Culinary Arts Schools in New Jersey
Students of culinary schools in New Jersey have an eclectic culinary scene awaiting them after graduation. Being more than just the birthplace of grape juice, M&Ms and saltwater taffy, New Jersey offers a rich history of culinary treats and traditions. New Jersey restaurants may mirror the diverse ethnic tastes found in neighboring cities like New York and Philadelphia, but New Jersey residents often contend that no other cities offer hot dogs that measure up to the ones sold along the Jersey Shore. Additionally, 800,000 acres of New Jersey farmland produce thousands of pounds of blueberries, cranberries and tomatoes on an annual basis, and there is a healthy showing of slow food enthusiasts in the state. Recognized on a national level, plenty of New Jersey culinary chefs and pastry chefs have attained the status of finalist and semi-finalist for James Beard awards. Indeed, graduates of New Jersey culinary schools have the opportunity to draw from many sources.
Learn Diverse Cuisines at a New Jersey Culinary School
New Jersey’s summer months see millions of visitors flocking to its animated shoreline, casinos and shopping areas; New Jersey residents also just like good food. As a result, the hospitality and restaurant industry has a healthy presence within New Jersey’s overall economy. The National Restaurant Association reports that there were over 17,000 restaurants in New Jersey in 2010. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, New Jersey is also one of the highest-paying state for chef and head cook jobs in the country. Select New Jersey areas do particularly well in terms of chef and head cook salaries – as of May 2011, chefs and head cooks in the Edison-New Brunswick and the Trenton-Ewing metropolitan areas make over $60,760 annually; chefs and head cooks in the Atlantic City-Hammonton metropolitan area take home a mean annual salary of $60,850.
Overall, experience is important when developing a career in the culinary world. Although a degree is not typically required for work in the restaurant sector, many find that a degree can help. Culinary schools in New Jersey are found in several cities, so there's no shortage of options for tomorrow’s chefs, pastry chefs and restaurant managers. Check out the list of New Jersey culinary schools below, and move forward in honing your cooking skills and culinary passions.
Additional Information for Culinary Students
Food and restaurant blog: New Jersey Bites
National Restaurant Association on New Jersey’s restaurant sector
Bureau of Labor Statistics career information on chefs and head cooks
Find a New Jersey Culinary Program Today!
This list also contains online schools that accept students from New Jersey.
Star Career Academy - the career school of choice. What makes us unique, and unlike other trade schools, is the dedication of our staff to provide performance-based occupational training.
- Newark
Advance your career with our affordable, self-paced, career-focused distance education programs.
- Online
- Hotel/Restaurant Management
- Caterer
Earn Your Diploma from Home!
- Online
- Cooking and Catering
Kaplan University is focused on recognizing the achievements of military and veteran students and offers the flexibility of an online education.
- Online
- AAS in Business Administration - Hospitality Management
Get hands-on training with Le Cordon Bleu Schools of North America.
- Online
Your creativity is a big part of who you are and where you’re going. To take it, and your future, as far as you want, you need an education that’s focused on developing your talents and putting you on the path toward the creative career that stirs your imagination. A collaborative education at The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta, is all about the work, the students who create it, and the instructors who guide them.
The first step is to explore these areas of study, and think about where you fit in an industry that runs on ideas.
- Online
- Hotel & Restaurant Management (BS)
- Culinary Management (BS)
Earn your degree or diploma on your schedule and succeed at Ashworth College.
- Online
- Hotel/Restaurant Management
Other New Jersey Culinary Schools
| School Name | City or Town | Programs Offered |
|---|---|---|
| Monmouth County Vocational School District | Asbury Park | Culinary Arts |
| Raritan Valley Community College | Branchburg | Food & Beverage Management |
| Middlesex County College | Edison | Baking and Pastry Arts |
| Hudson County Community College | Jersey City | Culinary Arts |
| Atlantic Cape Community College - Academy of Culinary Arts | Mays Landing | Culinary Arts/Chef Training |
| Atlantic County Institute of Technology | Mays Landing | Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management |
| Burlington County College | Mt. Holly | A.A.S. Culinary Arts |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | New Brunswick | Hospitality Management |
| Bergen Community College | Paramus | Culinary Arts/Chef Training |
| County College of Morris | Randolph | Culinary Arts |
| Union County Vocational Technical School | Scotch Plains | Baker/Pastry Chef |
| Camden County Vocational and Technical Schools | Sicklerville | Baking/Pastry Arts |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University - All Campuses | Teaneck | Hospitality and Tourism Management |
| Ocean County Vocational Technical School | Toms River | Culinary Arts/Chef Training |
| Mercer County Community College | Trenton | Culinary Arts |
