Kendall College

Train Where the Industry Is

At Kendall College, Chicago's premier destination for aspiring chefs, bakers, hotel managers, and tourism professionals, you train in commercial-grade kitchens and real-world settings, and you graduate ready to do the work you love.

"Attending Kendall was one of my favorite experiences that I will cherish for the rest of my life."

Maher Alnammary, A.A.S. Culinary Arts

American Culinary Federation Education Foundation accredited

Accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation

Start Your Culinary or Hospitality Career

Train at Chicago's premier culinary and hospitality school. Take the first step by completing the form below.

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Why start your culinary career at Kendall?

6 Programs offered

3 Degree levels

70,000+ Alumni nationwide

Since 1886 Serving working adults

Why study with us

Hands-On Higher Education in a Hospitality Capital

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 such as commercial-grade kitchens, and a strong emphasis on real-world experience, Kendall College prepares aspiring chefs, bakers, hotel managers, and tourism professionals to hit the ground running. Kendall College has been featured in FX's The Bear and has hosted panels at the James Beard Awards.

Advance your career

Where you train makes the difference

Learn the craft where the work actually happens.

Train Where the Industry Is

Chicago, a hospitality capital, with commercial-grade kitchens and real-world settings, so you learn the craft where the work happens.

Hands-On From Day One

You learn by doing, building the practical experience employers actually look for.

A Name That Opens Doors

Kendall's reputation and alumni network reach across the culinary and hospitality industry.

Built to Launch a Career or a Business

Strong academics plus real-world skills, so you can run a station, lead a kitchen, or one day open your own.

Accreditation and credentials

The credentials behind your training, so you graduate ready.

HLC Accredited Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Nonprofit, Since 1886 A private, not-for-profit university.

Kendall College at National Louis University programs

Choose your level to see what it opens up and the programs that get you there. Each links to full details.

All levels Certificate 2 Associate's 2 Bachelor's 2

Certificate 2 programs

Get into the field fast. Start working in the field and build toward a degree.

Baking and Pastry Certificate View program →
Culinary Arts Certificate View program →

Associate's 2 programs

Get hands-on and career-ready, with a clear path on to a bachelor's.

AAS Baking and Pastry View program →
AAS Culinary Arts View program →

Bachelor's 2 programs

Build your foundation for people-centered careers and graduate study.

BA Culinary Management View program →
BA Hospitality Management View program →

Outcomes

Real People. Real Paths.

Kendall graduates and students building careers in kitchens and hospitality around the world.

Qin Cai

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.

Dee Mannella

B.A. Hospitality Management

Manager of Events for the Society of Women Engineers, with more than 85 events across 11 countries.

Rebeca Narro Perez

B.A. Culinary Management

“Studying at Kendall completely changed my mindset.”

Came from Mexico and opened her own business back home.

Beverly Kim

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.

Asael Villa

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.

Arjun Singh

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.

Maher Alnammary

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.

How it works

Request information

Tell us about you, your goals, and the level of study you are interested in. It takes about a minute.
Talk with an advisor

An NLU enrollment advisor reaches out to answer your questions and map a personalized plan for your education.
Apply and get started

Submit your application with help from your advisor, choose an upcoming start date, and begin moving toward the career you want.

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Next start date: September 21, 2026

Get Started

The practical details

What to expect, start to finish.

Start when you are ready

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.

Affordable, with support

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.

Built around your life

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.