Culinary Education Options in Chicago, IL

The windy city attracts people from all walks of life to a vigorous, vibrant, vivacious pulsating lifestyle that includes a bubbling melting pot of culinary choices. Rich and varied is the nightlife and restaurant scene providing a fascinating choice of culinary career options. An array of educational programs await those who want to take advantage of this exciting career field.

Degrees to support the culinary arts career

Education track options open to the culinary arts field include intense short-course offerings leading to a diploma and two-year courses leading to an associate’s degree or full-blown four-year programs for those seeking a bachelor’s degree. While the shorter programs center around food preparation, the four-year courses and on-line courses lean toward a focus in hotel and restaurant management.

The right program for the right reason

Selecting the education program that is right for you depends on what career track you intend to follow. Climbing the career ladder from preparation chef to the top career rung of regional chef puts you in the kitchen baking, cooking, and directing the staff. Others may choose a track in hotel and restaurant management. That first choice helps you select an education track from the wide variety of programs offered. Education programs leading to the chef title should have new, state-of-the-art cooking facilities and a teaching staff with credentials and contacts in the field. Externships, offer off-campus experience and allow you to get known in the working community.

Chicago job market

Graduates are likely to find a job they love in any of the thousands of restaurants, resorts, schools, and hotels in Illinois. Typical food industry salaries in Illinois range according to position, city, and experience. A Registered Dietitian earns an average annual salary of $59,160; a first-line supervisor will earn about $33,000; a head chef will earn approximately $55,450; and a restaurant cook earns an average salary of around $29,190.

2019 wage data sourced from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Current wage conditions in your area may vary.

On Campus Culinary Arts Programs

City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College
6301 South Halsted Street
Chicago, Ill. 60621
773-602-5000
ccc.edu/colleges/kennedy/
Bakery/Pastry chef
Culinary Arts
Chef Training
Food and Beverage Management
Restaurant management
NCACS Accredited

Chicago State University
9501 South King Drive
Chicago, Ill. 60628
773-995-2000
csu.edu
Hospitality Services Management
Food and Nutrition Studies
NCACS Accredited

City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College
30 East Lake Street
Chicago, Ill. 60601
312-553-5600
ccc.edu/colleges/washington/
Hospitality Services Management
NCACS Accredited

Loyola University of Chicago
820 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Ill. 60611
312-915-6000
luc.edu
Foods and Nutrition Studies
NCACS Accredited

Roosevelt University
430 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Ill. 60605
312-341-3500
roosevelt.edu
Hospitality Services Management
NCACS Accredited

Robert Morris College
401 South State Street
Chicago, Ill. 60605
312-935-6800
robertmorris.edu
Culinary Arts Associate Degree
NCACS Accredited

The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago (Le Cordon Bleu)
361 West Chestnut
Chicago, Ill. 60610
312-944-0882
chefs.edu/locations/chicago
NO LONGER ACCEPTING NEW STUDENTS
Culinary Arts
Chef Training
Pastry Cher/Bakery
Food and Beverage Management
Restaurant Management

Northwestern College
4829 North Lipps Avenue
Chicago, Ill. 60630
312-777-4220
nc.edu
Hospitality Services Management

The French Pastry School of Kennedy-King College at City Colleges of Chicago
226 West Jackson Blvd
Chicago, Ill. 312-726-2419
frenchpastryschool.com
Bakery and Pastry Certification

The International Culinary Schools-Chicago
350 North Orleans Street
Chicago, Ill. 60654
artinstitutes.edu/chicago/
Culinary and Restaurant Management
Professional Cooking
Culinary Arts

Fox College
6640 South Cicero
Bedford Park, Ill. 60638
708-444-4500
foxcollege.edu
Travel and Hospitality Management

Kendall College
900 North Branch Street
Chicago, Ill. 60622
312-752-2000
kendall.edu
Culinary Arts
Catering
Bakery and Pastry
Convention and Meeting Planning
Food and Beverage Operations
Hotel Management
International Hospitality Management
Le Roches School of Hospitality Management
NCACS Accredited

Online-based programs

The Art Institutes of Pittsburgh – Online Division
www.aionline.edu/
Hotel and Restaurant Management
MSCHE Accredited

Johnson and Wales University
www.jwu.edu/campus.aspx?id=25934
Baking & Pastry Arts and Food Service Management
Culinary Arts & Food Service Management
NEASC Accredited

Penn Foster Career School
www.pennfoster.edu/
Hotel and Restaurant Management
DETC & CHEA Accredited

Sullivan College
www.sullivan.edu/
Beverage Management
CCSACS & ACF Accredited