificate in one calendar year by going to summer term or taking a heavier academic load. Usually, the program takes 4 terms to complete. Cascade Culinary Institute® requires each student to earn a total of 69 credits for graduation with a culinary certificate. We, of the Cascade Culinary Institute®, believe that hands-on, one-on-one training is highly beneficial. For this reason, we can allow only a maximum of 22 students per term.

A new Associate of Applied Science degree in Culinary Management is also being offered at COCC. Created to provide additional business and management skills for the individual interested in owning or operating a foodservice establishment, the AAS Culinary Management degree includes all of the coursework from the Cascade Culinary Institute® certificate.

Culinary lunches and special event catering function as the student’s performance based learning lab. Students working while completing the program are eligible to become certified working cooks by the American Culinary Federation. Those completing the program may find positions as prep cooks, line cooks and, in some cases, sous chefs.

Regional student culinary competitions and field trips are scheduled for winter and spring terms. Recent student field trips have included locations in Napa Valley, Spain, and northwest regional food producers. Some student fundraising to defer competition and field trip expenses include a holiday dinner party for 40 raffle, holiday pie sales, special event service, and special event catering.

Cost of the program varies with residency status. 2007-08 in-district tuition, fees, texts, and equipment are approximately $8,200; out-of-district costs are approximately $9,700; including first week of first term students must purchase knives, books, and uniforms amounting to approximately $900. Out of state and international student costs exceed $14,000.

Central Oregon Community College (COCC) requires the completion of an application form and payment of a one-time, nonrefundable $25 application fee.  The ASSET Placement test is required for all students taking credit courses or seeking a certificate/degree.  The goal of this test is to measure a student's current skill levels in reading, writing and math in order to select the most appropriate level of courses. 
 

Financial aid forms are available from the Admissions Office, as well as at local area high school and colleges. Students are encouraged to apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Approximately 60 percent of students receive financial aid (depending on their enrollment status) via culinary scholarship, Oregon Scholarships or COCC Foundation scholarships/loans.

The American Academy of Chefs, through the American Culinary Federation Foundation, offers educational scholarships to high school students beginning to seek a culinary degree, college students currently seeking a culinary degree, professional chefs already working in the culinary industry looking to further their education or get certified, and student culinary teams currently competing at ACF regional conferences or national conventions. Visit ACF for current scholarship applications.