- New England Culinary Institute (NECI) is one of the leading culinary schools in the United States. When we opened New England Culinary Institute (NECI) in 1980, we wanted to create a learning environment where students were asked to perform at the highest level possible from the very first day of school. Our culinary classrooms are not practice kitchens, but high-profit level restaurants, bakeries and retail outlets. This model did not exist when we began; we invented it. But what also sets us apart is NECI?s size. We are small by design. We have to be. In our minds, great hands-on learning does not take place in a lecture hall or demo kitchen for thirty students.And then there is the location of the school. Vermont is at the forefront of a farm to table revolution. Farmers, artisan cheese makers ,brewers, wine makers, composters, organic seed producers, managers of CSA?s, distributors, members of the Vermont Fresh Network and the Vermont Chapter of the Slow Food Movement, the chef members of the Vermont Chapter of the American Culinary Federation, the staff at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture?these folks and many others are part of a growing community of food activists changing the way food is produced, distributed and consumed in the state and beyond. Together they provide a unique learning environment for NECI students who, through field trips and work opportunities arranged by the school, experience firsthand the exciting changes taking place, and learn skills not easily attained anywhere else.
School Highlights
New England Culinary Institute serves 22 students (95% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 2:1 is lower than the state community college average of 11:1.
Minority enrollment is 46% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is equal to the state average of 46%.
Quick Stats (2024-25)
- Enrollment: 22 students
- Student:teacher ratio: 2:1
- Minority enrollment: 46%
- Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
Top Rankings
New England Culinary Institute ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Vermont for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
School Overview
The teacher population of 12 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
New England Culinary Institute
(VT) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Other specialized institutions
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
Four or more years
Four or more years
Institution Control
Private for-profit
Private not-for-profit
Total Faculty
12 staff
204 staff
Number of Programs Offered
8
23
Student Body
The student population of New England Culinary Institute has declined by 62% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 2:1 has decreased from 5:1 over five years.
The New England Culinary Institute diversity score of 0.69 is more than the state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has grown by 32% over five years.
Total Enrollment
22 students
619 students
Student : Teacher Ratio
2:1
11:1
# Full-Time Students
21 students
364 students
# Part-Time Students
1 students
255 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
73 students
256 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
21 students
364 students
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
1 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
1 students
200 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
55 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
50 students
118 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
6%
1%
% Asian
6%
3%
% Hispanic
6%
3%
% Black
6%
4%
% White
54%
54%
% Hawaiian
n/a
26%
% Two or more races
8%
5%
% Non Resident races
6%
n/a
% Unknown races
8%
4%
Diversity Score
0.69
0.63
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
n/a
24%
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
0.427%
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
71%
96%
Median Debt for Graduates
n/a
$19,042
Median Debt for Dropouts
n/a
$5,500
Acceptance Rate
n/a
62%
SAT Reading
n/a
455
SAT Math
n/a
485
SAT Writing
n/a
435
ACT Composite
n/a
21
ACT English
n/a
19
ACT Math
n/a
21
Source: 2023 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
School Notes
- New England Culinary Institute has been an innovator and a leader in the field of culinary education for over 30 years. As you get to know us, you will discover some of the distinctive features that have defined NECI since it was founded in 1980. Most fundamental to our educational philosophy is our focus on the student. NECI?s primary mission is to provide every student with meaningful opportunities to attain the skills and knowledge necessary for success and advancement within the hospitality industry. To ensure this success, NECI has small classes that are designed to make certain that each student receives the kind of instruction and personal attention he or she needs in order to develop a competitive edge within the fast-paced and ever-changing industry. In addition to the advantages of small class size, our classes are taught by instructors who are highly skilled professionals as well as effective teachers. NECI seeks out talented chefs and restaurateurs with an interest and an aptitude for teaching. Our chef instructors constantly receive feedback about their teaching skills, based in part on student evaluations. NECI students also track their own development, skill acquisition and growth through a unique, non-punitive self-evaluation system. In addition to helping students master industry-specific skills and knowledge, teachers measure student performance in a wide range of areas specific to each program. In all programs, instructors measure time management, teamwork, organizational skills, professionalism and use of the senses. Unlike other culinary schools, NECI will never have large programs. Our administrators and faculty recognize that the learning process is different for each student. Not only must classes be small, but overall programs must be formulated in order to allow the staff and administrators to know each student individually. Frequent testimonials from our graduates and their employers continually renew our belief in the value and advantages of this kind of education. One final comment about NECI: everyone at the school ? students, faculty, staff, and administrators ? is proud of the ideals that are inherent in the school?s philosophy. We know that the ongoing challenge is to constantly renew everyone?s understanding of our educational philosophy while at the same time, adapt to the ever-changing conditions in the dynamic industry of which we are a part.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is New England Culinary Institute's ranking?
New England Culinary Institute ranks among the top 20% of community college in Vermont for: Diversity in US community colleges.
Nearby Schools
The nearest community college to New England Culinary Institute is Vermont Technical College (23.6 miles away)
School
Location
Miles
Students
124 Admin Drive
Randolph, VT 05061
(802) 728-1000
Randolph, VT 05061
(802) 728-1000
23.6 miles
| 1,452 students
Sterling College
Private not-for-profit
16 Sterling Drive
Craftsbury Common, VT 05827
(802) 586-7711
Craftsbury Common, VT 05827
(802) 586-7711
28.8 miles
| 126 students
660 Elm Street
Montpelier, VT 05602
(802) 828-2800
Montpelier, VT 05602
(802) 828-2800
34.5 miles
| 10,693 students
Champlain College
Private not-for-profit
163 S Willard St
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 860-2700
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 860-2700
34.9 miles
| 3,825 students
136 Clinton Point Dr.
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
(518) 562-4200
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
(518) 562-4200
50.9 miles
| 1,010 students
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