Turn Your Craft Into a Career
At Kendall College, Chicago's premier culinary and hospitality school, you train in commercial-grade kitchens and real-world settings, and you graduate ready to do the work you love.
"I chose NLU for its strong reputation in hospitality management and its proximity to key industry hubs."
Shiva Basnet, B.A. Hospitality Management
Accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation
Tell us what you love to make. Take the first step by completing the form below.
Why study with us
When it comes to the culinary arts and hospitality, practical experience is everything. With an ideal location in one of the food capitals of the world, state-of-the-art facilities, and a strong emphasis on real-world experience, Kendall College prepares aspiring chefs, bakers, hotel managers, and tourism professionals to hit the ground running. You will combine a strong academic foundation with transformative hands-on practice. Kendall College has been featured in FX's The Bear and has hosted panels at the James Beard Awards.
Careers in this field
Swipe through where a culinary or hospitality degree leads. See what the work feels like, then find the program that gets you there.
Choose your level to see what it opens up and the programs that get you there. Each links to full details.
Get into the field fast. Start working in the field and build toward a degree.
Get hands-on and career-ready, with a clear path on to a bachelor's.
Build your foundation for people-centered careers and graduate study.
Outcomes
Kendall graduates building careers and businesses in kitchens and hospitality around the world.
Culinary Arts
“I am planning to build a career that combines the culinary arts and cultural education.”
Left an 11-year career teaching Chinese to pursue the culinary arts and cultural education.
A.A.S. Culinary Arts
“I chose NLU because of its curriculum and practical classes.”
Came from Bihwadi, India with a bachelor's and restaurant experience to build his culinary skills in Chicago.
B.A. Hospitality Management
Manager of Events for the Society of Women Engineers, with more than 85 events across 11 countries.
A.A.S. Culinary Arts
“Kendall gave me the foundational skills and mindset to get my career started.”
James Beard Award winning chef, Top Chef alum, and owner of Parachute and Wherewithall.
B.A. Culinary Management
“Studying at Kendall completely changed my mindset.”
Came from Mexico and opened her own business back home.
B.A. Hospitality Management, current student
“The biggest challenge was asking for help, but I overcame it by questioning everything.”
A first-generation student from Chicagoland building his path in hospitality.
Culinary Arts
“Attending Kendall was, and will continue to be, one of my favorite experiences.”
Returned to Saudi Arabia to pioneer Western culinary practices after training in Chicago.
Chicago, a hospitality capital, with commercial-grade kitchens and real-world settings.
You learn by doing, with the practical experience employers look for.
Kendall's reputation and alumni network reach across the industry.
Strong academics plus the real-world skills to run your own kitchen one day.
Tell us about you, your goals, and the level of study you are interested in. It takes about a minute.
An NLU enrollment advisor reaches out to answer your questions and map a personalized plan for your education.
Submit your application with help from your advisor, choose an upcoming start date, and begin moving toward the career you want.
Classes for the next term begin in
Next start date: September 21, 2026
The practical details
NLU offers multiple start dates through the year, so you do not have to wait to begin. An advisor will help you pick the next start that fits your plans.
Tuition is built to be affordable, with financial aid, scholarships, and generous transfer credit that can lower both your cost and your time to finish.
Choose online, on-campus, or evening formats, learn in small classes, and work with an advisor and success coach from your first call through graduation.
Accreditation
Accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation
No commitment required. An NLU advisor will reach out within one business day to answer your questions and guide your next move.
Take the First Step