Culinary Institute of America vs. SUNY-ESF

Comparable Facts

Compare Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Culinary Institute of America is larger than SUNY-ESF based on total student enrollment (3,147 students vs. 2,757 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Culinary Institute of America is located in Hyde Park, NY (Large Suburban setting); SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
• Culinary Institute of America is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Culinary Institute of America 18:1; SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 14:1.

Culinary Institute of America vs. SUNY-ESF Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Culinary Institute of America or SUNY-ESF? 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 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry than Culinary Institute of America ($19,814 vs. $39,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Culinary Institute of America are 16.9% lower than at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry ($15,030 vs. $18,080).
• Culinary Institute of America is 328.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY-ESF (about $30,547 more per year; $39,850.00 vs. $9,303.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 79% higher at Culinary Institute of America than at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (about $17,587 more per year; $39,850.00 vs. $22,263.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Culinary Institute of America than at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (99% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Culinary Institute of America students is 122.4% larger than aid received by SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students ($19,350 vs. $8,699).

Culinary Institute of America vs. SUNY-ESF Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (1220) is 160 points higher than at Culinary Institute of America (1060).
• Incoming SUNY-ESF students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 20 at Culinary Institute of America).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Culinary Institute of America 928/1183; SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 1130/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Culinary Institute of America 17/23; SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 24/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Culinary Institute of America - Test optional; SUNY-ESF - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: SUNY-ESF Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SUNY-ESF students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Culinary Institute of America (3.26).
• Culinary Institute of America has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than SUNY-ESF (63.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31% at Culinary Institute of America vs. 17.6% at SUNY-ESF.

Culinary Institute of America vs. SUNY-ESF Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Culinary Institute of America and SUNY-ESF? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Culinary Institute of America earn a median of about $400 more per year than SUNY-ESF graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,600 vs. $46,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Culinary Institute of America graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than SUNY-ESF graduates ($15,000 vs. $19,750).
• Among borrowers, Culinary Institute of America graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY-ESF graduates ($155 vs. $204).
• More SUNY-ESF graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Culinary Institute of America students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)

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.