ONLINE CULINARY SCHOOL AVAILABLE IN ATLANTA

A combination of culinary education and hands-on experience in Atlanta can help provide you with the tools and experience you need to pursue a career as a chef in Atlanta. Here are some key steps that can help further your culinary career:

Culinary Education: Escoffier’s Online Culinary Arts program can offer a comprehensive understanding of culinary techniques and kitchen management. This program helps you learn essential skills and further your education from anywhere, potentially setting you up for future opportunities in the culinary field. It also includes an in-person industry externship, which can be invaluable for gaining practical experience as a chef.

Gain Local Experience: It’s important to complement your online studies by gaining hands-on experience in Atlanta’s diverse culinary scene. Atlanta offers a plethora of restaurants ranging from Southern comfort food spots to high-end dining establishments. Externships in these settings can provide necessary hands-on experience and help reinforce the skills learned in your online courses.

Start with Entry-Level Positions: Initially working as a line cook or prep cook in Atlanta’s restaurants can help solidify your basic skills and expose you to the real-world pressures and demands of a professional kitchen. This experience is crucial for building a career in culinary arts.

Network in Atlanta: Leveraging Atlanta’s expansive culinary scene for networking can significantly enhance your career prospects. This can be done by engaging in local food festivals, culinary competitions, and industry conferences that the city frequently hosts. Additionally, joining professional associations such as the American Culinary Federation’s Atlanta chapter can provide valuable connections with local chefs and restaurateurs.

Following these steps and taking advantage of both online education and local experiences can help you effectively prepare for a successful career as a chef in Atlanta. For a detailed guide on how you can pursue this career, check out our Essential Guide to Becoming a Chef.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in the United States, the median salary for chefs and head cooks in Atlanta is approximately $58,240 per year as of May 2023.

Escoffier is accredited in Atlanta! Escoffier stands out as one of the only U.S.-accredited institutions that offer completely online degrees, featuring culinary classes and real-world industry externships.

Our online programs are administered through the Boulder campus. Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, Colorado, holds national accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET).

Additionally, it is approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE), Division of Private Occupational Schools. The Boulder campus is also authorized by the CDHE to engage in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).

This accreditation was achieved through careful curriculum development and the recruitment of faculty that supports online learning. This is particularly important for Escoffier’s culinary arts programs, which are offered entirely online and supplemented by an in-person industry externship.

Registering for online culinary school takes approximately 10 minutes to complete on Escoffier’s convenient online platform. For a detailed overview of the enrollment process, check out our guide, “How You Can Get into Culinary School,” or you can contact the Admissions Department for personal assistance.

Applications are accepted year-round. When applying, you’ll need to provide:

• Your location and demographic details
• Emergency contact information
• Your program of interest
• Proof of graduation
• A valid driver’s license, passport, or photo ID
• After completing your application, you will be prompted to review and submit it with a $25 application fee, followed by receiving an enrollment agreement packet through DocuSign.

Once your application is processed, a member of our Admissions Team will contact you to discuss the next steps. This is also a good opportunity to consult with the Student Finance Department to explore various financing options. Financial aid is available to those who apply and qualify, and it can help many students fund their education.

Yes, to enroll you must provide proof of high school completion or its equivalent before your intended start date. This can be achieved through one of the following methods:

• High school diploma or transcript
• High school equivalency exam: GED, HSED, HiSet, or TASC
• Documentation demonstrating that the student has passed a state-authorized examination that the state recognizes as the equivalent of a high school diploma
• Official college transcript from a completed Associate or higher degree program from an accredited institution
• 60 completed college semester credits or 90 completed college quarter credits from one accredited institution
• State-recognized homeschool certificate of completion
• Homeschool documentation as required by local and or state agencies, not limited to the following: notification to the required agency, academic transcripts, and proof of graduation
• DD-214 for U.S. veterans, which reflects high school equivalency

See the costs for all programs. Financial aid is also available for those who apply and qualify.

You can learn more about the financial aid process and speak with a financial advisor to help guide you through the process.

Yes, financial aid is available for students who apply and qualify.

During the 2022-2023 academic year, the majority of first-time postsecondary students at Escoffier who qualified received some form of assistance. We encourage students to reach out to our Financial Aid Department to determine their eligibility for grants or federally-backed loans.

Specifically, 59% of new Boulder students received financial assistance in the 2022-23 academic year, according to data from College Navigator at the National Center for Education Statistics.

Additionally, Escoffier offers scholarships for online students who qualify, including the Work & Learn Scholarships, the Student Veteran Scholarship, and various merit-based scholarships.

Explore the scholarships available and see if you might qualify.

The Atlanta culinary scene is rapidly expanding, with more than 150 new restaurants and bars expected to open between 2023 and 2024.

For graduates with a culinary arts degree in Atlanta, job opportunities are influenced by the city’s diverse and dynamic culinary scene. Here are some potential job opportunities in Atlanta:

Chefs and Kitchen Staff: Downtown Atlanta offers a robust job market with over 300 restaurants. This area is ideal for chefs and kitchen staff who excel in high-energy environments and are eager to demonstrate their culinary skills in a variety of dining establishments.

Pastry Chefs: Specialty bakeries and cafes, particularly those focusing on artisan and high-quality baked goods, often look for creative pastry chefs. Atlanta’s thriving café scene is a great platform for pastry chefs to showcase their skills.

Catering and Event Chefs: Atlanta’s active social and corporate event scene provides numerous opportunities for chefs who specialize in catering. These roles require skills in menu planning, large-scale food production, and client service.

Food and Beverage Managers in Hotels: A major hub for tourism, Atlanta has numerous luxury hotels that require experienced food and beverage managers to oversee their dining establishments, including hotel restaurants and room service operations.

To learn more about the culinary job opportunities that might be available to you, check out our article, 13 Great Culinary Careers in the Food Industry.

When choosing between the Diploma in Culinary Arts and Operations and the Associate of Occupational Studies Degree in Culinary Arts at Escoffier, it’s important to understand that neither degree is inherently better or worse for securing a high-paying job in the culinary field. The key to choosing the right program depends on your career goals, the depth of education you seek, and the specific culinary skills you wish to explore.

Diploma in Culinary Arts and Operations: This program focuses on the foundational skills needed to start working in a professional kitchen. It covers essential cooking techniques and basic management skills, and it usually takes less time to complete than an associate degree. This diploma might be the right choice if you’re looking to enter the workforce quickly and start gaining practical experience in the culinary field.

Associate of Occupational Studies Degree in Culinary Arts: This degree offers a more expansive curriculum that includes both culinary skills and a broader education in culinary arts management. Along with courses on culinary techniques, it includes courses on restaurant operations, foodservice accounting, and business communications. These courses can be especially helpful for those who are considering management positions or eventually running their own culinary business.

In terms of securing high-paying jobs, both programs provide valuable education and training. The more important factors often include how you leverage networking opportunities in Atlanta’s culinary scene, your personal drive, and how you apply your skills in real-world settings. Additionally, gaining experience through externships and ongoing professional development can be crucial, regardless of the degree you choose.

Yes, online culinary school at Escoffier can help provide students with job search assistance in Atlanta after graduation.

Coaching and tools from the Career Services team can help students achieve their career goals and find employers that fit their professional preferences.

Students at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts receives Career Services support throughout their academic journey and beyond, extending into their post-graduation endeavors.

Escoffier has been recognized by Niche as one of the best colleges for culinary arts in America.

Our school is renowned for its skilled Chef Instructors, comprehensive curriculum, and dedication to sustainable and farm-to-table practices. The curriculum spans a broad spectrum of subjects, including fundamental cooking techniques, foodservice management, business skills, and a variety of culinary concepts.

Additionally, our programs include hands-on industry externships that can offer essential practical experience in a professional kitchen environment.

In addition to its online culinary programs, Escoffier also offers online programs in Baking and Pastry Arts, Food Entrepreneurship, Plant-Based Culinary Arts, Holistic Nutrition & Wellness, and Hospitality & Restaurant Operations Management.

If you’re exploring a career in culinary arts in Atlanta, online culinary school at Escoffier can be an excellent educational choice.

Discover more about what sets our school apart by reading our article on what you need to know about culinary school at Escoffier.

To learn more about what sets our school apart, read our article on what you need to know about culinary school at Escoffier.