Culinary Arts Schools in Virginia
Thinking about attending culinary school? Virginia’s food culture and local products make it a top contender for any student’s attention. The eastern shore of Virginia, between Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, is home to a wide variety of delicious seafood, including fresh oysters and clams. Farmland is also plentiful: chefs interested in buying locally-made products, regional produce, or grass-fed beef can find small farms and artisanal food producers throughout the state. Additionally, vine-centric magazines Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast have both recently identified Virginia wineries as up-and-coming stars. Those interested in soul food and southern cooking can find plenty of it here, too. All in all, the chefs are doing well, as Virginia’s chefs have been recognized nationally by the James Beard Foundation for their excellence and innovation. If you’re eager to be a part of this food scene, culinary schools in Virginia provide students the space to hone skills and gain confidence before venturing out into the workforce.
Virginia Culinary Schools, Local Cuisine, and Restaurants
The Bureau of Labor Statistics found in 2011 that Virginia’s chefs and head cooks earned an annual average salary of $45,580. Virginia residents and visitors simply appreciate good food, and the restaurant sector shows it. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metropolitan area in particular has been singled out by bls.gov for having a high employment level for chef and head cook positions. Furthermore, the National Restaurant Association in early 2012 found that the restaurant sector employed nine percent of the state’s residents.
Industry veterans attest that experience is key for moving up in a culinary career; landing a restaurant job doesn’t usually require a degree. However, many have found that culinary schools provide skills and confidence that can be valuable in the workplace. Baking and pastry schools, hotel and restaurant management schools, and culinary arts schools in Virginia are located throughout the state. Get started today on making your dream a reality, and have a look at the list below to find potential programs that fit your needs.
Additional Information on Culinary Colleges in Virginia from Chef2chef.net
Baking and Pastry Arts Schools in Virginia
Hotel Management Schools in Virginia
Restaurant Management Schools in Virginia
Pastry Chef Schools in Virginia
Additional Resources for Culinary Students
Bureau of Labor Statistics information on chef and head cook careers
National Restaurant Association fast facts on Virginia’s restaurant sector
James Beard Foundation information
Browse Virginia Culinary & Cooking Schools!
This list also contains online schools that accept students from Virginia.
With an Art Institutes education, imagine what you could create.
- Arlington
Set your career in motion at Virginia College Online.
- Online
- Richmond
- AAS - Culinary and Pastry Arts
- DIP-Culinary Arts
- DIP-Pastry Arts
Turn your passion for food into a career at the Culinary Institute of Virginia.
- Norfolk
- Newport News
- Culinary Arts
- Baking and Pastry Arts
- Food Service Management
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
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
Find Culinary Schools in Virginia by City
Other Virginia Culinary Schools
| School Name | City or Town | Programs Offered |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Bartending School | Arlington | Bartending |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ | Blacksburg | Hospitality and Tourism Management |
| Virginia Intermont College | Bristol | AS Culinary Arts |
| James Madison University | Harrisonburg | Hospitality Management |
| Tidewater Community College | Norfolk | Hospitality Management - Culinary Arts (AAS) |
| Virginia State University | Petersburg | Hospitality Services Management |
| J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Richmond | Culinary Arts (AAS) |
| National Business College | Salem | Tourism and Hospitality Associate's Degree |
| Culinary Institute of Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach | AAS degree in Culinary Arts |
