If you want to start an exciting, hands-on career in the culinary field, this page is for you.
Here we have compiled information about the best culinary and pastry schools in the state of Illinois.
The schools included in our list take between a few months and two years to complete and focus on hands-on training.
The selection includes certificate programs and associate degrees that prepare graduates for employment in restaurants and other places that serve food.
Before being ready for your first job as a chef, you have to learn a few skills, such as:
- Checking ingredients
- Following safety and sanitation standards
- Planning menus
- Inspecting supplies
- Monitoring sanitation practices
- Ordering and maintaining an inventory of foods
- And more
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage reported by chefs and sous chefs in Illinois was $66,610 as of May 2023, while bakers reportedly made $35,920 per year, on average.
As more restaurants and dining places are expected to open, employment for chefs and head cooks across the United States is projected to grow 7 percent by 2034.
Employment for bakers in the United States is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
If you’re passionate about food, we encourage you to read our list and find out more about the culinary and baking schools in Illinois.
#1Kennedy-King College
About the School
Kennedy-King College offers the Washburne Culinary & Hospitality Institute.
The institute has world-class kitchens and focuses on hands-on training, giving graduates the edge when moving into the food service industry.
Four programs are available:
- Culinary Arts
- Bar Management
- Hospitality Management
- Baking & Pastry Arts
The following credentials are offered at the college:
- Baking and Pastry Certificate (AC)
- Baking and Pastry Certificate (BC)
- Baking and Pastry (AAS)
- Culinary Arts (BC)
- Culinary Arts (AAS)
- Culinary Arts Advanced Certificate
- Hospitality Management (AC)
- Hospitality Management (AAS)
- Bar Management (AAS)
Contact Information
- Address: 6301 South Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60621
- Phone: (773) 602-5000
- Website: https://www.ccc.edu
#2Joliet Junior College
About the School
Joliet Junior College is the nation’s first public community college.
It has five campuses and education centers and serves approximately 27,000 students each year.
Courses Offered
The Culinary, Hospitality & Tourism pathway is designed for creative team players who enjoy learning new things and hands-on work.
Classes are taught by an award-winning faculty.
Students have access to hands-on learning opportunities with the latest equipment, such as JJC’s two student-run and operated restaurants.
The Culinary Arts program at JJC offers students a first-class education at one of the most highly respected culinary programs in the nation.
Through a combination of classroom learning and hands-on experience, students are trained in:
- Cooking methods
- Pastry and baking techniques
- Sanitation
- Management
- Product ID
- Purchasing
- Nutrition
- Cost Controls
Contact Information
- Address: 1215 Houbolt Road, Joliet, IL, 60431
- Phone: 815.729.9020
- Website: https://jjc.edu
#3Southwestern Illinois College
About the School
Southwestern Illinois College offers a Culinary Arts and Food Management program that prepares students for entry-level positions in the food service industry.
Five different educational options are available to meet students’ specific needs.
The Associate in Applied Science in Culinary Arts and Food Management degree program provides students with the skills needed to obtain an entry-level chef or restaurant management position.
Graduates also have the option of transferring to a four-year institution and pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
The program blends specialized baking science, technology, and applications, as well as foundational business competencies, to operate a successful baking operation.
The following certification programs are also available:
- Baking and Pastry
- Culinary Arts
- Food Service
- Food Service and Management
Contact Information
- Address: 2500 Carlyle Ave. Belleville, IL 62221
- Phone: 618-235-2700
- Website: https://www.swic.edu
#4Illinois Central College
About the School
Illinois Central College offers a Culinary Arts Management program that helps students turn their love for all things food into a rewarding career in the culinary industry.
The accredited program helps students build the foundational traits and abilities they need to manage and organize a commercial kitchen.
Students have the opportunity to participate in various catering events, high-end fundraisers, and extracurricular activities.
The program is accredited with Exemplary status by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission.
The program can be completed in 24 months and awards 64 total credit hours.
The estimated cost is $10,688 plus supplies and fees based on 2025-2027.
A Culinary Arts Management certificate program is also available and can be completed in 12 months.
Students enrolled in this program pay an estimated $4,676 plus supplies and fees.
Small class sizes of 14 students per class allow students to receive more individual attention and a higher rate of success.
Contact Information
- Address: 1 College Drive, East Peoria, IL 61635
- Phone: (309) 694-5422
- Website: https://icc.edu
#5Richland Community College
About the School
Richland Community College provides a Culinary Arts program that prepares individuals for exciting careers as chefs, cooks, and/or food preparation workers for a variety of hospitality industries.
The curriculum covers all aspects of culinary preparation, including meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, sauces, soups, bread and pastry baking, specialty cooking, and international cuisine.
The program develops specific skills that make students ready for:
- Creating recipes
- Managing the kitchen
- Ordering supplies
- Measuring, mixing, and cooking ingredients
- Familiarity with various types of kitchen equipment
- Knife skills
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1 College Park, Decatur, IL 62521
- Phone: (217) 875-7200
- Website: https://richland.smartcatalogiq.com
#6Lake County Tech Campus
About the School
Lake County Tech Campus is regarded as one of the best career and technical education training facilities in the Midwest.
With more than twenty-two member high schools throughout Lake and McHenry counties, representing more than 2,300 high school students, this is the largest secondary educational system in the state of Illinois.
Classes are offered in three sessions, five days a week.
Courses Offered
The Culinary Arts program at Lake County Tech Campus can be completed in two years and is designed to prepare students for many positions in the hospitality industry.
Students gain skills and knowledge in:
- Cold and hot food preparation
- Nutrition
- Baking
- Pastry
- Menu planning
- Sanitation
- Inventory control
- Purchasing
- And more
The curriculum includes:
- Introduction to the Hospitality Industry- 3 credits
- Serv-Safe: Food Service Sanitation, 1 credit
- Culinary Principles- 4 credits
- Hospitality Supervision- 3 credits
Contact Information
- Address: 19525 West Washington Street, Grayslake, IL 60030
- Phone: (847) 223-6681
- Website: https://www.techcampus.org
#7Elgin Community College
About the School
Elgin Community College offers programs designed for those passionate about cooking and baking.
The college provides Associate Degrees in Culinary Arts for those aspiring to become Sous chefs, pastry chefs, or chefs de cuisine.
The comprehensive curriculum includes core courses such as Cooking Fundamentals.
During this course, students develop essential skills in knife techniques, flavoring, and basic cooking methods.
Students earn a ServSafe Food Manager and Responsible Alcohol Service Certifications.
They also get to master essential kitchen safety procedures and implement advanced protocols to ensure a secure and efficient kitchen environment.
Courses Offered
The program’s core courses include:
- Cooking Fundamentals
- Baking Fundamentals
- Meats and Seafood Principles
- Garde Manger
- Culinary Internship
Contact Information
- Address: 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, IL 60123
- Phone: 847-697-1000
- Website: https://elgin.edu
#8Moraine Valley Community College
About the School
Moraine Valley Community College offers a Culinary Arts program that can train students for an exciting career in a variety of settings.
Students gain knowledge that ranges from whipping up culinary masterpieces that are fully presented to creating nutritious meals.
They may pursue an Associate in Applied Science Degree or numerous certificates.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the college:
- Associate Degree Programs
- Baking and Pastry
- Restaurant Hotel Management
- Culinary Arts Management
- Certificate Programs:
- Baking and Pastry Arts
- Beverage Management
- Culinary Arts Management
- Restaurant/Hotel
The Baking and Pastry Arts program includes hands-on classes that teach basic baking principles and pastry preparation for cakes, bread, cookies, frozen desserts, nutrition, sanitation, and food preparation and production.
Contact Information
- Address: 9000 W. College Pkwy. Palos Hills, IL 60465-2478
- Phone: (708) 974-4300
- Website: https://www.morainevalley.edu
#9Chicago Public Schools
About the School
Chicago Public Schools offer a Culinary and Hospitality program that introduces students to the skills needed to manage a hotel, prepare a restaurant menu, and provide excellent customer service.
The following culinary and hospitality certifications are available:
- ServSafe Food Handler
- ProStart Certification Year 1
- ProStart Certification Year 2
- OSHA 10-Hour- Culinary
- OSHA 10 Hour General Industry
- Sanitation License
While mastering cooking techniques, students may also learn entrepreneurial concepts, explore college and career options, and participate in work-based experiences.
Contact Information
- Address: 42 W. Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60602
- Phone: 773-553-1000
- Website: https://www.cps.edu
#10Marcel's Culinary Experience
About the School
Marcel’s Culinary Experience offers a variety of cooking classes.
The classes are hands-on and offered in the heart of Glen Ellyn.
They are intentionally designed to be intimate and collaborative, encouraging conversation, connection, and a shared sense of accomplishment.
A variety of formats are available, including hands-on, workshops, cocktail party classes, chef demonstrations, kids classes, and private cooking events.
Courses Offered
Marcel’s Culinary Experience provides classes such as:
- Classic Curry
- Date Night- Argentina
- Workshop: Scratch Spring Pasta
- Greek Table: Athens
- Passport: Korea
- Spring Spanish Tapas
- Family Class: Cinco de Mayo
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 490 N Main St. Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
- Phone: 630.790.8500
- Website: https://www.marcelsculinaryexperience.com
Schools Summary Table
Culinary & Pastry Average Salary in Illinois
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$35K
|
|
|
$63K
|
|
|
$95K
|
Culinary & Pastry Salary by Metro Area in Illinois
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | 70 | $59,290 | $28.51 | $90,820 | $40,310 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 80 | $57,990 | $27.88 | $81,330 | $32,680 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 4,470 | $65,290 | $31.39 | $99,150 | $35,290 |
| Kankakee, IL | 30 | $53,020 | $25.49 | $77,910 | $38,910 |
| Peoria, IL | 110 | $60,860 | $29.26 | $90,110 | $38,750 |
| Rockford, IL | 60 | $61,440 | $29.54 | $94,750 | $43,570 |
| Springfield, IL | 100 | $53,250 | $25.60 | $78,890 | $33,220 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
If you live in Illinois and you want to turn your passion for food into a rewarding career, the schools included in our list can prepare you with the skills you need to get started.
Now that you have read our list, it’s time to continue your research and apply for the program that best meets your learning style and career aspirations.
