Texas College Programs for Student Chefs
Study cooking arts in Texas and you are surrounded on all sides by some of the most maverick food scenes in the country. Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and eclectic Austin are just a few of the metro areas offering up a bounty of inventive noshing—exactly the influences with which any aspiring chef should surround him- or herself.
At the top of the school list are a few of the country’s top culinary arts academies: Texas Culinary Academy and the International Culinary Schools at AI in Dallas and in Houston. But there are equally great culinary arts and pastry arts programs beyond these. Search through a few dozen other Texas colleges, universities, community and technical colleges scattered across the state.
The range of food service industry degrees available in Texas: hospitality management, culinary and pastry arts, chef training, food technology, food sciences, food and nutrition, dietetics, professional cooking, kitchen worker, and restaurant management.
Voyage into the Local Food Scene
Good news: the Texas food scene is so vibrant and an eclectic meld of southwestern, southern, Mexican, and traditional American cuisines. AND it’s all part of your education to experience. Local and regional “best of” chefs and restaurants, big and small, are critical aspects of your training. In fact some schools even invite guest chefs from the region to demonstrate their best dishes or share industry know-how.
Local and regional food festivals are perfect concentrations of local food, beverages and culture. Think: chili, barbecue, and top Texas chefs. Add these popular Texas festivals to your culinary academic “To-Do” list:
- Savor Dallas, Dallas
- Austin Chocolate Festival, Austin
- Grand Wine and Food Affair, Houston
Prepping for a Chef’s Job
Give your resume more career credibility with a student membership in a leading food service industry association.
- Research Chefs Association - South Central Region
- American Culinary Federation – Austin, El Paso, Houston, Dallas chapters
- Texas Restaurant Association
- Women Chefs and Restaurateurs
Organizations like these give you a vehicle for connecting with likeminded students and professionals, network, access private job postings, and participate in national and regional conferences and educational events.
Chef salaries across Texas vary quite significantly based on experience and location. But education and type of chef job also factor into the mix. Average sous chef salaries within the state range from $39,000 to $49,000 across the major metro areas.
List of Texas Cooking Schools
The International Culinary Schools at the Art Institute of Dallas is one of 30+ other campuses in the nation delivering one of the most respected culinary programs in the country. The curriculum is sponsored by The Food Network. Degree programs in Dallas: Bachelors Culinary Management, Associates Culinary Arts, Associates Baking and Pastry, Associates Restaurant and Catering Management, and Certificate Art of Cooking.
The International Culinary Schools at the Art Institute of Houston is one of two AI culinary campuses in Texas and one of 30+ in the nation. Sponsored by The Food Network, the AI programs are top-notch. You learn the fundamentals of international cuisines, including classic French and traditional American. Degree programs in Houston: Bachelors Culinary Management, Associates Culinary Arts, Associates Baking and Pastry, Associates Restaurant and Catering Management, and Culinary Skills Diploma.
Texas Culinary Academy’s Le Cordon Bleu program emulates that developed by the original Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France. This highly respected school teaches new chefs the fundamentals of classic French cuisine as well as traditional American culinary skills. Programs of study: Associates Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts, Certificate Le Cordon Bleu Patisserie and Baking, and Certificate Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts.
Culinary Institute Alain and Marie LeNoitre is one of the most well-respected culinary institutes in the country. This Houston based one-of-a-kind school offers degree programs: Associates Culinary Arts, Associates Baking and Pastry, Cuisine Program Diploma, Baking and Pastry Arts Diploma, and Culinary Arts Diploma.
Culinary School of Fort Worth is owned and operated by Chef Judie Byrd and programs are designed for student chefs, pros and even serious amateurs.
Culinary Academy of Austin provides student chefs and profs with a top-notch, private education in culinary arts and pastry arts diploma programs.
Texas State Colleges, Community and Technical Colleges Offering Culinary, Restaurant Management, and/or Hospitality Degrees
Abilene Christian University – Abilene
Aims Academy – Carrollton
Alvin Community College – Alvin
Austin Community College – Austin
Baylor University – Waco
Central Texas College - Killeen
Collin County Community College – McKinney
Del Mar College - Corpus Christi
El Centro College – Dallas
El Paso Community College - El Paso
Galveston College – Galveston
Houston Community College System - Houston
Lone Star College – Houston
Lamar University – Beaumont
Northeast Texas Community College - Mount Pleasant
Northwood University - Cedar Hill
Odessa College – Odessa
Remington College – Garland
Sam Houston State University – Huntsville
San Jacinto College - Houston-Pasadena
South Texas Community College – McAllen
Southwest Texas State University - San Marcos
Stephen F Austin State University – Nacogdoches
St. Philips College - San Antonio
Tarrant County College – Arlington
Texas A & M University - College Station-Kingsville-Laredo
Texas Christian University - Ft Worth
Texas Southern University – Houston
Texas State Technical College – Waco
Texas Tech University – Lubbock
Texas Woman’s University – Denton
University of Houston - Houston
University of North Texas – Denton
University of Texas - Austin
Wiley College - Marshall