History, Affiliations and Rankings

Johnson & Wales University was founded in September 1914 by Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales as the Johnson and Wales Business School. The school became a registered not-for-profit organization in 1963 and officially changed its name to JWU in 1988, known informally as JWU. It had four campuses, the founding Providence campus, the Charlotte Campus opened in 2004, the North Miami Campus opened in 1992 and closed in 2021 and the Denver campus opened in 2000 and closed in 2021. From its origins as a school devoted to business education, Johnson & Wales University has grown to a junior college, senior college, and ultimately university status.

Infrastructure, Campuses and Courses

Johnson & Wales University has two campuses at the moment - one in Providence and one in Charlotte. The University offers a total of 60+ courses in both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. JWU currently has six academic units across each of its campuses - College of Business, College of Culinary Arts, College of Hospitality, College of Health & Wellness, College of Engineering & Design and John Hazen White College of Arts & Sciences.

The Providence Campus is located in the ultimate college town - with a thriving arts and music scene, professional sports and access to more than 380 miles of the nearby coastline. With 70 student-run clubs and organizations, NCAA Division III athletics and fully-equipped residence halls, life at the flagship campus is equally non-stop.

On the other hand, the Charlotte Campus includes on-campus baking, culinary, management and retail labs and the 33,000-square-foot Student Center, alongside nearby public markets and sports arenas.

Accomplishments and Alumni 

Johnson & Wales University has a worldwide reputation as the leader in culinary education. The university is strategically invested in Areas of Excellence focused on Communications, Health, STEM and Sustainability.

In tandem with JWU’s topical Areas of Excellence is the importance of their approach to Discovery. Discovery allows students to take some time to acclimate to the university experience and work with a dedicated academic advisor to determine which of JWU’s majors is the best fit. Johnson & Wales’ supportive community provides students with the room to discover their path to success.

Notable alumni from Johnson & Wales University include Emeril Lagasse (Chef), Dirk Shaw (PR Expert and Chief Strategist), Lena Kwak (President, Chief Developer and Co-Founder of Cup4Cup) and Rob Palleschi (Chief Development of Officer at G6 Hospitality).

Student Diversity and Visiting Companies

Students from 125 countries are recorded to have studied at Johnson & Wales University. For students who are not fluent in English, the University’s English Language & Culture Academy (ELCA) at Providence Campus is present. JWU ELCA offers small classes, caring faculty, personal attention and many resources and supports services. ELCA students are considered part of the JWU community with full access to all campus amenities including on-campus housing, dining, libraries, etc. JWU’s alumni are notably recruited by the likes of Marriott International, Fidelity Investments, TJX Companies, The Walt Disney Company and Walgreens.