Culinary Training Colleges in Boston, MA

No longer is the Boston cuisine known as simply bean and cod. The city started a remake of its restaurant scene in the early 1980s and now boasts a culinary cultural cornucopia catering to any taste. Quality restaurants can be found serving anything from Thai, Italian, Brazilian, Korean, Indian, sushi, to traditional steak and potatoes, and, yes, baked beans. Having Julia Childs living in nearby Cambridge helped attract noteworthy chefs to the area. For those who want to be part of this exciting shift, several Boston schools offer coursework to prepare new chefs and enhance the skills of those working in the field.

Types of Degrees

The nation’s top culinary arts schools may be found in places such as New York, Florida, and California, but you can still get a quality culinary education in Boston. Programs offered in the city lead to certificates in food and nutrition, or a two-year associate’s degree in chef training or culinary arts, or a four-year bachelor’s degree in Hospitality services and management. Generally, certificates and associate’s degrees hone in on food service while the higher degrees and online education center on restaurant and food service management principles.

Choose the Right School for You

Before you put out money for an education, consider your goals. If restaurant management is more to your liking; some schools specifically cater to those goals. Do you love to cook and be involved in the art of food preparation? There are courses designed specifically for that career track. If food preparation excites you, carefully research the schools available; do they have up-to-date cooking facilities? Is the teaching staff qualified and well-respected in the local marketplace? Are there externships available that put you in local restaurants and hotels. Part of the process of education is getting known in the local culinary field so you get that good job following graduation.

Job Outlook

Nationwide, 3.1 million people work in the food service industry. With that size population, growth and turnover create a constant need for entry-level positions. The trend holds true in Boston. Food preparation and food supervisors account for 88 percent of the work force in culinary arts, with the head cooks and chefs making up the other 12 percent. The large base of the employment pyramid means good projections for entry-level workers. The tough competition comes at the top end. As in any industry, those with a quality education, good work ethic, and creativity rise to the top. Entry-level line cooks can expect to make $23,000 to 30,000 per year; and an assistant pastry chef should make $36,000 to $51,000 each year. On the top end, an executive chef can expect to bring in $66,000 to $100,000.

Online Culinary Arts Learning

The Art Institute Online
Culinary Management
Hotel and Restaurant Management
www.aionline.edu
MSCH Accredited

University of Phoenix Online
Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management
www.phoenix.edu
NCACS Accredited

Stratford University Online
Hotel and restaurant Management
Hospitality Management
www.stratford.edu
ACICS Accredited

Sullivan University
Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management
www.sullivan.edu

Ashworth College online
Hospitality and Restaurant Management
Gourmet Cooking and Catering
www.ashworthcollege.edu
DETC, SACS & CASI Accredited

Le Cordon Bleu-online
Culinary Management
www.chefs.edu/online
ACCSCT Accredited

On Campus Programs in Boston

Boston University
One Sherborn Street
Boston, MA 02215
617-353-2000
www.bu.edu
Hospitality Services and Management, BA
NEASC Accredited

Boston University Culinary Arts
735 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
617-353-9852
www.bu.edu/foodandwine/culinary
Culinary Arts Program, certificate
NEASC Accredited

Simmons College
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115
617-521-2000
www.simmons.edu
food and Nutrition, BA
NEASC Accredited

Bunker Hill Community College
250 New Rutherford Avenue
Boston, MA 02129
617-228-2000
www.bhcc.mass.edu
Chef Training, AS
Culinary Arts, AS
NEASC Accredited

Bay State College
122 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
617-236-8000
www.baystate.edu
Hospitality Services Management, AS
NEASC Accredited

Fisher College
118 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02116
617-236-8800
www.fisher.edu
Hospitality and Tourism Management, AA
NEASC Accredited

Labourne College
2120 Dorchester Avenue
Boston, MA 02124
617-296-8300
www.labourne.edu
Nutrition and Food Management, certificate
Foods and Nutrition Studies, BA