Jade Kitchen Omelette Instruction

Who Our Students Are

ICE students come from a wide variety of backgrounds to connect over a shared passion

Who will your classmates be? 

Over the course of our 40+ years teaching the next generation of chefs, we've found that no two ICE students are exactly alike. Our kitchens and classrooms are filled with passionate people who have a variety of goals in the culinary industry. Yet, they all share one thing: a passion for cooking and hospitality. Being surrounded by people who share your passion is all part of the ICE student experience.

Here at ICE, we take pride in the diverse backgrounds of our students and alumni. Some have known since they were young that this is what they were meant to do, some have come to discover this passion after years or decades of experience in other fields. The reality is, it's never too late to do what you love. Here are just some of the many reasons to pursue your passion at ICE

Our team is here to help you figure out the best way to move toward your goal of becoming a culinary or hospitality professional. Prospective students can start by setting up a one-on-one appointment with our admissions team, or attend an Open House event.

See below for examples of the types of students who pursue their culinary and hospitality dreams at ICE NYC, ICE LA and ICE Online.

ICE Students in a Teaching Kitchen

Recent High School Graduates

Many ICE students know at a young age that their love of food will be the driving force of their career. Some were inspired by cooking with a parent, grandparent or guardian, others were inspired by their  school’s culinary program, and others by chefs they watched on TV, YouTube, Instagram or TikTok. With a strong community and boundless resources at your disposal, the ICE experience is designed to help you make your culinary career dreams a reality.

Plated Fish with Vegetables

College Students

Many college students and recent college graduates realize traditional education isn’t putting them on the path they see for themselves. College students often find ICE’s hands-on training in kitchen classrooms and hospitality-specific management courses to be exactly what they’re looking for. Our focused curriculum is designed to help ICE students develop the skills that are highly sought after in the world of food, beverage and hospitality.

Chef and Career Changer Students

Career Changers

One of the most exciting parts of life is finding and pursuing new passions. With programs that can be completed in as little as 7 months, you’d be surprised how soon you can find yourself fulfilling your dreams. Our career services team can help you find an exciting new career in food, one that not only leverages your ICE training but also your past work experience. We’ll support you every step of the way, connecting you to our vast network of employers, introducing you to alumni, sharing hot job postings and much more.

International Students Flags of World

International Students

Food is a universal language and the ICE student body is a reflection of that. Every year we welcome international students who are eager to learn culinary skills from experts in two of America’s culinary capitals. From day one, we’re here to support our international students, first through the journey of enrolling at ICE and then getting involved in the world of cooking, baking and hospitality. Beyond expert instruction in our teaching kitchens, ICE offers a variety of opportunities to volunteer, network, attend chef demos and get hands-on experience in the field.

ICE Student Participates in Veterans Day Recognition

Military Veterans

ICE takes pride in our support of men and women in uniform. Our campuses are filled with experts focused on supporting you in this next phase of life, from our financing team who helps students make the most of military benefits, to a career services department who are experts in helping veterans translate their experience and passion into a new career in the culinary and hospitality industry.

Culinary Arts Student Kelly Newsome shares why she decided to enroll in culinary school at ICE.

"I just realized I’m never going to be happy unless I follow this passion inside me, which is to work in food."

Kelly Newsome
Culinary Arts Graduate