All three campuses of Atlantic Cape will be closed on Monday, 2/23 due to the impending winter storm. Updates will be shared as needed.
The scheduled Atlantic Cape Community College Board of Trustees meetings is moved to Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 6 PM in room 113 at the Cape May County Campus.
The full-time culinary programs, including Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry, and Food Service Management, span a total of two years or four semesters. Students are admitted in September and January.
For in-county and other New Jersey residents with a chargeback, the approximate cost of the culinary arts degree program is $35,000. Textbooks, tools, uniforms and miscellaneous expenses are additional. Click here for more information about tuition and fees.
These items are not included in the tuition at this time. They may be purchased from the College bookstore, or at a convenient location, provided they meet ACA standards and requirements. Click here for uniform, textbooks and tools information.
Yes, the culinary program is full-time, but it follows a unique schedule with classes taking place five hours each day Monday through Thursday for 12 consecutive days. If you can only do part time, modifications can be made. Culinary semesters follow the College calendar with allowances for winter and spring breaks. There are no culinary classes during the summer.
Our courses may be arranged as a part-time schedule for those students who are looking for a more flexible schedule.
Classes are scheduled as follows:
Options for morning classes are offered on a first come, first served basis. Students returning for their second, third and fourth semesters will be assigned classes and times upon registration.
At the completion of all culinary courses, students participate in a culinary awards ceremony where they receive a certificate of completion in the program. Based upon their grade point average and criteria established by the American Culinary Federation, students may receive a gold, silver or bronze medal.
All seven additional academic courses are included in the estimation of culinary tuition charges. These courses can be completed in the student's home county and transferred into Atlantic Cape Community College, taken on campus or completed as online courses.
Cooperative education is a requirement for the culinary program. To earn internship/externship hours, all ACA students must work ACA-related events or have an external culinary-based job. As part of the ACA's curriculum, all ACA students will get hands-on experience at our student-run gourmet restaurant, Carême's, during their second year of studies.
Fall Semester classes begin after Labor Day and end in mid-December. Spring Semester classes begin late-January and end in mid-May.
Complete admission application and submit. Contact the college testing center and make arrangements to complete the College Placement Test. Registration is scheduled once Placement Test scores are received.
Atlantic Cape Community College does not have on campus dorms or housing. The housing office can provide a list of local apartment complexes and real estate offices for students seeking to secure their own housing while attending the Academy. Housing Office: (609) 625-1111 ext. 5085 or email Eric Stewart at estewart@atlanticcape.edu.
