About Us
Studying at the Academy of Culinary Arts
The Academy of Culinary Arts (ACA) is an ideal place to prepare for your future in the culinary industry. As New Jersey's first culinary college, we have been serving our communities since 1981. The ACA has graduated more culinary and hospitality professionals into the industry than any other school in the State. Our small class sizes allow our dedicated professors to provide one-on-one instruction while being personally invested in your success. Our superior culinary tradition has produced many exceptional alumni who have gone on to successful careers both locally and around the world.
At the ACA, you can work toward a degree, take specialized courses, or just develop basic job skills. Our degree and certificate programs can be completed either on a full- or part-time basis. Our programs are designed to prepare you for real-world challenges in the food and beverage industry.
The degree programs at the ACA mix hands-on training with academic classes. Through an externship, you can gain real-world experience in an industry established throughout the U.S. and Europe. You will have many opportunities to practice your skills in various competitions, student activities and special events. As part of your training, you will help operate Carême's, our student-run gourmet restaurant, which is open to the public and located on the College's Mays Landing campus. Carême's is open for lunch, dinner and special events, Monday through Thursday when classes are in session.
The Academy of Culinary Arts holds an exemplary accreditation from The American Culinary Federation.
ACA is proud to have launched the careers of accomplished chets and industry leaders. You can check their stories out on our Notable Alumni page.