Johnson & Wales University

Autumn on Johnson & Wales Campus

Johnson & Wales University is located in the capital city of Providence, Rhode Island. It’s an interesting school with several dualities—all blending seamlessly. The University was founded by two women in Providence in the early 1900s, and today there’s also a smaller second campus in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Providence location is actually made up of two campuses with easy shuttle service between them. The Downcity campus is a smattering of buildings in the heart of Downtown Providence with a surprisingly traditional green quad at its center. Eight minutes away, Harborside feels more like a traditional suburban college campus, but with the addition of gardens and chicken coops. Students can choose to live in either location, and most say they go back and forth often, even daily. 

JWU (pronounced Jay-Woo) is a medium-sized institution with over 4000 students in Providence and 8000 total when you add in the Charlotte campus and online students. On-campus housing is required for three years, and there are traditional dorms and apartments to choose from. Harbor View is the standout residential hall; it’s a 5 minute shuttle ride from campus, but worth it to live in a converted hotel right on the water. 

Grace Welcome Center at JWU
Cuisinart Center for Culinary Arts at JWU

The curriculum is made up of about ⅓ culinary school programs and ⅔ traditional academic programs, but students have access to both. Major in hospitality and minor in mixology, or major in culinary arts and minor in nutrition… There are endless combinations! Some bachelor’s degrees can even be completed in three years, and there are several graduate degrees available in-person and online. Unique and popular academic programs include: 

  • Culinary arts

  • Baking & pastry arts

  • Cannabis management or Sommelier management

  • Craft brewing

  • Business

  • Hospitality

  • Nutrition

  • Equine Animal Science

  • Public Health

  • Cybersecurity 

“Beverage Appreciation” is the most popular class, and everyone is eligible, even while they’re under 21. They’ll study and taste beverages progressing from water to tea, coffee, beer, wine, and spirits. Classes are capped at 40 students, with labs limited to 18-20. Every discipline has labs, whether you’re studying nursing, finance, pastry, or chemistry. Students are required to have an internship related to their major, and they occasionally find those opportunities away from Providence and even outside the US over the summer. By graduation, half of Johnson & Wales students have spent time working or studying abroad. 

Notable alumni include several renowned chefs such as Emeril Lagasse, Michelle Bernstein,  Chris Cosentino, Graham Elliot, Aarón Sanchez, and former RI Senator Jeanine Calkin.

What type of student would thrive at JWU?

JWU is best suited for students who are career-focused, enjoy hands-on learning, and are drawn to applied fields. Due to a strong focus on experiential learning, it tends to attract students who like to learn by doing rather than purely through lectures or theory. 

Interesting facts:

  • JWU students don’t have classes on Fridays.

  • All first-year students are assigned academic and financial counselors.

  • Johnson & Wales has a Culinary Arts Museum on their Harborside campus—easily one of the highlights of the tour—where students can study and collaborate surrounded by preserved food history including a restored diner car, a 19th century tavern and JWU student projects. 

  • The Food Innovation Lab allows students to explore the science of food, try molecular gastronomy, and push boundaries as they innovate.

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