Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Commercial food instructor education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a commercial food instructor. Commercial food instructors usually study food and nutrition, general education, specific areas, or culinary arts. 51% of commercial food instructors hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 90 real commercial food instructor resumes to see exactly what commercial food instructor education sections show.
The most common colleges for commercial food instructors are the Montclair State University and the Montclair State University.
There are also many online commercial food instructor courses to help get the education required to be a commercial food instructor.
What education do you need to become a commercial food instructor?
What degree do you need to be a commercial food instructor?
- Bachelor's, 51%
- Associate, 17%
- High School Diploma, 13%
- Master's, 6%
- Other Degrees, 13%
What should I major in to become a commercial food instructor?
- Food And Nutrition, 11%
- Culinary Arts, 9%
- Liberal Arts, 9%
- Other Majors, 62%
Most common colleges for commercial food instructors
| Commercial food instructor common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Montclair State University | 8.33% |
| University of Oregon | 8.33% |
| Wayland Baptist University | 8.33% |
| The Art Institute of Pittsburgh | 8.33% |
| Laboure College | 4.17% |
Best majors for commercial food instructors
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Food And Nutrition | 11.3% |
| 2 | General Education, Specific Areas | 9.4% |
| 3 | Culinary Arts | 9.4% |
| 4 | Liberal Arts | 9.4% |
| 5 | Business | 7.5% |
Best colleges for commercial food instructors
The best colleges for commercial food instructors are University of Pennsylvania, New York University, and Boston University.
A commercial food instructor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for commercial food instructors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become commercial food instructors.
1. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$9,816
Enrollment
21,047
2. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
4. University of Akron
Akron, OH • Private
In-state tuition
$11,463
Enrollment
13,676
5. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Enrollment
33,495
6. SUNY College of Agriculture & Technology at Morrisville
Morrisville, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,670
Enrollment
2,758
7. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
8. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
9. University of Alaska Anchorage
Anchorage, AK • Private
In-state tuition
$8,580
Enrollment
10,482
10. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
20 best online courses for commercial food instructors
Advertising disclosure
1. Child Nutrition and Cooking
Eating patterns that begin in childhood affect health and well-being across the lifespan. The culture of eating has changed significantly in recent decades, especially in parts of the world where processed foods dominate our dietary intake. This course examines contemporary child nutrition and the impact of the individual decisions made by each family. The health risks associated with obesity in childhood are also discussed. Participants will learn what constitutes a healthy diet for children...
2. Cooking for Busy Healthy People
Cooking is one of the most powerful ways in which we can optimize our enjoyment of great quality food while protecting our health. Even on a tight budget, cooking can be a cost-effective, joyful and rewarding way to love the food that will love us back for a lifetime. In this course, you’ll learn some basic recipes from a home cook and two professional chefs who prioritize healthful eating. You’ll also learn some of the fundamentals of principle-based cooking that can help you break free from...
3. Cook Real Food: How to Make Simple Plant-Based Meals
Learn how to cook whole plant foods to make quick, easy, and healthy vegan meals for practical everyday eating...
4. Fun food safety and sanitation course
The food safety course will help prepare you for safely working in a kitchen and food handler tests like Servesafe...
5. Unravelling solutions for Future Food problems
Our society depends on the availability of food and accessibility to it. According to the United Nations nearly 800 million people are hungry and on the other hand, over 650 million people are obese. While many people in developing countries experience food shortage, in industrialized countries people are throwing food away. These facts show how paradoxical and complex the world’s food problem is. ln this course, more than 10 food researchers from Utrecht University will address the main issues...
6. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System
Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...
7. Vegan Nutrition Health Coach Certification
Become a Vegan Nutrition Certified Health Coach, Learn Vegan Cooking, Embrace a Holistic Approach to Food...
8. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors
The Highfield Food Safety Level 3 syllabus presented in two hours of video tutorials. Boost your food safety knowledge...
9. Eat Real Food: How to Eat a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet
Learn how to be a healthy vegan or vegetarian in a holistic way for best health, weight, and wellbeing...
10. Get to Know Your Food: Claims, Labels & Ingredients
Learn how to make the healthiest and best food choices amidst processed and packaged foods...
11. Internationally Accredited Certificate in Nutrition
Learn the Fundamentals of Nutrition Science...
12. Basic Food Photography
Learn how to take delicious food photos from scratch...
13. Blockchain applications in Food Safety, Healthcare & Pharma
Best course to learn about Blockchain Business Applications in Pharma, Food Safety, Healthcare and Insurance Industries...
14. ISO 22000 (HACCP and PRPs) for Food Safety
Standards, analysis, control points, and risk management related to ISO 22000 for food industry professionals...
15. Health and Nutrition Life Coach Certification (Accredited)
Life Coaching: Create a Workout & Nutrition Plan Based on Your Clients' Fitness, Weight Loss, Dieting & Nutrition Goals...
16. Vegan Nutrition: Build Your Plant Based Diet & Meal Plan
Learn How To Set Up A Vegan Diet For Weight Loss, Building Muscle, Healthy Eating, Meal Planning & Vegan Bodybuilding...
17. Food Photography: Capturing Food in Your Kitchen
With DIY Food Photography, you'll be taking better photos in no time with what you have in your own kitchen!...
18. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)
Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...
19. Fully Accredited Professional Nutritionist Diploma Course
Complete Nutrition For All - Exploring All Elements of Nutrition. Healthy Eating & Nutrition for all ages!...
20. Internationally Accredited Diploma in Diet Planning
Learn how to Create Your Clients(or your)perfect diet and nutrition plan based on their goals, preferences and lifestyle...
Top 10 most affordable universities for commercial food instructors
The most affordable schools for commercial food instructors are University of Florida, brooklyn college of the city university of new york, and california state university - los angeles.
If the best universities for commercial food instructors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for commercial food instructors.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
3. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
4. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
5. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
8. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
9. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
10. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for commercial food instructors
The hardest universities for commercial food instructors to get into are University of Pennsylvania, New York University, and Boston University.
Some great schools for commercial food instructors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for commercial food instructors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
3. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
4. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
5. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
6. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
7. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA • Private
Admissions rate
30%
SAT average
1,339
8. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
9. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
10. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for commercial food instructors
The easiest schools for commercial food instructors to get into are Life University, gwynedd mercy university, and holy names university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a commercial food instructor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for commercial food instructors.
1. Life University
Marietta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
979
2. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
3. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
4. Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,059
5. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
6. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
7. Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,017
8. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
9. Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
1,099
10. Lewis-Clark State College
Lewiston, ID • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,009
Average commercial food instructor salary by education level
| Commercial food instructor education level | Commercial food instructor salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $48,146 |
| Doctorate Degree | $58,144 |
Commercial food instructor education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
Search for commercial food instructor jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025