The future looks bright for America’s culinary students. The National Restaurant Association authored a news release stating that the outlook for the restaurant industry showed strong signs of rebounding in 2010. In December, the restaurant performance index rose to its highest level in nearly two years. Not only is the industry expected to do well as the nation forges ahead in 2011, but job growth in the industry is expected to average 6-7 percent between now and 2018.

Salaries are significant for culinary artists as well. The annual average salary for chefs is $38,770. Top chefs earn an average of $66,680 per year and if you plan to start your own business, most chef-owners report earnings of $100,00 or more per year.

Aspiring culinary artists have the right figures on their side, but they can increase their chances of securing a top position even more by choosing the right culinary school. Culinary programs are offered at a variety of institutions such as art and design schools, trade schools, community colleges, and professional career institutes. Degree options include certificate, associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree in culinary art. Some schools even offer advanced degrees in culinary arts.

When choosing a culinary school, it’s best to stick with accredited culinary art programs. The American Culinary Federation accredits most programs, but not all. So, when you find a school you’re interested in, be sure to check the website for accreditation status and the name of the accrediting agency. You can verify any schools accreditation status, and whether it’s recognized by the  U.S. Department of Education, by visiting Ed.gov.

To begin your search for a quality culinary degree program, visit reputable sites such as:

• -Princetonreviewcom
• -Petersons.com
• -U.S. News & World Report College Rankings

These sites offer free access to college listings and descriptions, peer reviews, ratings, and tuition rates. Once you’ve located a program, take some time out to review the curriculum. Accredited culinary programs typically offer more than 1,000 hours of hands-on training as a part of the curriculum. They also offer similar course curriculums including:

• -Advanced Restaurant Cooking
• -Baking and Pastry Skill Development
• -Cuisines of the Americas, Asia, Italy, and the Mediterranean
• -Food Safety
• -Menu Development
• -Nutrition
• -Restaurant Law
• -Wine Studies

Most accredited culinary institutes report 90% placement rates for graduates, so check with admissions to see if your selection is in the ballpark.

If you want to take a look at one of the nations top culinary programs, visit the official Culinary Institute of America (CIA) website. This will give you a good idea of what a top culinary program looks like. CIA has campuses in New York, Texas, and California.

BusinessWeek has a recent profile on for-profit college EDMC and the involvement of Goldman Sachs. The article is balanced, as they gave EDMC the opportunity to present success stories, but many of the stories are unfortunately similar to others we’ve heard regarding for-profit colleges – too many students paying huge tuition costs, racking up huge student loans, and then not being able to get high-paying jobs they expected (or were sold on by recruiters). One student profiled in the article got a bachelor’s degree in game art and design at EDMC for a cost $70,000 in tuition and fees. After she graduating she got a job that paid $12 an hour recruiting employees for video game companies. She eventually lost that job and now she’s stripping.

We’re seeing more and more lawsuits in this area, and the article points out some lawsuits against EDMC. Changes are also coming from the Obama administration.

On July 23, the Obama Administration proposed restricting—and in extreme cases, cutting off entirely—programs whose graduates end up with the highest debts relative to their salaries and have the most trouble repaying their student loans. EDMC will be affected more than most other for-profit companies because of its focus on “passion” fields, such as art and cooking, rather than more practical accounting or business degrees, says Jeffrey M. Silber, an analyst with BMO Capital Markets in New York. Cooking, fashion, and arts jobs tend to have low starting salaries: A beginning cook, for example, earns an average of $18,000 a year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, while a two-year culinary degree can cost $40,000 to $50,000. EDMC spokeswoman Jacquelyn P. Muller says Art Institute students tend to earn more, with those holding culinary degrees starting at $28,000.

You have to do your research if you’re thinking of attending one of these schools, and don’t fall for high-pressure sales tactics!