- Credential
- Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
- Published length
- 2 years full time; 60 credits across 6 semesters
- Format
- Campus kitchens at Highland Campus, with a practicum
- Campus
- Austin, TX
Who might consider this program?
Austin-area students seeking a broad cooking degree with restaurant service and a field practicum.
The 2026–27 Culinary Arts AAS is a 60-credit, six-semester degree at Highland Campus. It includes general education, kitchen labs, dining-room service and a final practicum. ACC also offers a separate 36–38-credit Advanced Culinarian Level 1 Certificate; the certificate is a shorter credential, not the same award. The department allows students to take fewer courses, although prerequisites and available lab sections affect the completion date. Day and evening sections exist, but the current schedule does not establish an evening-only degree.
Source 1What does it cost?
These figures describe the selected campus and credential before gift aid. Each row states its scope; a tuition figure and a bundled school charge are different measures.
| Scenario | Amount and calculation | Still to add |
|---|---|---|
| Texas resident inside ACC district — tuition only | $4,020 60 × $67; 2026–27 60-credit plan at rates reviewed September 25, 2026. Source 1 · Source 2 | $1,080 mandatory general fees; lab charges, books, uniform, tools and living expenses. |
| Texas resident outside ACC district — tuition and general fees | $17,160 60 × $286, including the $201-per-credit out-of-district fee. Source 1 · Source 2 | Lab charges, books, uniform, tools and living expenses. |
| Out-of-state/international inside taxing district — tuition and general fees | $13,080 60 × $218 published combined rate. Source 1 · Source 2 | Lab charges, books, uniform, tools and living expenses. |
| Out-of-state/international outside taxing district — tuition and general fees | $25,140 60 × $419 published combined rate. Source 1 · Source 2 | Lab charges, books, uniform, tools and living expenses. |
Fees, equipment and other expenses
The culinary department also quotes an estimated in-district AAS program cost of $6,616.64, but does not itemize that figure or identify its price year; it is a reference, not a reconciled quote. Certain lab courses add a $50 course fee. Required tools and uniform are separate; jackets should be ordered 4–6 weeks before classes. Confirm every required course and its fee in your approved plan. All calculations hold current rates constant and exclude aid, living costs, repeats and extra prerequisite credits.
Calculations assume current rates continue, no repeated courses and the stated course load. Living costs and lost earnings are separate. Loans do not reduce the price.
Add your living costs and gift aid →Can it fit around a job?
Fall 2026 Basic Food Preparation has day and evening sections (including Thursday 5–9:40 p.m.). Intermediate Food Preparation lists Monday 9 a.m.–1:40 p.m.; the practicum meeting is Tuesday 3–3:50 p.m. This documents evening classes, not an evening-only AAS. Match every required course to your work schedule.
Source 1What practical training is involved?
A 336-hour final-semester internship is required. It may be paid or unpaid; students make employer contact and secure the placement. Kitchen labs and dining-room service are additional.
Source 1Before you apply
Enroll at ACC, attend the information session, meet a culinary advisor and submit a petition to unlock culinary registration. A current food-handler certificate is required before the first lab, and new students complete orientation.
What still needs an individual answer
- The full-time map uses six terms over two years; a lighter load takes longer.
- Published department cost estimate is not itemized or dated.
- Future-term lab times and externship work shifts are not fixed by the Fall 2026 schedule.
Questions for your enrollment or advising appointment
- Can my entire required course sequence fit my work hours, including the daytime sections and practicum meeting?
- Which lab courses carry the $50 fee, and what do my required uniform, toolkit and books cost?
- Is my address inside the ACC taxing district, and which approved internship can satisfy the 336-hour requirement?
Sources & further reading
- 2026–27 Culinary Arts AAS award plan
- Culinary Arts program and campus
- Department FAQ: duration and registration
- Tuition and fees
- New-student orientation
- Fall 2026 actual culinary class timetable
- Internship hours and placement responsibility
- Required uniforms and tools
- Department program cost estimates
- Enrollment and food-handler requirements
Source information checked September 25, 2026.
By Culinary Field Guide · AI-assisted research of official sources. No campus visit or personal attendance is claimed. Research method and limitations.