Explore Your Culinary Learning Options in Maryland

Maryland offers seafood lovers an ocean of options, from crab cakes to lobster boils and oyster shucks. Culinary schools are primed to take advantage of regional influences to produce chefs seasoned in not just coastal cuisine, but also a menu of other options. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your culinary education in Maryland.

Going to School

No matter the specialty or the cuisine, the centerpiece of any good culinary program is where the magic happens: the kitchen. Make sure that the kitchen is run by the students and has a full range of up-to-date equipment. Even better is if the school has a restaurant that is run by the students and is open to the public. It will allow students to practical experience and exposure. Look for programs that are also taught by experienced professors and chefs and that have assistance with job placement or internships.

Getting in to culinary school usually only requires that you’ve finished high school or earned your GED. Some more selective programs will ask for a measurement of your aptitude in the kitchen, proven through work experience or a skills assessment of basic kitchen knowledge and techniques. Other training or attendance at culinary workshops or seminars will also improve your application.

Graduation in Less Time

Culinary programs are like the fast food of academia – the programs can be completed in much less time and can offer more immediate career satisfaction. Most programs can be completed in two years or less, resulting in an associate’s degree or other diploma. Some schools also have options for one-year certificates, which can be used to begin a culinary career or transfer to a more traditional four-year program. Night classes and summer school can also offer flexibility for working adults who want to expedite their education or who want to work it in with other responsibilities.

Online courses are available, with video instruction offered in some programs to cover cooking techniques. Online programs can also be used in conjunction with previous classroom or working experience to finish your degree. And, of course, hospitality and management-oriented programs can be offered exclusively online.

Starting Your Career

Graduates are likely to find a job they love in any of the thousands of restaurants, resorts, schools, and hotels in Maryland. Typical food industry salaries in Maryland range according to position, city, and experience. A Registered Dietitian earns an average annual salary of $68,550; a first-line supervisor will earn about $39,540; a head chef will earn approximately $55,930; and a restaurant cook earns an average salary of around $29,160.

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

Network early to improve opportunities in your career. You can start attending food festivals early in your education and entering food competitions to showcase your skills. Attending festivals also allows you to meet local chefs and to network with other culinary professionals. Check out professional organizations like the Restaurant Association of Maryland for more networking opportunities, as well as access to conferences and other industry events.

Campus-based schools

Allegany College of Maryland
12401 Willowbrook Road, SE
Cumberland, MD 21502-2596
301-784-5005
allegany.edu
Culinary Arts
Hotel and Restaurant Management
Travel/Tourism
CHEMSACS Accredited

Anne Arundel Community College
101 College Parkway
Arnold, MD 21012-1895
410-777-2222
aacc.edu
Culinary Arts Operations
Hospitality Business Management
Baking and Pastry Arts Operations
Catering Operations
Baking and Pastry Cooking Skills
Hotel/Lodging Management
Hotel/Restaurant Management
Restaurant Cooking Skills
ACF, ACPHA, & MSCHE Accredited

Baltimore City Community College
2901 Liberty Heights Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21215-7807
410-462-8000
bccc.edu
Hospitality Management
MSCHE Accredited

DeVry University
4550 Montgomery Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-652-8477
devry.edu
Hospitality Management
HLC Accredited

Frederick Community College
7932 Opossumtown Pike
Frederick, MD 21702
301-846-2400
frederick.edu
Culinary Arts
Hospitality Supervision
Culinary Arts and Supervision
MSCHE Accredited

Howard Community College
10901 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, MD 21044-3197
410-772-4800
howardcc.edu
Hospitality Management
MSCHE Accredited

L’Academie de Cuisine
16006 Industrial Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20877-1414
301-670-8670
lacademie.com
Culinary Arts
Pastry Arts
ACCET Accredited

Lincoln College of Technology – Columbia
9325 Snowden River Parkway
Columbia, MD 21046
410-290-7100
lincolnedu.com/campus/columbia-md
Culinary Arts
International Baking and Pastry
Food and Beverage Management
Culinary Management
ACCSCT Accredited

Montgomery College
51 Mannakee St.
Rockville, MD 20850
301-279-5000
montgomerycollege.edu
Food and Beverage Management
Hospitality Management
Hospitality Supervision and Leadership
NKBA Accredited

Morgan State University
1700 East Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore MD 21251
443-885-3333
morgan.edu
Hotel, Restaurant and Hospitality Management
MSCHE Accredited

Wor-Wic Community College
32000 Campus Drive
Salisbury, MD 21804-1486
410-543-4655
worwic.edu
Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Management
MSCHE 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