Hospitality

Texas has a huge appetite for hospitality. Restaurants and food businesses need people who can create memorable experiences while understanding what it takes to run a successful operation.

TSTC gives students the opportunity to develop their craft in professional-grade kitchens, then put those skills to work serving real guests. TSTC's Culinary & Hospitality Management program specifically combines culinary training with food-cost management and kitchen operations.

The future of the industry

Photo of the industry
Experience Matters More
People aren't only going out for a meal. They're looking for food and experiences worth remembering. That puts greater value on culinary professionals who can bring creativity and a point of view to what they make. BLS expects continued demand for high-quality dishes as consumers dine out.
The Kitchen Is Getting Smarter
Technology is changing how professional kitchens operate. Digital systems can streamline the business behind the food, giving culinary teams more information to manage operations efficiently while maintaining quality.
Career Paths Go Beyond the Kitchen
Culinary expertise can become a foundation for leadership. With experience, professionals can move into roles overseeing a kitchen or an entire food-service operation. BLS projects food service management to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2034.

TSTC's training meets this demand

Learn by Running the Restaurant

At TSTC's Waco campus, the learning space becomes a full-service restaurant open to the public. Students work both sides of the operation, putting what they've learned into practice with actual guests.

Develop the Business Behind the Food

TSTC teaches students how to think beyond preparing a dish. Coursework builds an understanding of food costs and kitchen operations, helping students develop the skills needed to turn culinary talent into a sustainable career.

Training Where Talent Is Needed

TSTC is expanding culinary education in response to workforce needs. The Culinary Arts program recently returned to Sweetwater, where local leaders identified trained culinary professionals as important to expanding the area's restaurant economy.
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People continue to dine out and seek high-quality food experiences.

2.6M
Annual Job Openings
Food preparation and serving occupations are expected to create millions of openings each year, offering many ways to enter the industry and build experience.
217K
New Restaurant Cook Jobs
Restaurant cooks are among the occupations adding the most jobs nationwide, reflecting continued demand for people with the skills to work in professional kitchens.
1.4M+
Restaurant Jobs in Texas
Texas has a massive restaurant industry, creating opportunities to build a hospitality career across communities throughout the state.
Sources: Bureau of Labour Statistics (2021-31)

Envision your future through the experiences of our graduates.

“All the classes in the program were much-needed skills I used when I started at my first job.”
Stacy Russell
Head Chef and Partner at Lula Jane's
Chefs & Head Cooks
$56,280
Median Salary
O*Net Online Chefs and Head Cooks

Envision your future through the experiences of our graduates.

“The skills they teach you will be needed in any well-established restaurant.”
Dequan Carter
Culinary Arts Program
Restaurant Cooks
$26,050
Median Salary
O*Net Online Restaurant Cooks

Learn in a restaurant, not just a classroom

TSTC students train in professional-grade kitchens where they develop their craft through hands-on work. At the Waco campus, that experience goes one step further: students transform their learning space into a full-service restaurant and prepare meals for real guests.
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Waco // Greta W. Watson Culinary Arts Center
Master the craft of culinary arts
Waco // Greta W. Watson Culinary Arts Center
Waco // Greta W. Watson Culinary Arts Center

In-demand programs

Culinary & Hospitality Management

Program