A.A.S. in Culinary Arts: Cook at the Highest Level in Chicago

With 700+ applied hours in professional kitchens, a three-month real-world internship, and direct access to Chicago's restaurant scene, Kendall's A.A.S. in Culinary Arts does not just teach you to cook, it launches your culinary career.

  • ACF Accredited
  • 700+ Professional Kitchen Hours
  • 92% of Graduates Employed
  • James Beard and Michelin Alumni

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Why Choose Kendall for Culinary Arts?

700+ Kitchen Hours
Applied practice in professional kitchens, not demo labs

You have been cooking professionally for months before your internship.

Michelin and James Beard
Kendall alumni at the top of the field

Including Beverly Kim of Michelin-starred Parachute.

92% Employed
Culinary arts graduates who sought work, within 6 months

A direct line into Chicago's food industry.

$60,990
Median, chefs and head cooks (BLS, May 2024)

7% growth, much faster than average.

Stackable Degree
Transfer into a Kendall bachelor's

Two degrees in under four years.

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Program at a Glance

How long?
~2 Years
90 quarter credit hours
What experience?
700+ Hours
In professional kitchens
What outcome?
92% Employed
Graduates who sought work, within 6 months
What salary?
$60,990
Median, chefs and head cooks (BLS, May 2024)

What You'll Learn

  • Execute fundamental through advanced cooking techniques
  • Work confidently in a professional kitchen
  • Apply culinary science and kitchen business skills
  • Complete a three-month industry internship
  • Build an industry network in Chicago's food scene
  • Stack your credits toward a Kendall bachelor's degree

Full Course List

Foundations
Knife skills, stocks, sauces, and foundational cooking technique.
Advanced Technique
Building from fundamentals to advanced professional cooking.
Cuisines
Cooking across a range of cuisines and styles.
Culinary Science
The science and business behind professional kitchens.
Professional Growth
Career readiness, leadership, and industry preparation.
Internship
Real-world placement in a professional foodservice operation.

Next start: September 21, 2026 — seats filling fast.

Admissions Requirements

  • High school diploma or GED
  • Online application at nl.edu (no application fee)
  • An advisor schedules a campus tour and reviews financial aid
  • Uniform and tool kit required (about $870)
  • In-person at Kendall's Chicago campus
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Where Top Chefs Started

Kendall alumni include Michelin-starred chefs and three James Beard Award winners, proof of where this training can lead.

Hours, Not Theory

700+ applied hours in professional kitchens plus a three-month internship, so you graduate already experienced.

A Stackable Credential

Transfer into Kendall's B.A. in Culinary Management or Hospitality Management, two degrees in under four years.

Where Will Your Degree Take You?

$60,990
Median, chefs and head cooks (BLS, May 2024)
Line Cook to Sous Chef
Banquet Chef
Caterer
Cafe or Kitchen Manager
Restaurant Owner
Executive Chef

Kendall culinary graduates step into one of the nation’s most dynamic culinary markets, with roles from line cook and sous chef to banquet chef, caterer, and cafe manager, on a path toward head and executive chef. Alumni include Beverly Kim of Michelin-starred Parachute and other nationally recognized chefs.

Chefs and head cooks earn a median salary of $60,990 with 7 percent growth, much faster than average, and about 24,400 openings a year (BLS, May 2024). Ninety-two percent of culinary arts graduates who sought work in the field were employed within six months.

Get Started Now

How to Apply in 3 Simple Steps

  1. Request Information

    Submit the form above. A Kendall College advisor will reach out within one business day.

  2. Connect With an Advisor

    Your advisor walks you through the application, financial aid, a campus tour, and the path to internship placement.

  3. Apply and Start Classes

    Submit your application at nl.edu with no application fee. Next start: September 21, 2026. Your advisor guides you from enrollment to orientation at the Chicago campus.

Get Started

Take the First Step

No commitment required. A Kendall College advisor will reach out within one business day to schedule a campus tour and map your path into a culinary career.

Take the First Step
  • ACF Accredited
  • 700+ Professional Kitchen Hours
  • 92% of Graduates Employed
  • James Beard and Michelin Alumni

*Salary and growth: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Chefs and Head Cooks (SOC 35-1011), May 2024.

**Outcomes, accreditation, and alumni: Kendall College of National Louis University program materials; American Culinary Federation (ACF) accreditation.