Welcome to our selection of the best culinary and pastry schools in Ohio and the programs they offer.
The schools included in our list offer hands-on training, certificate programs, and associate degrees, preparing students for employment in restaurants, hotels, 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
- Planning menus
- Inspecting supplies
- Monitor sanitation practices
- Using baking science to prepare foods
- 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 Ohio was $53,800 as of May 2023, while bakers reportedly made $32,730 per year, on average, which is higher than the national average for this occupation.
Employment for chefs and head cooks across the United States is projected to grow 7 percent by 2034.
As more restaurants and dining places are expected to open, the demand for high-quality dishes will grow.
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 training programs available in your state.
#1Stark State College
About the School
Stark State College offers quality, accredited education and an industry-experienced faculty.
Among many other programs, the college offers a Culinary pathway for those who love food, being creative, working with their hands, and performing with precision.
Courses Offered
The Culinary Arts program available at the college includes courses such as:
- Food Fundamentals
- Fundamental Cooking- Preparation I
- Meat and Fish- Preparation II
- Baking and Pastry- Preparation III
- Catering, Beverage, and Food Services
- Pantry and Garde Manager
- Culinary ServSafe
- Sanitation and Safety
- Principles of Management
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 6200 Frank Ave. NW, North Canton, OH 44720
- Phone: 330-494-6170 | 1-800-797-8275
- Website: https://www.starkstate.edu
#2Cuyahoga Community College
About the School
Cuyahoga Community College offers a Culinary Arts program that provides students with the education they need to work as professionals in the food industry.
The programs provide a high-quality curriculum, small class size, and individual attention.
Students learn in state-of-the-art kitchens and classrooms.
The student-run restaurant is central to this program because it is where students gain actual experience of operating a restaurant.
Courses Offered
The following degrees and certificates are available:
- Culinarian- Cook Short-Term Certificate- a four-month program
- Culinarian- Cook Certificate of Proficiency- a nine-month program
- Personal Chef Certificate of Proficiency
- Baking/Pastry Arts Certificate of Proficiency
- Culinary Arts- Associate Degree
Contact Information
- Address: 700 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
- Phone: 216-987-6000
- Website: https://www.tri-c.edu
#3Columbus State Community College
Columbus State Community College offers more than 250 programs that lead to associate degrees, the opportunity to start a bachelor’s degree, or take short-term certificates.
Courses Offered
The Culinary Arts Certificate program provides basic skills and practice needed to start a career as professional cooks.
The programs provide a high-quality curriculum, small class sizes, and individual attention by chef instructors and experienced, certified faculty.
The 12-month program offers credits that can be applied towards Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Culinary Apprenticeship, Restaurant & Foodservice Management, and Baking & Pastry Arts.
The three-semester program includes courses such as:
- Introduction to Hospitality
- Food Principles
- Sanitation & Safety/Facilities Design
- Professional Kitchen Fundamentals
- Baking Fundamentals
- Food Production Practicum
- Garde Manger
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 550 East Spring St., Columbus, OH 43215
- Phone: (614) 287-5353
- Website: https://explore.cscc.edu
#4Ohio Hi-Point Career Center
About the School
The Ohio Hi-Point Career Center offers a Culinary Arts program for those who are considering a career in the culinary world or just want to build skills that serve them for a lifetime.
The two-year program provides students with the opportunity to work hands-on with a wide variety of ingredients and recipes, gaining confidence in the kitchen while learning how to follow standardized recipes.
Courses Offered
The course overview includes:
- Hospitality Fundamentals
- Fundamentals of Food Production
- Dining Room Service and Operations
- Restaurant Management
- Hospitality and Tourism Work-Based Learning/Internship
Contact Information
- Address: 2280 State Route 540, Bellefontaine, OH 43311
- Phone: 937.599.3010
- Website: https://www.ohiohipoint.com
#5Owens Community College
About the School
Owens Community College provides a Culinary Arts AAS that offers comprehensive, hands-on education designed to prepare students for success in a professional kitchen.
Students progress from foundational skills in baking and food preparation to advanced plating techniques and kitchen operations.
The program can be completed in two years.
Courses Offered
The program highlights include:
- Culinary Competency: training in food preparation, baking and pastry, healthy cooking techniques, American regional and international cuisines, and garde manger.
- Kitchen and Restaurant Management: instruction in recipe development, dining room and beverage service, purchasing and cost control, supervisory skills, and catering and banquet operations
- Nutrition and Food Safety: this includes core knowledge in nutrition basics and ServSafe certification to ensure compliance with industry standards
Contact Information
- Address: 30335 Oregon Road, Perrysburg, OH 43551
- Phone: (567) 661-6000
- Website: https://www.owens.edu
#6Ashtabula County Technical & Career Campus
About the School
Ashtabula County Technical & Career Campus offers a Culinary Arts program that prepares students for a career that allows them to express artistic vision as part of a team that designs menus, prepares meals, and organizes catered events.
The following professional certifications are available:
- ServSafe- ServSafe Food Handler
- National Restaurant Association- ProStart Certificate of Achievement
The following college credit opportunities are available:
- Basic Food Production- 4 semester hours
- Food Principals and Purchasing- 3 semester hours
- Culinary Arts Development- 4.2 credits through Winner Institute of Arts and Sciences
- And more
High school credits are also available.
Contact Information
- Address: 1565 State Route 167, Jefferson, OH 44047
- Phone: 440-576-6015
- Website: https://www.atech.edu
#7Hocking College
About the School
Hocking College offers a Culinary Arts program that provides student chefs with hands-on experience through coursework and industry participation.
Students have the opportunity to learn under the college’s Master Chef.
They learn the fundamentals of culinary production as well as the management skills of the modern kitchen.
Courses Offered
The course curriculum includes:
- Introduction to Baking & Culinary Industry
- Safety & Sanitation
- Catering Banquet Lab
- Fundamentals of Cuisine
- Planning & Purchasing
- Speech
- Applied Mathematics
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 3301 Hocking Pkwy. Nelsonville, Ohio 45764
- Phone: (740) 753-7050
- Website: https://www.hocking.edu
#8Sinclair College
About the School
Sinclair College offers a Hospitality Management & Tourism/Culinary Arts CAO.S.AAS program.
The program provides the basic knowledge a student needs in order to develop into a certified chef.
Courses Offered
Program outcomes include:
- Baking- students learn how to apply the fundamentals of baking science to the preparation of products.
- Beverages- students become familiar with varieties of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
- Math Calculations- performing mathematical functions related to food
- Cooking Techniques- apply principles of preparation and cooking techniques to produce a variety of hot and cold food products
- Knives and equipment- students develop knife skills to produce a variety of cuts
- Dining Room Service- students perform dining room duties using a variety of styles and demonstrate an understanding of quality customer service
Contact Information
- Address: 444 West Third Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402
- Phone: 800-315-3000
- Website: https://www.sinclair.edu
#9Pioneer Career and Technology Center
About the School
Pioneer Career and Technology Center offers a Culinary Arts program that gives students the opportunity to master the skills they need to thrive in the kitchen, from perfecting their techniques to crafting delicious dishes.
Students get hands-on experience in a real-world kitchen environment.
Courses Offered
Students learn skills such as:
- Banquet planning, food presentation, and pastry making
- Soup, sauce, fruit, and vegetable preparation
- Operation of commercial kitchen equipment
- Sanitation, safety, and food inventory management
- And more
Students work side-by-side with professional chefs from local restaurants, bakeries, and catering businesses.
Contact Information
- Address: 27 Ryan Rd, Shelby, OH 44875
- Phone: (419) 347-7926
- Website: https://www.pctc.k12.oh.us
#10Zane State College
About the School
Zane State College offers a Culinary Arts program that is available on campus.
The program leads to an Associate of Applied Business.
The estimated tuition for this program is $12,416.
Students train in a professional kitchen lab, learning everything from proper meal preparation to crafting classic desserts.
They learn all they need for the food service industry, from menu planning to accounting.
The College also offers a Restaurant Management Certificate program.
ServSafe Certification is open to the public, but in an eight-week course.
Contact Information
- Address: 1555 Newark Road, Zanesville, Ohio 43701
- Phone: 740.588.5000
- Website: https://www.zanestate.edu
Schools Summary Table
Culinary & Pastry Average Salary in Ohio
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$37K
|
|
|
$60K
|
|
|
$97K
|
Culinary & Pastry Salary by Metro Area in Ohio
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH | 200 | $61,500 | $29.57 | $97,640 | $38,900 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | 100 | $63,860 | $30.70 | $94,990 | $38,230 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1,140 | $58,760 | $28.25 | $96,030 | $34,280 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,010 | $60,850 | $29.25 | $97,920 | $36,830 |
| Columbus, OH | 670 | $65,500 | $31.49 | $99,910 | $40,390 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 210 | $57,570 | $27.68 | $88,210 | $34,850 |
| Mansfield, OH | 40 | $55,990 | $26.92 | $81,070 | $39,040 |
| Sandusky, OH | 60 | $63,220 | $30.39 | $102,870 | $35,570 |
| Toledo, OH | 220 | $59,930 | $28.81 | $95,170 | $39,330 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | 170 | $53,350 | $25.65 | $83,150 | $32,670 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
Ohio is home to many schools that can prepare you for a rewarding career in the food industry.
Your passion for food can lead to a rewarding career by completing one of the programs included in our list.
After reading our selection, we encourage you to continue the research and apply for the program that best fits your learning style and career aspirations.
