Select a Culinary College in Michigan

Michigan is one of the most diverse states – with over 100 ethnic communities. With those groups come culinary influences, creating a cornucopia of options for aspiring chefs to try or adapt. But the field isn’t too crowded: After training in one of the state’s culinary schools, you could become the next top chef and introduce your own unique brand of cuisine.

Choosing a program

There are numerous schools across the state that have options for getting your degree in culinary arts or restaurant and hospitality management. When evaluating culinary programs, be sure to look for some key elements. First, find a program that has a fully-equipped professional training kitchen that is run by students and open to the public. It’s even better if the kitchen is part of a student-run restaurant or public events like gourmet dinner nights. For example, The Culinary Institute of Michigan has a full-service restaurant and a coffee and pastry shop run by students. Next, look for experienced instructors and industry professional teaching the courses. Finally, be sure the school has career-support services, including counseling, placement and opportunities for internships and apprenticeships.

Getting into culinary school will be easy for most, as most programs have an open-admissions policy that requires only a high-school diploma or GED. If you decide on a more selective school, you may be asked to undergo a test of your basic kitchen knowledge. If you have work experience in the kitchen or have attended seminars or workshops, that may also be considered for admission.

Options for getting your degree

Though some programs in hospitality and restaurant management can take up to four years to complete, most culinary programs can be finished in about half that time. Options are available for accelerating your studies, including choosing a certificate or diploma instead of a degree. Most of these programs can be completed in about a year or less. Night and weekend classes, summer classes and online courses can also help fast-track your studies.

There are some online culinary programs available, with video instruction possible in some cases to learn cooking techniques in your home. In most cases, online courses would be taken to compliment previous lab or kitchen experience to complete a degree. Many more options are available to finish a restaurant or hospitality management degree exclusively online.

Salary expectations and the job market

A number of factors will influence your opportunities in the job market and what kind of salary you can expect to make. The biggest influence will be the kind of market you’re in – either rural or metropolitan – and what kind of experience you have. Of course, the top jobs at the leading kitchens will pay the highest salaries. A waiter/waitress will earn an annual average salary of $25,500; a Registered Dietitian earns $56,070; a first-line supervisor will earn about $37,070; a head chef will earn approximately $55,390; and a restaurant cook earns an average salary of around $26,820.

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

Finding or getting a job can often depend on who you know. Help your chances by networking and joining professional networks such as the Michigan Restaurant Association. You’ll get a chance to meet industry professionals and will have access to job listing, conferences and other industry events. At the local level, you can attend food and wine festivals to meet area celebrity chefs and get a feel for the latest culinary trends. You’ll also have a chance to enter competitions and show off your own skills. Who knows who will be there that you can impress?

Campus-based programs

Bay de Noc Community College
2001 N. Lincoln Road
Escanaba, MI 49829-2511
906-786-5802
baycollege.edu
Hospitality Management
NCACS Accredited

Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
989-774-4000
cmich.edu
Foodservice Administration
Hospitality Service Administration
HLC Accredited

Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
734-487-1849
emich.edu
Hotel and Restaurant Management
NCACS Accredited

Ferris State University
1201 S. State St.
Big Rapids, MI 49307
231-591-2000
ferris.edu
Culinary Management
Hotel Management
HLC Accredited

Grand Rapids Community College
143 Bostwick Ave. Northeast
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616-234-4000
grcc.edu
Culinary Arts
Culinary Management
Baking and Pastry
HLC Accredited

Grand Valley State University
1 Campus Drive
Allendale, MI 49401-9401
616-331-5000
gvsu.edu
Hospitality and Tourism Management
HLC Accredited

Henry Ford Community College
5101 Evergreen Road
Dearborn, MI 48128
800-585-4322
hfcc.edu
Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts Supervision
Culinary Skills
Hospitality Professional Management
Hospitality Service Career
Hotel/Restaurant Management
HLC Accredited

Lake Michigan College
2755 E. Napier Ave.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022-1881
269-927-3571
lakemichigancollege.edu
Hospitality Management
HLC Accredited

Lansing Community College
P.O. Box 40010
Lansing, MI 48901-7210
517-483-1957
lcc.edu
Food Service Management
Hotel/Lodging Management
Hotel-Lodging/Food Management
NCACS Accredited

Macomb Community College
14500 E. 12 Mile Road
Warren, MI USA 48088
586-445-7999
macomb.edu
Culinary Arts
Culinary Management
Prep Cook
Hospitality Management
HLC Accredited

Madonna University
36600 Schoolcraft Road
Livonia, MI 48150
800-852-4951
madonna.edu
Food Science
Hospitality Management
HLC Accredited

Michigan State University
250 Hannah Administration Building
East Lansing, MI 48824-0590
517-355-8332
msu.edu
Food Science
Food Service Management
Hospitality Business
HLC Accredited

Mott Community College
1401 East Court St.
Flint, MI 48503
810-762-0200
mcc.edu
Culinary Arts
Food Services Management
HLC Accredited

Northern Michigan University
1401 Presque Isle Ave.
Marquette, MI 49855
800-682-9797
nmu.edu
Hospitality Management
HLC Accredited

Northwood University
3272 E. 12 Mile Road, Suite 105
Warren, MI 48092
586-575-9190
northwood.edu
Hotel, Restaurant and Resort Management
HLC Accredited

Northwestern Michigan College
1701 E. Front St.,
Traverse City, MI 49686
231-995-1000
nmc.edu
Culinary Arts
HLC Accredited

Oakland Community College
2480 Opdyke Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
248-341-2000
oaklandcc.edu
Culinary Arts
Baking and Pastry Arts
Hotel Management
HLC Accredited

Schoolcraft College
18600 Haggerty Road
Livonia, MI 48152-2696
734-462-4400
schoolcraft.edu
Culinary Arts
Culinary Baking and Pastry Arts
Culinary Management
HLC Accredited

The Culinary Institute of Michigan at Baker College of Muskegon
1903 Marquette Avenue
Muskegon, MI 49442
231-777-5200
culinaryinstitutemi.com
Baking and Pastry Certificate
Baking and Pastry Arts
Culinary Arts
Food and Beverage Management
HLC & ACF Accredited

The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes of Michigan
28125 Cabot Drive, suite 120
Novi, MI 48377
248-675-3800
artinstitutes.edu/detroit/
Culinary Arts
Culinary Management
Professional Baking and Pastry
HLC Accredited

Washtenaw Community College
4800 E. Huron River Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105-4800,
734-973-3300
wccnet.edu
Culinary Arts
Hospitality Management
HLC Accredited

Wayne County Community College District
801 W. Fort St.
Detroit, MI 48226
313-496-2600
wcccd.edu
Food Service Systems Management
Hotel and Restaurant Management
HLC Accredited

Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5200
269-387-1000
wmich.edu
Food Service Administration
HLC 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