Finding Culinary Education Schools in Utah

The corn won’t be the only thing growing in Utah: Restaurant jobs are expected to rise by about 20 percent over the next 10 years, according to the National Restaurant Association. With so much demand predicted, aspiring chefs can take advantage of the opportunity and prepare themselves now by choosing from among the state’s variety of culinary programs.

The selection process

Choosing from the menu of options among culinary schools can be made a little easier with some direction. There are some key elements that students should look for in prospective culinary schools to ensure the best career training. First, the centerpiece of the program should be a professional training kitchen that is fully-stocked and is run by the students. An added bonus is a student-run restaurant or other public events such as gourmet-dinner nights. Next, a quality culinary program should feature experienced instructors, including chefs and industry professionals. Finally, look for programs that have career-support services, including help with placement and opportunities for internships, externships or study abroad.

Getting into the school of your choice should be attainable. Most culinary programs have an open-admissions process and only require students to have a high-school diploma or GED or other basic academic criteria. If the school is more competitive, students may be asked to take a test of basic kitchen knowledge, or they will need to show other culinary know-how through work experience or attendance at workshops or seminars.

Degree options

Most culinary programs offer an associate’s degree that will take about two years or less to complete. For those hoping to enter the job market even sooner, there are certificate or diploma options that can take about a year or less. Programs for restaurant or hospitality management can offer either an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree, with typical completion times of two and four years, respectively. Options including night and weekend classes, summer session and online courses can be used to accelerate the process.

Typically, there are more options for completing a degree in restaurant or hospitality management online. Culinary programs are available online, and video instruction is available in some cases to learn cooking techniques right in your own kitchen. In other cases, courses can be taken online to compliment previous lab or kitchen experience in order to complete a culinary degree.

Starting on your dream career

Graduates are likely to find a job they love in any of the thousands of restaurants, resorts, schools, and hotels in Utah. Typical food industry salaries in Utah range according to position, city, and experience. A Registered Dietitian earns an average annual salary of $58,450; a first-line supervisor will earn about $33,350; a head chef will earn approximately $44,670; and a restaurant cook earns an average salary of around $27,010.

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

Networking can improve your chances of finding the best jobs, no matter what stage of your career you’re in. Join professional networks such as the Utah Restaurant Association to meet industry professionals and gain access to conferences and other events. Local food and wine festivals can also be fertile ground for networking, as you can often meet local celebrity chefs and other regional industry professionals. You’ll also have a chance to enter competitions, where you may catch the eye – or the tastes – of potential employers or clients.

Campus-based programs

Bridgerland Applied Technology College
1301 N. 600 West
Logan, UT 84321
435-753-6780
batc.edu
Culinary Arts (14 months)
CCOE Accredited

Davis Applied Technology College
550 E. 300 South
Kaysville, UT 84037
801-593-2500
datc.edu
Culinary Arts
NASCCC Accredited

Ogden-Weber Applied Technology Center
Ogden, UT 84401
801-612-4178
owatc.edu
Culinary Arts
CCOE Accredited

Salt Lake Community College
4600 S. Redwood Road
Salt Lake City, UT 84123
801-957-7522
slcc.edu
Culinary Arts
Hospitality and Tourism
NWCCU Accredited

Snow College
150 E. College Ave.
Ephraim, UT 84627
435-283-7000
snow.edu
Culinary Arts
NWCCU Accredited

Utah State University
1400 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-1400
435-797-1000
usu.edu
Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences
NWCCU Accredited

Utah Valley State College
800 W, University Parkway
Orem, UT 84058
801-863-4636
uvu.edu
Culinary Arts
Hospitality Management
NWCCU 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