Culinary Institute of America vs. LRC

Comparable Facts

Compare Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY with La Roche University in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Culinary Institute of America is larger than LRC based on total student enrollment (3,147 students vs. 2,153 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Culinary Institute of America is located in Hyde Park, NY (Large Suburban setting); La Roche University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Culinary Institute of America is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. La Roche University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Culinary Institute of America 18:1; La Roche University 11:1.

Culinary Institute of America vs. LRC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Culinary Institute of America or LRC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at La Roche University than Culinary Institute of America ($24,108 vs. $39,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at La Roche University are 10.9% lower than at Culinary Institute of America ($13,390 vs. $15,030).
• Culinary Institute of America is 17% more expensive for in-state tuition than LRC (about $5,798 more per year; $39,850.00 vs. $34,052.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17% higher at Culinary Institute of America than at La Roche University (about $5,798 more per year; $39,850.00 vs. $34,052.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Culinary Institute of America than at La Roche University (99% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by La Roche University students is 19.3% larger than aid received by Culinary Institute of America students ($23,083 vs. $19,350).

Culinary Institute of America vs. LRC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Culinary Institute of America or LRC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between LRC and Culinary Institute of America.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at La Roche University (1070) is 10 points higher than at Culinary Institute of America (1060).
• Incoming Culinary Institute of America students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (20 vs. 18 at LRC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Culinary Institute of America 928/1183; La Roche University 940/1200.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Culinary Institute of America 17/23; La Roche University 15/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Culinary Institute of America - Test optional; LRC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: LRC Aug 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman Culinary Institute of America students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.26) than students at LRC (3.2).
• Culinary Institute of America has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than LRC (75.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31% at Culinary Institute of America vs. 9.8% at LRC.

Culinary Institute of America vs. LRC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Culinary Institute of America and LRC? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• La Roche University's six-year graduation rate is 51%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for Culinary Institute of America.
• Graduates from Culinary Institute of America earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than LRC graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,600 vs. $44,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Culinary Institute of America graduates have a $11,000 lower median loan debt than LRC graduates ($15,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Culinary Institute of America graduates have an estimated $113 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LRC graduates ($155 vs. $268).
• More Culinary Institute of America graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LRC students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.