Nichols vs. Culinary Institute of America

Comparable Facts

Compare Nichols College in Dudley, MA with Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Culinary Institute of America is larger than Nichols based on total student enrollment (3,147 students vs. 1,392 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Nichols College is located in Dudley, MA (Rural Fringe setting); Culinary Institute of America is in Hyde Park, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Nichols College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Culinary Institute of America is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Nichols College 15:1; Culinary Institute of America 18:1.

Nichols vs. Culinary Institute of America Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Nichols or Culinary Institute of America? 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 Nichols College than Culinary Institute of America ($32,337 vs. $39,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Culinary Institute of America are 4.9% lower than at Nichols College ($15,030 vs. $15,800).
• Nichols College is 7.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Culinary Institute of America (about $2,855 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $39,850.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.2% higher at Nichols than at Culinary Institute of America (about $2,855 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $39,850.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Nichols College as at Culinary Institute of America (99% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Nichols College students is 33.4% larger than aid received by Culinary Institute of America students ($25,809 vs. $19,350).

Nichols vs. Culinary Institute of America Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Nichols or Culinary Institute of America? 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 Culinary Institute of America and Nichols.

• Nichols College reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Nichols College (1130) is 70 points higher than at Culinary Institute of America (1060).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Nichols College 1028/1236; Culinary Institute of America 928/1183.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresCulinary Institute of America 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Nichols - Open admission; Culinary Institute of America - Test optional.
• Enrolled freshman Culinary Institute of America students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.26) than students at Nichols (2.9).
• Culinary Institute of America has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Nichols (80.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at Nichols vs. 31% at Culinary Institute of America.

Nichols vs. Culinary Institute of America Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Nichols and Culinary Institute of America? 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.

• Nichols College's six-year graduation rate is 43%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for Culinary Institute of America.
• Graduates from Nichols College earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than Culinary Institute of America graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 vs. $46,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Culinary Institute of America graduates have a $12,000 lower median loan debt than Nichols graduates ($15,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Culinary Institute of America graduates have an estimated $124 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nichols graduates ($155 vs. $279).
• More Culinary Institute of America graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nichols students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 68%)

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.