I'd learned simple things growing up. Pasta, eggs, french toast etc. The rest I was able to learn when I got my first apartment mainly by trial and error. So much of it is common sense though (don't burn your food but don't undercook it, seasoning is good etc.)

Now that it's 2015, all you have to do is Google "how do I cook x?" anyway so I don't think I need to worry much about these graduates.