Key Takeaways:
- Johnson & Wales University offers diverse programs, including renowned culinary arts and accelerated degrees, catering to various student needs.
- The university has multiple campuses and strong online programs, enrolling over 16,000 students with comprehensive financial aid options.
- Accredited by NEASC and other specialized bodies, JWU ensures quality education and supports students with practical training and career readiness.
Degree Programs at Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales University appears in our ranking of Master’s in Hospitality Management Online: Top 25 Values.


Johnson & Wales University offers opportunities for any student with an interest in higher education. It designed a series of early enrollment programs that accept high school students. They can earn credits that count towards their diplomas and credits that they can transfer to another college or use at Johnson & Wales University. There are also continuing education programs for adult students and accelerated programs for students who want to earn their degrees in less time than it would typically take.
Featured Programs
One of the top programs offered by the university is its Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts. This program teaches students how to create dishes from ingredients. They can take classes on cooking techniques and baking concepts as well as courses on working with others and running the operations of a kitchen. The university’s culinary arts and food service management program focuses more on the basics of leading a staff and running a food business. Students can also study culinary nutrition or culinary science and product development. The product development program teaches students the fundamentals of creating new foods and beverages.
Though the university has a strong reputation for its culinary programs, it offers other majors for undergrads. Some of these are 3 +3 or 3 + 2 programs. The 3 +3 addiction counseling program includes three years of undergrad work and three years of graduate work. Students will do internships in counseling centers too. A similar program features three years of undergrad work and two years of graduate work in clinical mental health counseling. The university has a 3 + 3 program for law school students too. Other majors for undergrads include accounting, advertising and marketing communications, business, biology, psychology, and public health.
Graduate and doctoral students can earn degrees through Johnson & Wales University too. It offers an accelerated Master of Business Administration (MBA) program with concentrations in accounting, finance, hospitality, human resources management, information technology management and other fields. The university’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) allows students to pick from concentrations in nonprofit management or criminal justice, though they can also enroll in the general MPA program. Most of the Johnson & Wales University programs are available online and on its multiple campuses.
About Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales University is a university that provides practical training for students majoring in different fields. Founded in 1914 as the Johnson & Wales Business School, it offered business programs for students in and around Providence, Rhode Island and those willing to move to the city. Accounting and economics courses were some of the first classes it offered. The original founder sold the school to new investors in the late 1940s. Those new owners saw enrollment grow from 100 students to more than 1,000 after they helped it become a junior college. Johnson & Wales University is now a full university that uses the names Johnson & Wales and JWU.
JWU has a flagship campus in Providence that offers on-campus housing. A second campus in nearby Cranston offers its culinary arts programs, and allows students to gain experience in on-site restaurants. There are also campuses in Denver, Miami, and Charlotte, most of which offer housing and meal plans for students. Across all campuses and its online programs, JWU has an enrollment of more than 16,000 students.
Johnson & Wales University Accreditation Details
JWU has accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE). That accreditation is what lets it award degrees to any students who complete its curriculum and requirements and to award financial aid packages to students who need help. The university also has accreditation for its dietetic program too from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and its Accreditation Council for Education in Nursing and Dietetics (ACEND).
Johnson & Wales University Application Requirements
The JWU admissions process requires that students submit an online application and then upload their documents. It only takes 30 minutes to complete the undergrad application. Students need to know the name and address of the high school they attended and biographical information, including a social security number and date of birth. This application allows them to pick which campus they want to attend and to select an online program. They will then visit a separate page and upload any required documents, including transcripts or letters of recommendation.
Graduate students must meet the requirements of a specific program. JWU has a list of admissions requirements online that shows what students need to submit. The university asks for official transcripts that list all the courses the applicant took, his or her grades and a cumulative GPA. They will write an essay that explains their goals and interests, which they will add to the application. JWU also requires a resume and two letters of recommendation. Students can have their references fill out a personal reference form in lieu of writing a recommendation letter. Certain programs require that students have an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher too.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergrads pay a new student fee of $350 when they first enroll and $33,054 per year in tuition. Those who need health insurance can purchase a plan from JWU for $1,848 per year. The cost of room and board will add a minimum of $7,872 to their annual costs. Room and board charges vary across campuses. Graduate students pay different rates based on their programs. This cost ranges from $356 to $763 per credit hour. Those who need to take prerequisites before beginning a program will pay $1,008 for each class they need to take.
Once JWU receives a FAFSA completed by a student, it can design a financial aid package around the individual’s needs. Grants and loans are available from the state and the federal government to students who have more need than others. Graduate students qualify for loans regardless of their financial need, but they usually need to enroll full-time in a degree program to get a loan. There are also scholarships available for students who are members of national organizations and for those who demonstrate academic merit. Scholarships and grants help students pay for the cost of any Johnson & Wales University degree program without worrying about repaying those awards later.