Why Did They Close?
Owned by Education Corporation of America, Culinard, a culinary school, was established in 2000 at the Birmingham, Alabama branch of Virginia College, with a second campus opening in Jacksonville, Florida in 2009. The school had additional campuses in Mobile, Alabama; Richmond, Virginia; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Savannah, Georgia.
Offering two 36-week educational programs—a Culinary Arts Diploma and a Pastry Arts Diploma—Culinard also provided an online Culinary Arts associate degree under specific criteria. Unfortunately, the school ceased operations in December 2018 due to the closure of Education Corporation of America.
Education Corporation of America closed due to a combination of factors, including restrictions on access to Title IV federal student aid and the loss of accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. The company decided to shut down all of its remaining programs—including Culinard—due to these limitations which impeded their ability to operate the institutions under their jurisdiction.
Programs & Courses
Culinary Arts
- Culinary
- Pastry & Baking
Campus Locations
Birmingham, AL 436 Palisades Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35209
Mobile, AL 3725 Airport Blvd., Ste 165, Mobile, AL 36608
Fort Pierce, FL 2810 S Federal Hwy., Fort Pierce, FL 34982
Jacksonville, FL 5940 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207
Savannah, GA 14045 Abercorn St., Ste 1532 Savannah, GA 31419
Baton Rouge, LA 9501 Cortana Pl., Baton Rouge, LA 70815
Greensboro, NC 3740 S Holden Rd., Greensboro, NC 27406
Greenville, SC 78 Global Dr., Ste 200, Greenville, SC 29607
Chattanooga, TN 721 Eastgate Loop, Chattanooga, TN 37411
Richmond, VA 7112 Midlothian Tpk., Richmond, VA 23225
Financial Aid Services
Culinard wants students to have a clear understanding of how to pay for college. The Financial Planning department answers questions and provides info to all applicants. There are also videos on the school’s website for further clarification. Pell grants, loans, and scholarships are all potential forms of aid.
Student Services
There are a variety of day and night classes to fit different schedules. Online courses are available to those who prefer as well. The Culinard student portal makes this process easy.
Career Services
The hands-on, real-world training at Culinard gets students ready to enter the culinary field. The college offers career placement to help graduates land a job as soon as possible.
Veteran and Military Services
As a Military Friendly school, Culinard has a lot to offer those who have served. The Military Student Center hopes to ensure that former or active members of the armed forces, and their families, get the best education.
Representatives will explain benefits like tuition assistance and the GI Bill. They understand that military students may require a flexible schedule or payment plan.
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews, Culinard Culinary School has a limited and outdated set of reviews, but they are all very positive. The reviews primarily come from long-time alumni who reflect on their experience.
Overall Score: 5.0/5 Stars
Common Praises
Solid Foundational Training: A graduate from 2010 noted that the school provided a strong foundation, stating that the success one achieves is a direct result of the effort put in during their time there.
Effective Career Preparation: Another review from a student highlights that they felt prepared for their culinary career after their time at the school.
Momentum
The provided reviews are very old, from seven years ago. The Culinard Culinary Institute closed in 2018. This means the reviews are not indicative of the school’s current status, as it is no longer in operation.