Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Chefs
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Oakland Community College, Macomb Community College, Henry Ford Community College, and Schoolcraft College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Henry Ford Community College, Mott Community College, Oakland Community College, and Washtenaw Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Northwestern Michigan College and Bay de Noc.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Baker, Northwestern Michigan College, and Bay de Noc.
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Spotlight Michigan Schools Related to This Career
- Locations: Novi
- Programs: 12 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Certificate, Diploma
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Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Northwestern Michigan College • Traverse City, MI
Studying Culinary Arts (completion in 1996)
• 8/13/2011
"I definitely cannot complain about NMC. They got me to where I am today, and I make a living off of it quite well. The skills I have been taught through NMC will stay with me for the rest of my life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | NMC is a local college, so it is much more personable. You don't need to make a long commute, and everyone there is very friendly. A more than adequate program for Traverse City. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | As stated before, it is rated as one of the top programs in the country. I can't say I would disagree with that at all. |
| Program Quality | 8 | NMC was very helpful in all aspects, but tuition was rather expensive. All in all, I was quite pleased with everything. |
| Instruction | 9 | As the Culinary Arts program at NMC is revered as one of the best in the country, I feel it was a very high quality instruction. I feel as though I have been completely prepared for the basics, and some advanced aspects, of culinary arts. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The work load is quite tremendous, and it's a very hectic schedule. The courses themselves were not very difficult at all, though. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Although I would love to have all my learning done through hands on experiences, it just can't happen. A lot of being a chef is knowing formulas and essential math skills, as well as procedures and computer usage. There was a fair amount of textbook usage. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The schedules for culinary arts were basically 1 of 2 things; early or late. The schedule was very hectic any way you cut it. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The learning environment at NMC was quite exceptional. It was all hands on with new equipment and more than adequate computers for what I was using them for. |
| Social Life | 5 | I didn't have much time to attend social events, but the school did have intramural dodgeball, softball, and soccer. There was a disc-golf course, as well as sports fields and gymnasiums. |
| Placement Services | 4 | I had very little help from the school in terms of placement. They had some suggestions for restaurants to work in, but I ultimately chose my own path given the research I did on my own. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The teachers were very good at communicating, however busy they may have been. The staff in the offices were slightly less helpful... |
Davenport State University • Grand Rapids, MI
Studying Liberal Arts (completion in 2011)
• 8/15/2011
"I'm OK with it. I got my degree and that's what matters."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would recommend going to a school known for culinary arts. You will learn more. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | They aren't known for culinary arts. You should go to a different school for it. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The school was decent at teaching the subject. Bigger universities are more known for their culinary arts programs. |
| Instruction | 5 | The instruction was nothing special. It could have been more hands on. |
| How Difficult | 4 | It was not hard at all. I passed tests with ease. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was mostly book learning. There was little hands on work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | It was pretty flexible. I got to pick my days and hours for the most part. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | They were decent. Could have been better. |
| Social Life | 7 | I knew a lot of people. It was easy to get to know people and make friends. |
| Placement Services | 4 | They really don't have job placement services. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | There weren't many people to help, unlike other schools. You were pretty much on your own. |
Eastern Michigan University • Ypsilanti, MI
Studying Hotel/Restaurant Management (completion in 2011)
• 9/28/2011
"I feel as if I purchased my degree. The studies for the program do nothing towards elevating my opportunity for better job placement. When you don't have a degree... a degree is required. When you do have a degree... years of experience is required. The university should be prepared and linked with local businesses that can facilitate this need so the 'student' has better opportunities for employment after graduation."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend the university as a whole because of its diversity and low cost tuition; however, I have mixed feelings toward recommending the hotel/restaurant management program. I would recommend the program only because it is the only one of its kind in Michigan. I would not recommend the program because I don't see a great return on investment. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | EMU offers the only accredited program for hotel/restaurant management in the state of Michigan. Most of the students that attend EMU are commuters and tuition is the lowest in the state. |
| Program Quality | 6 | It was good training for the field but the career center offered very few job resources with pay grades over minimum wage. Having to settle for a job that pays little over minimum wage after investing thousands towards my degree is demoralizing. |
| Instruction | 7 | Instruction came from individuals with doctorates and years in the field. There should have been more hands-on learning associated with this particular field of study. Examining case studies on hotel/restaurant management limits the ability to prove that the degree earned is worth more than entry level pay. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The overall program was of average difficulty. Certain courses, such as cost controls and purchasing, may offer an extra layer of difficulty if "math" is not your strong suite. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program was very book oriented. I believe that this particular program deserves at least a 50/50 mix of book work such as case studies, projects and papers and hands-on (internship placement) practical experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | The program only has a handful of professors that teach two to three classes a semester. This means that there may be classes that only run during certain semesters, either in the odd or even years. There are many classes that students have to forsake taking because the class may only run once a year (either in the odd/even year cycle). If the class is an elective, the student misses out on taking a class that may be enjoyable and beneficial. If the class is a requirement for graduation, the student may have to delay graduating by their anticipated date if they weren't aware of the situation. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Resources are readily available for learning, studying, etc... The university had just invested in remodeling certain areas and buildings to facilitate the needs of the program. |
| Social Life | 5 | I was a commuter at the university which meant that I drove almost an hour both ways, 3-5 days a week. I did not participate in any social activities outside of which I received class credit for. |
| Placement Services | 3 | They have resume services and seminars available to assist the student in finding employment. The job leads that they have at best offer entry-level pay which barely surpasses minimum wage for the state. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | The alumni network for the university as a whole does nothing to keep you in-the-loop. The alumni network for the college housing my program seems almost non-existent. All effort to stay informed is made by the student. |
Jackson Community College • Jackson, MI
Studying Culinary Arts And Hospitality Management (completion in 2007)
• 9/17/2011
"I was happy enough with the education. I wasn't expecting to be making millions of dollars on my way out."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It would really depend on what they were after. There are plenty of people going into culinary programs that have no business working in a kitchen. For most, I'd recommend just going into a kitchen first, to see if they wanted to pursue it further. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It was a community college culinary program. It was just a basic run of what's needed in a restaurant environment. |
| Program Quality | 6 | I was taught the fundamentals of the job. However, I feel there are a lot of little details that were left out that really would have helped in the future. |
| Instruction | 7 | The instructors were experienced. Class sizes were not too large, so I got attention when it was needed, for the most part. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Sometimes you would have bad days, and they would really come to hurt you. Otherwise, the course itself was not particularly difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In my field, it's important to have as much hands-on experience as possible. The program was geared for that approach. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Part of why I went with the program was the flexible schedule. I was doing a job at the time that was very inflexible with the scheduling, so I really needed one of the two to be flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | They had a working kitchen and all the necessary tools. There's not really a whole lot else you could ask for. |
| Social Life | 5 | It was just a community college. It was mostly just kids that didn't care during high school and older people trying to go forward in life. Not really a crowd that wore school colors and chanted the fight song. |
| Placement Services | 4 | Even with a degree, it took me some time to find work. I would have liked some better help in that department. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | There wasn't really a whole lot of networking done post-graduation. I wasn't really expecting it, though. |
Monroe Community College • Monroe, MI
Studying Math (completion in 2010)
• 11/15/2011
"My school did not provide a great amount of help with the book work. The hands on portion, however, was great."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would recommend Monroe Community to anyone who wants to cook locally. There are a lot of places around here that are hiring cooks. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The reputation of my school is not the best. Most people want to go straight to a university. |
| Program Quality | 6 | I wish I went to a university. Going to a better school would have given me much better choices. |
| Instruction | 9 | Even when all I wanted to do was cook, my math classes really made my day. Learning some advanced math really made me feel smart. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I clicked with the program right away. The teachers were always around to help. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the classes involved hands on learning. Little homework was required. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Online classes were offered and I took them. There is nothing better then being able to sit at home and get that degree. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The computer labs at Monroe Community are unbeatable, but they lack in books and other necessities. Overall, the resources are mediocre. |
| Social Life | 4 | There are a lot of clubs to join, but very few events. A great way to meet people is through Facebook. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The job placement help was great. Someone was there to help me all the way. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Most the alumni above me went on to do way better things then what I expected. Some of these men and women even went on to work as doctors - boy am I jealous. |
Michigan State • East Lansing, MI
Studying Food Science (completion in 1978)
• 12/8/2011
"I am glad I went to Michigan State. I learned a lot about cooking and the science behind it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I am not sure if food science is even a major at MSU anymore. I would recommend an apprenticeship in a kitchen, before college for cooking. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | MSU has a very good food science program. Also, the university as a whole has a good reputation, which helps the prestige of my degree. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I learned an immense amount at MSU. It led directly to my being hired immediately when I left school, and I got a job very quickly when I left the state. |
| Instruction | 7 | Professors at MSU are very knowledgeable. They are always available to answer questions and help you with your work/goals. However, they are not as in touch with the industry as I would have liked. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The program was very demanding. It is a manageable workload if you keep up to date. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Food science is a science, so there is a good deal of reading/writing involved. However, you also work in a kitchen, so it is hands on as well. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | You can pick your classes to work around a part-time job. However, it is a full-time program, so there will be some times you cannot work around school. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The facilities were great when I attended. I am not familiar with their state today. |
| Social Life | 10 | Michigan State has a very social campus with very few commuters. Everyone in the town is an MSU student or professor, so it is very easy to make friends. |
| Placement Services | I haven't had any contact with career services in 20+ years. I am not sure how the career services are nowadays. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Alumni networking is not as important for chefs. I have met a few people in the food industry who went to MSU. |
Grand Rapids Community College • Grand Rapids, MI
Studying Culinary Arts (completion in 2010)
• 1/11/2012
"Great program, great people, great community. I couldn't have asked for more from GRCC."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I believe that it doesn't get better than GRCC. Not only do you receive world-class training, but you receive it at community college prices. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | It is well known that GRCC has one of the best culinary programs in the nation. Unfortunately, this leads to long waiting lists and big classes a majority of the time. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The culinary program is one of the best in the nation. The world-renowned chefs were great people as well. |
| Instruction | 10 | I learned everything I needed, not just how to work in a kitchen, but to run one as well. I am now currently using these abilities in my everyday life. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Every day was a challenge but that's what made it great. The homework aspect was on the lighter side. It was the lab classes that make you push yourself to try harder. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This could just apply to my major, but almost every class I had was more hands on. Only the culinary management classes were book oriented, but we still went places and toured many kitchens. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There are night classes for the culinary program, as I took some myself. I am not sure about online courses though. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The kitchens are state of the art. As I mentioned, the chefs there are incredible. Chef Angus is a world-renowned master chef. |
| Social Life | 8 | Being a community college, I never really followed athletics or anything. The school spirit seemed great though. The community of Grand Rapids is a great, so there are all kinds of events. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I was offered numerous internships all over the country - I could have went to California or Hawaii! I am currently working at a job in a local restaurant that one of my chef's at school set up. |
| Alumni Network | I am not sure about this. I have never looked into these matters. |
Schoolcraft College • Livonia, MI
Studying Culinary Arts (completion in 2011)
• 1/6/2012
"I am very satisfied with the school. They provide an excellent education at a reasonable cost. I would like to see more school spirit and events, but the degree program is great."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is a great value and is very close to my home. I would recommend Schoolcraft to anyone who wants to pursue a degree in culinary arts. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It is a small community college but it is known for its culinary department. The head chief for the US Olympic team came from there in 2008. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The culinary arts program is very diverse. I am able to hold many positions in a restaurant. |
| Instruction | 10 | The professors hold culinary jobs outside of teaching and can provide first hand accounts. They are always willing to help you better understand a topic and master it. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I talked to friends in other programs and we seemed to share a similar work load. Some of the courses are tough, others find some work easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a solid mix of book work and hands-on learning. About half my classes focused on the book side, the other half on hands-on learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | The required classes can only be taken early in the morning or late at night. I had to rearrange my schedule so I could take the required classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The culinary arts building is brand new. It was completed in 2009 and all the equipment is in great shape. |
| Social Life | 3 | It is a community college so many students commute. There are not a lot of athletics but they hold school events every semester. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I was able to find a job within two weeks of finishing my program. They have many options open and will work with you to provide the best service. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | They helped with job placement. They are always willing to talk and respond readily via email. |
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