Why Culinary?

Because the $476 billion food industry is growing fast -- projecting to add about 2 million jobs in the next decade -- requiring highly skilled food service professionals and managers to meet demand.

According to the National Restaurant Association (NRA), the restaurant industry employs an estimated 12.2 million people nationally — nine percent of the nation's total work force — making it the largest employer outside of government.

The number of those in management positions within the food-service industry is projected to increase 11% between 2005 and 2015.

There is money to be made. More than three out of five food service managers have annual household incomes of $50,000 or more.

Approximately 900,000 food service locations in the United States account for an estimated $1.3 billion in accumulated sales during a typical day — sales which have increased 38 percent in the last 10 years.