Founded in 1946, The CIA is the only residential college in the world devoted entirely to culinary education. The Institute offers associate and bachelor's degree programs in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts, as well as continuing education courses for food service professionals.

Students of the CIA master all aspects of their chosen fields both in the classroom and in the real world situation of the CIA's four acclaimed restaurants. In each restaurant you can enjoy the cuisine and judge for yourself the effectiveness of the CIA in its mission to create the best chefs and food professionals in the world.

Located at the southern end of Hyde Park, the CIA is easily reached as Albany Post Road is Route 9, the main road north out of Poughkeepsie. If you want to dine at one of the restaurants, advance reservations are usually a must, but seating is frequently available mid-week. Student guided tours of the Institute are available on a regular schedule and are an exciting way to see what really goes on behind the swinging kitchen doors. The tour includes visits to many of the kitchens of the Institute where students are preparing food.