Updated at: 17-03-2023 - By: Eden Wise

Overview

More than 10% of Michigan’s workforce is comprised of those employed in the foodservice and restaurant industry, as reported by the National Restaurant Association. More than 31,000 predicted new jobs in the culinary industry will be created by the year 2029. This means that now is a great time to get training in the kitchen and become certified or degreed. Employers in the food service industry are on the lookout for talented individuals who have the knowledge, training, and experience to succeed in a challenging field.

To highlight the finest culinary institutions in Michigan, we compiled a list of the state’s best. The schools on our recommended list offer students real-world experience, one-on-one instruction, access to industry-standard tools, and the chance to earn an accredited certificate or degree in their chosen field. The American Culinary Federation’s endorsement of a school’s cooking program is a good indicator of the quality of its offerings, and many of the schools on this list have this endorsement.

Best Culinary Schools In Michigan

Best culinary schools in michigan

Baker College of Muskegon Culinary Program

Follow your heart and turn your love of cooking into a successful catering business.

In order to prepare you for positions as chefs and kitchen managers, the Culinary Institute of Michigan offers an associate degree program in culinary arts.

The Culinary Program at Baker College in Muskegon will teach you how to run a restaurant, take care of the customers, and create delicious dishes.

Macomb Community College

Macomb Community College

The Michigan Community College was established in 1972. The Culinary Arts program at Macomb University will teach you how to cook using a wide range of regional and international cuisines. You will learn how to properly order and prepare food here.

Front-of-house staff and old-school baking techniques are taught. They talk about the creative and decorative aspects of food presentation as well as how to use a menu as a tool for control.

Henry Ford Community College

Students here learn every aspect of the food service industry, making it one of the top Culinary Schools in Michigan.

Some things in their cooking classes aren’t like anywhere else. The HFC Ice Carving Club, Garden Upkeep, and the Professional TV Studio Kitchen are just a few examples.

Growing herbs, lettuce, vegetables, and flowers is a part of the Henry Ford Culinary Arts program.

The first semester’s curriculum includes production and practical classes that cover both traditional and innovative fare.

The topics covered in this course include baking, nutrition, menu planning, ensuring food safety, and controlling food costs.

Jackson Community College

The Culinary Arts program at Jackson College is a sub-division of the school’s larger Personal and Culinary Services curriculum. As a result of this course, students will be better prepared to handle any situation that may arise in a kitchen.

In the Changing Scenes Restaurant, students will use commercial kitchen equipment to cook from scratch and serve diners in a relaxed atmosphere.

The restaurant caters to many JCISD events and serves lunch on a regular basis during the school year. Food science, food technology, food processing, purchasing, and food safety are also covered in this course.

Monroe County Community College

Monroe County Community College

If you’re interested in entering the growing food industry, consider enrolling in Monroe Community College’s certificate program in culinary arts. The most up-to-date cooking methods will be taught to you in both the classroom and our high-tech kitchen.

Students who wish to pursue a career in the culinary arts can benefit from MCC’s certificate program in the field.

When you’re done with the course, you’ll know how to handle, measure, and cook a wide variety of foods safely and effectively.

You’ll learn how to plan meals and pick healthy, high-quality foods, too. You can use the skills you learn here on the job or continue your education at the next level by transferring into an associate degree program in hospitality management.

Washtenaw Community College

Cooking students are always welcome at Washtenaw Community College. Because of the training they receive, they will be prepared for any position in the food and hospitality industry, from line cook to executive chef to hotel manager. This community college prepares its students to make a difference in a growing industry by providing them with the education and training they need to secure a position in the occupation of their choice.

Both Certificate programs available here cover the fundamentals you’ll need to get started in your chosen field. Courses like “Culinary Principles,” “Nutrition,” and “Baking Science” give students the groundwork they need to launch successful careers in the culinary arts. College certificate work can be applied to an Associate of Applied Science degree.

Washtenaw Community College offers a more intensive Associate of Applied Science degree program, but students have the flexibility to enroll full- or part-time. The college accommodates students’ busy lives by providing both lecture hall and laboratory instruction, providing a well-rounded education that appeals to a variety of learning preferences. As part of their education, students have the opportunity to work at Garrett’s, a full-service, student-operated restaurant on campus that focuses on honing the skills of both hospitality and culinary students through the guidance of experienced instructors and collaborative teamwork.

Culinary Studies Institute at Oakland Community College

Oakland Community College’s Culinary Studies Institute is a highly regarded culinary arts program with a variety of courses designed for both newcomers and seasoned professionals. The Culinary Arts AAS degree program includes a professional internship and the chance to compete in culinary competitions, and it has been accredited by the American Culinary Federation. The curriculum includes classes in retail baking, restaurant meat cutting, buffets and banquets, and plated desserts. Classes in specialty cakes, ice sculpture, chocolate art, and wedding cake design are available as electives. Students who want to earn a certificate in baking and pastry must take 32 units of related study.

Henry Ford College

Henry Ford College

Henry Ford College provides students with the opportunity to earn either a Bachelor of Science or an Associate of Applied Science in the Culinary Arts through a program that emphasizes practical experience and instruction from industry experts. There are a total of six kitchen labs available to students at Henry Ford College, in addition to a video production studio dedicated solely to food and a computer lab. Graduates are prepared for a wide range of careers thanks to the business and management skills they acquire along with their culinary training. In order to broaden their horizons and develop their professional skills, students pursuing a bachelor’s degree often participate in several internships during their studies. The Accrediting Commission of the American Culinary Federation granted the Associate Degree Program exemplary status.

Dorsey Schools

There are two Dorsey School campuses in the state of Michigan. The Michigan-based Dorsey Schools have all the tools you need to spice up your culinary career. Dorsey Schools offers a well-rounded education that prepares students for success in the culinary industry.

Secchia Institute for Culinary Education

The fusion of artistic practice and empirical study. A blend of skill and natural ability. Success can be achieved by adhering to these guidelines, as outlined by the Secchia Institute at Grand Rapids Community College. This culinary arts college offers courses for aspiring chefs, bakers, and brewers who want to learn the skills necessary to break into the exciting and growing field of craft beverages.

Though carefully designed to teach students the fundamentals of the culinary arts, the Secchia Institute is distinguished by the breadth and depth of its concentrations. The coursework for the Personal Chef Certificate includes not only the theoretical knowledge of business management, dining room services, and restaurant operations, but also the practical knowledge of baking, meal planning, and nutrition, as well as the production of edible goods.

Grand Rapids, Michigan is home to a thriving brewing community and earns its nickname as Beer City USA thanks to its ideal conditions for developing one’s brewing skills. Students in this course learn both the theoretical foundations of brewing and the practical skills they’ll need to run a brewery and taproom. As an additional learning opportunity, students can intern at a brewery or a business directly related to the brewing industry. Students who earn this Certificate will be well-equipped to enter the brewing, service, or management fields at an entry level and quickly advance in their chosen profession.

Les Cheneaux Culinary School

Les Cheneaux Culinary School is located in the historic Hessel Bay Inn, which has been renovated to evoke the style of the iconic, old boat houses that dot the channels that weave throughout the 36 forested islands. Hessel is a quaint, 170 year old village with a charming marina. The boutique culinary school, housed in a brand-new building, opened in September of 2014, and its inaugural class of eight enthusiastic cooks is currently immersed in an intensive, year-long program with an open-lesson plan focused on learning the ins and outs of a professional kitchen in a realistic setting.

Great Lakes Culinary Institute

Great Lakes Culinary Institute

Passion is essential for success in the food industry, and the Great Lakes Culinary Institute knows this. The institute’s four kitchen labs (a bakery, an introductory and food skills kitchen, an advanced cooking kitchen, and a garde manager outlet) are designed to give students a leg up as they seek entry-level positions in the industry. There is also a 90-seat training restaurant and a beverage management outlet where students can gain the knowledge, experience, and abilities they’ll need to succeed in the field after they graduate.

Great Lakes Culinary Institute’s Certificate Program is developed to provide students with a solid foundation in both baking and the culinary arts. Taken together, courses like “Safety and Sanitation,” “World Cuisine,” “Nutrition,” and “Café Operations” can give students a well-rounded education in the food service industry. This information is crucial for getting entry-level positions in the food service industry, such as cooks, food prep workers, and even managerial positions.

Students can get even more out of their education with the AAS Degree, which is a more rigorous and rewarding academic path. There is an emphasis on the culinary arts, with transitions into management and business providing students with a well-rounded education that may lead to advancement into positions of greater responsibility in the industry (such as head chef, line manager, or restaurant manager).

University of Michigan at Lansing

This Michigan culinary institute gives its students something truly unique and exciting in the way of an education.

They offer many different hands-on cooking classes for students of all experience levels.

The intimate setting allows for individualized attention from the instructor and promotes student participation in all aspects of the program, from shopping to plating.

In addition, this cooking school features both a gourmet kitchenware shop and a high-tech teaching kitchen.

It appears that among Michigan’s many culinary schools, Lansing Community College is among the best.

Oakland Community College

This institution is one of a select few culinary schools in Michigan that has earned accreditation from the American Culinary Federation.

Certificates are awarded by Oakland University based on the graduates’ prior work experience.

The goal of the program is to give students the training they need to become successful in the culinary industry.

After finishing their degrees, a lot of people get jobs as restaurant managers or executive chefs.

During the first year, students will learn the basics of the culinary arts, as well as technical food safety procedures, cooking, baking, and providing guest services.

In the second year, students will learn about pastries, hone their skills, and investigate both classic and innovative cuisines.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College

This Michigan culinary institution is known for its state-of-the-art teaching facilities, including a number of professional kitchens.

The certificate program features up-to-date coursework that builds on fundamentals in the culinary arts.

In addition, the course material is designed to equip students with marketable abilities.

Courses also transfer to the Associate of Applied Science degrees in culinary arts and sustainable food systems, so graduates can pursue further education and professional development opportunities.

For these reasons, it deserves consideration as one of Michigan’s top culinary institutions.

FAQs

How much does it cost to go to culinary school in Michigan?

This type of higher education typically takes between 5 weeks and 3 years to complete, with the average being 2 years. Attendance fees The cost of attending the Culinary Institute of Michigan – Muskegon, for instance, can be anywhere from $80 to $40,000. The average cost is $21,000.

How long is a culinary school in Michigan?

One of the first things you’ll have to figure out if you want to go into the culinary arts is what kind of degree you want to get. Certificate and Associate’s Degree programs are offered by the vast majority of schools. One can earn a certificate in as little as a year, while an Associate’s degree takes about two years of full-time study.

How do I Become a Cook in Michigan?

To be a good cook in Michigan, you need to put in a lot of time, effort, and skill.

Many others choose to become chefs by enrolling in Culinary Arts programs in Michigan or by becoming apprentices.

Here, however, are the procedures necessary to enter the culinary field in Michigan.

Although working in a restaurant kitchen may seem like a daunting task at first, the real value lies in the opportunities it provides to network with other professionals in the field.

Earn your diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED) – A high school diploma is typically required for admission to higher education or vocational training programs.

Conclusion

A culinary school is a type of vocational college that specializes in preparing students for careers in the food service industry. Courses may vary from school to school, but they all have the same overarching purpose: helping aspiring chefs develop their skills and confidence.

Some of the most common topics and training in a culinary arts program include food services, how to cook different types of meat, dish presentation, and baking.