North Dakota Cooking School Directory

So you want to be a chef? North Dakota has a variety of options for getting your culinary degree, or the training to run your own kitchen. Don’t worry about the deep winter freeze cooling your drive, you’ll be able to heat things up as you experiment and perfect your craft in the kitchen, starting you on your way to a hot culinary career.

Finding the right program

Your life-long training and development as a professional chef starts with your school studies. It’s important to choose a quality program that will provide you the best foundation from which to begin. The centerpiece of any culinary program that you consider is the kitchen: Make sure that it is well-stocked, run by the students and open to the public. It should also be used in public events like gourmet-dinner nights or be part of a student-run restaurant. Other important components include experienced instructors, job-placement services and opportunities for internships or apprenticeships.

Once you find the right program, getting in should be the easy part. Most culinary schools have an open admission process, and basic requirements are a high-school diploma or GED. If the program is more selective, you may be asked to take a test of your basic kitchen knowledge, or to show that you have some previous experience or training, either through work or through attendance at workshops or conferences.

Options for accelerating your studies

There are a number of options for completing your degree in little time. Most culinary programs can be completed in about two years or less – about half the time of a traditional degree. Certificate and diploma programs are also available that can be completed in a little over a year or less. Accelerated tracks are available, as are options for night and weekend classes, summer sessions and online programs, offering flexibility to students who want to keep working while they finish their degree or who just want to get the fastest start on their new career.

Video instruction can bring the classroom right into your kitchen through some online programs. Other offer classes to complement previous lab work to finish your degree online. More online programs have hospitality and restaurant management options which can be completed virtually anywhere.

Expectations for the job market

Modest job growth is expected over the next 10 years, with the National Restaurant Association predicting an increase of about 13 percent. Salaries aren’t as easy to predict, as they are influenced by a number of factors. Where you work – both the establishment and the geographical location – and how much experience you have will be the biggest predictors of salary. Position will also be a big factor.  A waiter/waitress will earn an annual average salary of $23,990; a Registered Dietitian earns $58,840; a first-line supervisor will earn about $38,190; a head chef will earn approximately $50,800; and a restaurant cook earns an average salary of around $28,690.

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

Joining professional organizations like the North Dakota Hospitality Association and attending local food and wine festivals will allow you to network by meeting industry professionals and will grant you access to conferences, industry events and insider job openings. Festivals will also offer the chance to enter cooking competitions where you can show off your culinary skills and start building your professional reputation.

Campus-based programs

Cankdeska Cikana Community College
214 First Ave.
Fort Totten, ND 58335
(701) 766-4415
littlehoop.edu
Hospitality and Recreation Marketing
HLC Accredited

North Dakota State College of Science
800 Sixth St. North
Wahpeton, ND 58076-0002
800-342-4325
ndscs.edu
Culinary Arts
HLC Accredited

North Dakota State University
1340 Administration Ave.
Fargo, ND 58102
701-231-8011
ndsu.edu
Food Safety
Food Science
Hospitality and Tourism Management
HLC Accredited

United Tribes Technical College
3315 University Drive
Bismarck, ND 58504
701-255-3285
uttc.edu
Nutrition and Foodservice
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