North Carolina is the 10^th most populated states in the U.S. If you are from this state, and it is your dream to be a chef, these are the top culinary schools in NC to jumpstart your career.

Top 10 North Carolina Culinary Schools:

1. Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College

This public school offers different courses which can take up to 2-4 years to finish. They grant Associate, Bachelor and Master’s Degree. The culinary program offered by the school has an average tuition of 1,603 yearly. You can contact the school via mail or you can apply online.

2. International Culinary Schools at the Art Institutes of Charlotte

Designed in association with The Food Network, the culinary course of this popular and competitive cooking school puts professionally driven student chef into good careers. Its programs include: Bachelor’s Culinary Arts Management and Associates Culinary Arts. You get valuable hands-on experience that will jump start your career in the culinary field. For further inquires, you can visit their official site or you can apply online.

3. International Culinary Schools at the Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham

This school offers one of the most popular culinary programs that is affiliated with The Food Network. Here, you will learn the fundamentals of Western cuisine, international cuisine, and traditional cooking methods and techniques. Each class can accommodate an average of 22, but not exceeding 35 students in the lab. Aside from this, the school has a Career Service Department which assists students in the area of future employment. The degrees offered are the Bachelors of Culinary Arts Management and Associates Culinary Arts.

4. Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte

This is one of the liberal arts colleges in NC that offers a culinary arts degree. This school has been delivering world class programs far longer than other schools. With 40 years of teaching, this school has become world-renowned not just because of their strategic investments in their students and faculty, but also through their traditional and modern techniques of expanding your skills. They have a specialized Bachelor of Science degree that can customized your culinary career and foundation. Programs offered: Bachelor’s degree, Baking and Pastry Arts, and Food Service and Management.

5. Alamance Community College – Graham

The fifth most-enrolled culinary school in NC is Alamance Community College. The school’s culinary programs provide training to prepare students as culinary professionals in a variety of food services settings. Students are provided with theoretical knowledge and practical applications to meet the demand of the culinary industry. Offered programs include Culinary Technology, two year or certificate degrees, sanitation and safety, fundamentals of culinary, and nutrition.

6. Guilford Technical Community College

GTCC culinary programs are offered in Associate, certificate and diploma. Students will have a chance to work in the school’s culinary arts and hotel-restaurant dining room management, where students will cook and serve the local community.

7. Cape Fear Community College – Wilmington

Students can choose to enroll in the Certification of Culinary Technology or an Associate in Applied Science in Culinary Technology. The 18 credit certificate program includes work experience, as well as, teaching the basic and advanced culinary skills. However, the associate program requires the student to complete 70 credits in the courses like food and beverage control, food science, pastries and culinary competition fundamentals.

8. Wake Technical Community College

This College offers certification programs, associate degrees and diploma in culinary technology and baking and pastry arts. The Culinary Technology Certificate program educates and trains students in safe food handling, sanitation, cooking, baking and food preparation. In Baking and Pastry Certification, students are trained to bake bread, make pastries and learn the proper preparation of desserts. However, the Associate program offers a variety of courses like international cuisine, classical cuisine, menu design and human resources management.

9. Sandhills Community College

With the school’s hospitality and culinary programs, students can earn certificates and associate degree in culinary arts. Students will study nutrition, global cuisine, wine preparation and baking. Additional training is provided through cooking and serving customers in their Russell Dining Room, where students will have a real-world experience.

10.  Central Piedmont Community College

This school awards certificates and associate degrees in culinary arts. The program includes cake and dessert artistry, international cuisine, basic culinary skills and nutrition. Students who want a wider culinary education can enroll in the Associate in Applied Science in Culinary Arts – a program that trains students for career opportunities in the restaurant and catering work.

These culinary schools in NC allow you to pursue a quality education in culinary arts that will start you off towards a promising career as a chef. Decide now, and have a palate satisfying learning experience!