Culinary Schools in Chicago, IL

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Turn your love of cooking or baking into a rewarding career in the culinary field. Accredited certificate, diploma, or associate degree programs will help you to develop basic and advanced skills to apply for entry-level and mid-level employment in food service establishments. More than 66 percent of chefs work in restaurants while others run their own establishments or work in spas, hospitals, hotels, cruise ships, schools, airline catering, and other places. The salary for chefs ranges from $26,360 annually for entry-level workers to $92,300 for executive chefs at five-star hotels and restaurants.

The Illinois Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act requires any person working in a restaurant preparing, storing, or serving food and handling food equipment to complete Food Handler training and obtain an ANSI-accredited Food Handler certificate within 30 days of hire. Candidates must complete a basic food safety course and pass an exam with a score of 75 percent or higher. Certificates are valid for three years from the date of issue.

Kendall College

The Culinary Arts program offered by Kendall College leads to an associate degree and introduces students to restaurant management practices. The curriculum fuses the art and science of cooking in theory and practice and includes leadership and collaboration strategies required for a successful career. The program will commence with cooking fundamentals and proceed to advanced culinary techniques and skills. Students will apply their knowledge in the school’s Zagat-rated, fine-dining restaurant, which will give them the confidence to assume a significant role in any renowned restaurant. The associate degree will require the completion of 25 general education credits upon which to build a foundation for learning. Core courses will include but not limited to nutritional cooking, foundations of professional cooking, professional growth and development, and advanced methods of cooking. An accelerated 5-quarter program is available for those who want to complete the degree at a faster pace.

Program overview:
A.A.S. in Culinary Arts
Duration: 2 years
Credit hours: 65

Prerequisites:

  • Complete application for admission online
  • Submit high school and college transcripts where applicable
  • Provide proof of English language proficiency if English is not the applicant’s native language
  • Must have a minimum high school GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale

Program cost:
The total cost for fees and tuition is $34,744 per year. Additional costs include internship and audit fees, textbooks, and mandatory health insurance. An Opportunity Grant is available to reduce the cost of tuition by up to 25% for Culinary Arts students.

Website: https://nl.edu/kendall-college/
Address: 900 N. Branch Street, Chicago, IL 60642
Phone: 888-90-KENDALL

Kennedy-King College – City Colleges of Chicago

Kennedy-King College’s A.A.S. degree in Culinary Arts is a sequential learning program that requires four semesters to complete. The program will include lectures, discussion, live demonstrations, and hands-on activities designed to develop skills essential for work in a commercial food service environment. Additional instruction will seek to develop methods and techniques in ethnic and classical menus. Students will learn management skills, budgeting techniques, cost control, merchandising, business planning, resume writing, and interviewing techniques. Core courses include Food Sanitation and Safety, Chef’s Training, Plant-Based Cooking, Nutrition for Chefs, and Restaurant Service. General education courses must be completed to satisfy the requirements for the degree. Upon completion of the program, students will receive the ServSafe® Sanitation Certification and will be eligible for the City of Chicago and State of Illinois Sanitation certificates upon completion.

Program overview:
A.A.S. in Culinary Arts
Duration: 4 semesters
Credit hours: 64

Prerequisites:

  • Complete application for admission to City College of Chicago online
  • Submit high school and college transcripts where applicable
  • Attend a new student orientation for an overview of the registration process

Program cost:
Tuition costs $146 per credit for in-district students and $384 for out-of-district students. The cost of books, fees, uniforms, and insurance is not included in the cost.

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Website: https://www.ccc.edu/programs/Pages/Culinary-Arts-Associate-in-Applied-Science.aspx
Address: 6301 South Halsted St Chicago, IL 60621
Phone: (773) 602-5000

Roosevelt University (Formerly Robert Morris College)

Roosevelt University provides culinary arts students with knowledge and skills to work in top-rated restaurants in Chicago. The Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts is among the top culinary programs in Illinois and ranked number 3 in the Midwest. It emphasizes experience-based learning inside and outside the classroom and includes presentations from guest chefs and visits to restaurants and farmers’ markets in the Chicago area. Sample core courses include restaurant trends, American Cuisine, menu management, seafood, restaurant operations management, and taste of the world. Graduates will have new skills and confidence to work in a commercial setting and continue their education in culinary arts.

Program overview:
A.A.S. in Culinary Arts
Duration: 4 semesters
Credit hours: 64

Prerequisites:

  • Submit a completed application to Roosevelt University
  • Must have a high school diploma or GED

Program cost:
Tuition costs $31,493 per academic year (12-18 credits per semester). The cost of books, fees, uniforms, and insurance is not included in the cost.

Website: https://robertmorris.edu/CULINARY/
Address: 430 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: (312) 341-3500

Impact Kitchen @ The Hatchery

Impact Culinary Training offers free culinary training to meet the need for skilled trained kitchen staff in Chicago and address the high unemployment rate among young adults on the West Side. The program is open to young adults between the ages of 16 to 24. The program leads to a Certificate in Food Handling and includes 8 weeks of instruction in the classroom and 4 weeks of paid internship at a Chicagoland restaurant. The emphasis of the training is food handling and job readiness. Training will include knife skills, equipment identification, nutrition, and cooking methods.

Program overview:
Certificate in Food Handling
Duration: 12 weeks (including 4 weeks of paid internship).

Prerequisites:

  • Must be between the age of 16 to 24
  • Read the FAQs on the school’s website and contact a representative with any questions
  • Submit a completed interest form
  • Attend an information session and informal interview

Program cost:
Training is offered free to eligible students.

Website: https://www.impactculinary.org/
Address: 135 N. Kedzie, Chicago, IL 60447
Phone: (312) 343-9812

Chinese American Service League

The Culinary Training Program offered by the Chinese American Service League is part of the CASL’s Adult Employment Program. Students will acquire basic culinary knowledge, skills, and experience to qualify for entry-level employment in the food service industry. There will be an emphasis on basic preparation and cooking techniques of Western Culture, sanitation procedures, kitchen management, kitchen equipment usage, and pre-employment skills. Instruction will include classroom theory and hands-on practice offered in English and Chinese. Students will benefit from daily vocational English-as-a-Second-Language and other support services such as transportation stipends and childcare subsidy. ServeSafe Sanitation Manager’s Certification Course for city sanitation license is included in the program cost.

Program overview:
Culinary Training Program (Certificate)
Duration: 12 weeks
Contact hours: 480

Prerequisites:

  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Have a valid social security card and authorization to work in the U.S.
  • Provide proof of address/residency
  • Provide documentation of income verification
  • Must be prepared to attend all classes

Program cost:
The full cost of the program is $5,530. It includes all fees, expenses, learning materials, uniforms, and equipment.

Website: https://www.caslservice.org/ctp/
Address: 2141 S. Tan Court, Chicago, IL 60616
Phone: (312) 791-0418

St Augustine College

The Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts offered by St Augustine College equips students with the expertise to qualify for mid-level positions in the food service industry. The curriculum requires completion of 16 credit hours of general education courses, 4 credit hours of support courses, and 40 credit hours of core courses. Graduates will be eligible for employment is cooks, first cooks, and sub-chefs in hotels, restaurants, snack bars, hospitals, and other places. They will under the concepts of culinary techniques, procedures, styles, and services, be able to apply knowledge and skills in culinary specifications and categories, apply basic and advanced food preparation techniques to culinary skills, and demonstrate safe handling and use of food, tools, and equipment.

Program overview:
Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
Duration: 2 years
Credit hours: 60

Prerequisites:

  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Submit official high school transcript or GED
  • Provide an official transcript of any applicable college-level courses completed
  • Ability to benefit testing is available for applicants who have not completed high school or passed the GED

Program cost:
The cost of tuition is $11,720 per year for full-time students (12 to 18 credits). The cost of books, uniforms, fees, materials, and insurance is not included in the cost.

Website: https://www.staugustine.edu/academics/academic-programs/associate-of-applied-sciences/culinary-arts/
Address: 1345 W. Argyle St., Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: 773-878-8756