The Multiple Flavors of Florida’s Culinary Education

Florida is the land of sunshine, the land of manatees and oranges, the land of Disney. Tourism brings in almost $60 billion a year to the state. Tourism jobs in the state are among the highest in the country, and despite the struggling economy, growth is expected in the coming years. From culinary arts to hotel management, there will be numerous opportunities to become a part of the industry and to grow with it.

Getting started

The key to a good program is the same as the key to a good meal: You have to find quality ingredients. Quality culinary programs will house student-run kitchens that are well-stocked and fully equipped. Often, they will open their doors to the public for regular gourmet dinner nights or other special events. Learn from the best. Find schools that feature experienced professors and chefs. And look for support services that will help with finding a career when you graduate, including opportunities for apprenticeships, internships and a job-placement office.

Getting into a culinary program is as easy as pie. Basic requirements call for a high-school diploma or GED. Further assessment may be required, so be prepared to showcase knowledge of basic kitchen techniques. If you still need to supplement your application, work experience and attendance at professional seminars and workshops are also considered.

Earning the degree

Culinary and hospitality programs are often completed in two years or less, with some programs offering certificates or diplomas that can take a year or less to complete. More theory-intensive programs such as hospitality management can take up to four years to finish at some schools. But night classes and online options are often available, making it easy for busy, working adults to finish their degrees.

Online programs are available, and they often supplement previous hands-on kitchen experience, focusing on theory to finish the degree. Some even offer video instruction if you missed out on the kitchen experience.

Finding a job

The restaurant industry represents a pretty big slice of the tourism pie in Florida: The National Restaurant Association reports that restaurants registered $27 billion in sales last year. And the group expects a nearly 23 percent jump in jobs in the industry over the next 10 years. And with such a lucrative industry, there are plenty of opportunities to cash in. Typical food industry salaries in Florida range according to position, city, and experience. A waiter/waitress will earn an annual average salary of $26,340; a Registered Dietitian earns $62,530; a first-line supervisor will earn about $37,330; a head chef will earn approximately $53,030; and a restaurant cook earns an average salary of around $28,730.

To increase your marketability, enter local food competitions and attend food and wine festivals to network and showcase your skills. The selections reflect the diversity of the state, from the Everglades Seafood Festival to the Florida Strawberry Festival or the International Chocolate Festival. Also check out industry notables, such as Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation and the Americas Food and Beverage Show.

Campus-based Schools, with Degrees Offered and Accreditation

Atlantic Vocational Technical Center
4700 Coconut Creek Parkway
Coconut Creek, FL 33063
754-321-5100
atlantictechcenter.edu
Culinary Arts
Chef Training
ACF Accredited

Bethune Cookman College
640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
386-481-2000
cookman.edu
Hospitality Management
CCSACS Accredited

Eastern Florida State College – Cocoa Campus
1519 Clearlake Road
Cocoa, FL 32922
321-632-1111
easternflorida.edu
Culinary Operations
CCSACS Accredited

Broward Community College
111 East Las Olas Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
954-201-7350
broward.edu
Culinary Arts Management
Hospitality Administration
Hospitality and Tourism Management
Food and Beverages Management
SACS Accredited

Charlotte Technical College
18150 Murdock Circle
Port Charlotte, FL 33948
941-255-7500
charlottetechcollege.net
Commercial Foods/Culinary Arts
COE Accredited

Daytona State College
1200 W. International Speedway
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
386-506-3000
daytonastate.edu
Culinary Management
Hospitality Management
Food and Beverage Hospitality Management
Event Planning Hospitality Management
Culinary Operations Specializing in Baking and Pastry
CCSACS Accredited

Erwin Technical Center
2010 E. Hillsborough Ave.
Tampa, FL 33610
813-231-1908
erwin.edu
Culinary Arts
No regional or culinary accreditation

First Coast Technical College
2980 Collins Ave.
Saint Augustine, FL 32084-1919
904-824-4401
fctc.edu
Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts
HLC Accredited

Florida International University
11200 SW 8th St.
Miami, FL 33199
305-348-2000
fiu.edu
Hospitality Administration/Management
SACS Accredited

Florida Memorial University
15800 NW 42nd Ave.
Miami Gardens, FL 33054
305-626-3600
fmuniv.edu
Dual Hospitality Management
CCSACS Accredited

Florida State College at Jacksonville
101 W. State St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
904-633-8100
fscj.edu
Culinary Management
Food and Beverage Management
Hospitality and Tourism Management
Restaurant Management
CCSACS Accredited

Florida State University
600 W. College Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32306
850-645-7827
fsu.edu
Hospitality Management
Food and Nutrition Science
SACS Accredited

Fort Myers Technical College
3800 Michigan Ave.
Fort Myers, FL 33916
239-334-4544
fortmyerstech.edu
Commercial Foods/Culinary Arts
COE Accredited

George Stone Technical Center
2400 Longleaf Drive
Pensacola, FL 32526
850-941-6200
georgestonecenter.com
Culinary Operations
COE Accredited

Gulf Coast State College
5230 West Highway 98
Panama City, FL 32401
850-769-1551
gulfcoast.edu
Culinary Management
Hospitality Management
CCSACS & ACF Accredited

Hillsborough Community College
1206 North Park Road
Plant City, FL 33566
813-757-2105
hccfl.edu
Culinary Management
Hospitality Administration Management
SACS Accredited

Johnson and Wales University – North Miami
1701 Northeast 127th Street
North Miami, FL 33181-2518
305-892-7000
jwu.edu
Baking and Pastry Arts
Culinary Arts
Baking & Pastry Arts and Food Service Management
Culinary Arts and Food Service Management
Culinary Nutrition
Food Marketing
Food Service Entrepreneurship
Hotel and Lodging Management
International Hotel and Tourism Management
Sports/Entertainment/Event Management
Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Management
Restaurant, Food and Beverage Management
NEASC Accredited

Keiser University Center for Culinary Arts at Melbourne
900 S. Babcock St.
Melbourne, FL 32901
321-255-2255
keiseruniversity.edu
Baking and Pastry Arts
Culinary Arts
CCSACS Accredited

Keiser University Center for Culinary Arts at Sarasota
6151 Lake Osprey Drive
Sarasota, FL 34240
866-KEISER-2
Baking and Pastry Arts
Culinary Arts
CCSACS Accredited

Keiser University Center for Culinary Arts at Tallahassee
1700 Halstead Blvd.
Tallahassee, FL 32309
850-906-9494
Baking and Pastry Arts
Culinary Arts
CCSACS Accredited

Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando
8511 Commodity Circle, Suite 100
Orlando, FL 32819
888-793-3222
chefs.edu/locations/orlando
NO LONGER ACCEPTING NEW STUDENTS
Culinary Arts
Patisserie and Baking
Hospitality and Restaurant Management
ACCSC, ACICS, & ACF Accredited

Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Miami
3221 Enterprise Way
Miramar, FL 33025
888-569-3222
chefs.edu/locations/miami
NO LONGER ACCEPTING NEW STUDENTS
Culinary Arts
Patisserie and Baking
Hospitality and Restaurant Management
ACCSC & ACICS Accredited

Lindsey Hopkins Technical College
750 NW 20th St.
Miami, FL 33127
305-324-6070
lindsey.dadeschools.net
Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts
COE Accredited

Locklin Tech
5330 Berryhill Road
Milton, FL 32570
850-983-5700
locklintech.com
Culinary Operations
SACS Accredited

Lorenzo Walker Technical College
3702 Estey Ave.
Naples, FL 34104
239-377-0900
lwtc.edu
Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts
SACSCC Accredited

Lynn University
3601 N. Military Trail
Boca Raton, FL 33431
561-237-7000
lynn.edu
Resort and Hotel Management
CCSACS Accredited

Manatee Technical College
5603 34th St. West
Bradenton, FL 34210
941-751-7900
manateetech.edu
Culinary Arts/Commercial Foods
Academy of Hospitality, Travel and Tourism
COE & SACS Accredited

McFatter Technical College
6500 Nova Drive
Davie, FL 33317
754-321-5700
mcfattertechnicalcollege.edu
Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts
ACF Accredited

Miami-Dade College
300 NE 2nd Ave.
Miami, FL 33132-2204
305-237-8888
mdc.edu
Hospitality Administration
Travel and Tourism
CCSACS Accredited

Mid-Florida Tech
2900 West Oak Ridge Road
Orlando, FL 32809-3799
407-251-6047
orangetechcollege.net/midflorida/
Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts
Hotel and Resort Business Management
COE, SACS, & CITA Accredited

Northwood University
2600 N. Military Trail
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
561-478-5500
northwood.edu
Hotel, Restaurant and Resort Management
HLC Accredited

Palm Beach State College
4200 Congress Ave.
Lake Worth, FL 33461
866-576-7222
palmbeachstate.edu
Food Service Management
Hospitality and Tourism Management
SACS Accredited

Pensacola State College
1000 College Blvd.
Pensacola, FL 32504
850-484-1000
pensacolastate.edu
Culinary Arts
Culinary Management
Hospitality and Tourism Management
CCSACS Accredited

Pinellas Technical Education Center – Clearwater
6100 154th Ave. N
Clearwater, FL 33760-2140
pcsb.org/myptc
Commercial Food and Culinary Arts
ACFEFAC Accredited

Pinellas Technical Education Center – St. Petersburg
901 34th St. S
St. Petersburg, FL 33711-2298
727-893-2500
Culinary Operations
ACFEFAC Accredited

Ridge Career Center
7700 State Road 544
Winter Haven, FL 33881
863.419.3060
schools.polk-fl.net/ridge/
Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts
SACS Accredited

Riveroak Technical College
415 SW Pinewood Drive
Live Oak, FL 32064
386-364-2750
rtc.suwannee.k12.fl.us
Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts
COE Accredited

Robert Morgan Educational Center
18180 SW 122nd Ave.
Miami, FL 33177
305-253-9920
robertmorganeducenter.org
Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts
SACS Accredited

Saint Thomas University
16401 SW 37th Ave.
Miami Gardens, FL 33054
305-628-6674
stu.edu
Tourism/Hospitality
SACS Accredited

Suncoast Technical College
4748 Beneva Road
Sarasota, FL 34233-1756
(941) 924-1365
suncoast.edu
Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts
Dietetic Management and Supervision
COE & SACS Accredited

Schiller International University
300 East Bay Drive
Largo, FL 33770-3716
727-736-5082
schiller.edu
International Hospitality and Tourism
ACICS Accredited

Sheridan Technical College
5400 Sheridan St.
Hollywood, FL 33021
754-321-5400
sheridantechnicalcollege.edu
Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts
COE, SACS, & ACF Accredited

South Florida State College
600 West College Drive
Avon Park, FL 33825
863-453-6661
southflorida.edu
Hospitality and Tourism Management
Food Management, Production and Services
CCSACS Accredited

Saint Petersburg College
P.O. Box 13489
St. Petersburg, FL 33733-3489
727-341-4772
spcollege.edu
Hospitality Administration/Management
CCSACS Accredited

The International Culinary Schools at the Art Institute at Fort Lauderdale
1779 SE 17th St.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 3316-3013
954-463-3000
artinstitutes.edu/fort-lauderdale
Baking and Pastry
Culinary Arts
Culinary Management
Art of Cooking (diploma)
CCSACS & ACF Accredited

The International Culinary Schools at the Art Institute at Tampa
4401 North Himes Ave., Suite 150
Tampa, FL 33614-7086
866-703-3277
artinstitutes.edu/tampa
Baking and Pastry
Culinary Arts
Wine, Spirits and Beverage Management
Culinary Management
Food and Beverage Management
CCSACS & ACF Accredited

Traviss Technical College
3225 Winter Lake Road
Lakeland, FL 33803
863-499-2700
traviss.edu
Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts
COE, CITA, & SACS Accredited

University of Central Florida
4000 Central Florida Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32816
407-823-2000
ucf.edu
Event Management
Hospitality Management
Restaurant and Food Service Management
CCSACS Accredited

University of Florida
201 Criser Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000
352-392-1365
ufl.edu
Food Science and Human Nutrition
SACS Accredited

Valencia College
P.O. Box 3028
Orlando, FL 32802-3028
407-299-5000
valenciacollege.edu
Hospitality and Tourism Management
CCSACS Accredited

Washington-Holmes Technical Center
757 Hoyt St.
Chipley, FL 32428
850-638-1180
washingtonholmestechcenter.schoolinsites.com
Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts
COE Accredited

Webber International University
1201 N. Scenic Highway
Babson Park, FL 33827
800-741-1844
webber.edu
Hospitality and Tourism Management
CCSACS Accredited

Online-based Programs

American Culinary Federation
The ACF has over 200 chapters in the United States; its main campus is located in Florida
180 Center Place Way
St. Augustine, FL
904-824-4468
www.acfchefs.org
Continuing Education
Chef Certification
Chef Educators
Food Safety Certification
ACFEFAC Accredited

The Art Institutes of Pittsburgh – Online Division
The Ai has over 40 campus locations across North America, plus this online campus
420 Blvd of the Allies
Pittsburgh, PA
412-291-6200
www.aionline.edu
Hotel and Restaurant Management
Culinary Management
MSCHE Accredited

Ashworth College
430 Technology Pkwy
Norcross, GA
770-729-9400
www.ashworthcolleg.edu
Professional Gourmet Cooking and Catering
Hotel and Restaurant Management
DETC Accredited

DeVry University
This University has 90 campus locations in 26 different states
One Tower Lane
Oakbrook Terrace, IL
1-866-338-7934
www.devry.edu
Hospitality Management
HLC Accredited

eCornell
eCornell is an online program and subsidiary of Cornell University, located in New York
950 Danby Road, Suite 150
Ithaca, NY
607-330-3200
www.ecornell.com
Leadership and Strategic Management
Project Leadership and Systems Design
Financial Management
Management Essentials
Human Resources Management
Hospitality and Foodservice Management
Certificate in plant-based nutrition
HRCI and PMI Approved

Johnson and Wales University
JWU has campuses in Providence, Charlotte, and North Miami; its largest campus is in Rhode Island
8 Abbott Park Place, Providence, RI 02903
1-800-DIAL-JWU
www.jwu.edu
Baking & Pastry Arts and Food Service Management
Culinary Arts and Food Service Management
NEASC Accredited

New England Culinary Institute
NECI has two campuses in Vermont; its main campus is in Montpelier
56 College Street
Montpelier, VT 05602
877-223-6324
www.neci.edu
Hospitality and Restaurant Management
ACCSC Accredited

Penn Foster Career School
925 Oak Street
Scranton, PA 18515
570-343-9635
www.pennfoster.edu
Hotel and Restaurant Management
Catering
DETC & CHEA Accredited

Sullivan University
SU has three campuses in Louisville, Lexington and Fort Knox. The main campus for its Global e-Learning program is located in Louisville
2100 Gardiner Lane
Louisville, Kentucky 40205
502-413-8830
1-866-755-7887
www.sullivan.edu
Beverage Management
CCSACS & ACF Accredited

University of Phoenix
This University has campuses in over 40 states, and two locations in Canada
4602 East Elwood Street
Phoenix, AZ
480-968-0587
www.phoenix.edu
Hospitality, Travel and Tourism
HLC Accredited