Let’s get to work.
Johnson & Wales University
Charlotte, N.C.
[ jayWOO ]
JWU noun, adjective, and/or state of mind.
1. A place to learn and grow through one-of-a-kind experiential education
2. An inclusive, diverse and supportive community of Wildcats
3. To be thoughtfully innovative and boldly trailblazing
4. The key to pursuing your passion and preparing for success
5. An experience you won’t want to miss Johnson & Wales has two campus locations: Charlotte, North Carolina, and Providence, Rhode Island. In this book, you’ll explore JWU Charlotte.
100%
of students take part in internships and/or experiential education.
At Johnson & Wales University, you’ll build hands-on experience, industry connections and practical skills that prepare you to step confidently into your career.
BPA1720 PLATED DESSERTS
Create delicious works of art as you learn how to prepare and present hot and cold desserts while exploring flavor, texture and a variety of plating techniques.
in Action Lessons
Cutting-edge facilities let you experience your lessons instead of just learning them.
To learn, you must do. But where and how can you “do”? You’ll need the right tools and the right spaces. Hospitality students can’t learn how to manage a restaurant from a book — they practice leading a team through dinner service in the Hospitality Dining Room. Baking & Pastry students can’t create delicious artisan breads or indulgent chocolate treats with a pen and paper. They need dedicated kitchens with state-of-the-art equipment to master their craft.
We have invested in the spaces and tools our students need to create, experience, innovate and do.
Teagan Bradford ’26
This recent Psychology graduate spent her last semester at JWU changing lives through her internship at the Charlotte Rescue Mission’s Rebound program for men’s addiction recovery. She worked directly with residents in the program and conducted research on how artistic outlets can help those dealing with trauma.
“JWU is my dream school. I love that I get the typical university experience here plus working in kitchens and learning to cook. It is the best of both worlds.”
Makenna
Seymour ’28
Culinary Nutrition
“It was an opportunity that not a lot of undergrads get — to really get hands-on experience at this point in our careers. It’s almost unheard of, and we’re very lucky to have that at JWU.”
Teagan Bradford ’26
Areas of Study
Applied Food Science
Baking & Pastry Arts
Baking & Pastry Arts and Food & Beverage Industry Management
Business Administration
Business Studies
Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts and Food & Beverage Industry Management
Culinary Nutrition
Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship
Health Science
Health Science/Nursing 4+1
Hospitality Management 3-year and 4-year degree options
Liberal Studies
Psychology
Public Health
Public Health/Nursing 4+1
Sports, Entertainment, Event — Management
Degrees Three-Year
Earn your bachelor’s degree in just three years. Seriously.
Our three-year Hospitality Management bachelor’s degree program gives you a faster, more affordable path to your career. You’ll finish in six semesters — without summer classes or extra course loads — while building the skills and industry experience that employers are looking for.
You’ll take the same major and core courses as four-year students, just on a more focused schedule so you can graduate faster and pay less in tuition.
Learn more at jwu.edu/3year
Hands Dirty Get Your
(Not literally, unless you’re into that.)
We believe in diving straight into hands-on experiences from day one. Craft exquisite creations in our chocolate lab or bring your entrepreneurial dreams to life by pitching your business idea at the annual JWU Sharkfest competition. Practice your clinical psychology skills through mock counseling sessions with classmates or add an international flair to your hospitality education by studying abroad.
Learning at JWU is immersive, exciting and transformative.
Nursing students get hands-on in the Nursing Simulation Center, which features high-fidelity manikins to mimic real medical scenarios.
Students conduct beverage tastings to learn about flavor profiles and how to pair drinks with food.
FAR LEFT
In the Microbiology Lab, students use industry-standard equipment to study cells, microbes, pathogens and more. LEFT
Get REAL Let’s
Reimagining Experiential & Applied Learning (REAL)
The goal of REAL is to infuse experiential education into every course for every student in every major from day one. Each course is designed to help you apply what you’re learning through projects, industry challenges and experiences that prepare you for your career from day one.
HANDS-ON LEARNING
1,134
internships were completed by students universitywide last year, and 66% were paid opportunities.
In Your Future Investing
Our dedicated Experiential Education & Career Services office connects students with opportunities through career fairs, internships and networking events. They also offer résumé-building and mock interview sessions, so you’ll have all the preparation you need to ace a job interview.
SUCCESS STORIES
92%
of our alumni are either employed, continuing their education, or enlisted in military service within six months of graduating. Our rate of alumni success is consistently higher than the national average.
The Queen City
Charlotte, North Carolina, (also known as “The Queen City”) is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.
You’ll find us in the Third Ward of Uptown Charlotte, which is the heart of this sprawling city. We’re just minutes from several professional sports arenas, including the Bank of America Stadium (home to the NFL Carolina Panthers), as well as music venues, art and history museums, beautiful parks and incredible food.
Take a stroll through Charlotte’s unique neighborhoods or hop on the CityLynx streetcar line to easily travel through Uptown.
Join Club the
Student Clubs and Organizations
One of the best ways to get involved, make new friends and get that quintessential “college experience” is to join one of our 35+ student-run clubs and organizations. There’s something for every interest — you can plan events for fellow students with the Campus Activities Board, learn how to mix drinks with the Bartender’s Guild or explore Japanese animation with the Anime Society. And if you can’t find a club that matches your unique interests, you can start your own.
You’ll find clubs and organizations that span a variety of categories:
• Academic & Professional Development
• Advocacy & Awareness
• Club Sports & Recreation
• Culinary
• Cultural
• Faith-Based & Spiritual
• Fraternities, Sororities & Social Fellowships
• Governance & Programming
• Special Interest
We’d love to list them all, but like we said — there’s more than 35 of them!
To learn more about life on campus and how to join in, visit jwu.edu/studentlife/clt.
Win Wildcats Like To
Our NCAA Coast-to-Coast Division III varsity sports allow student-athletes to strike the perfect balance between crushing it in the classroom and on the field (or the court, the fairway, the track — whatever playing surface they’re on). Our trophy cabinet has become quite full in the last few years alone, with stellar performances at the individual and team level.
During the 2025-26 academic year, more than 10 student-athletes earned all-conference honors, including the Men’s Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year win for senior John Billinis ’26 and a Newcomer of the Year win for Women’s Basketball player Laylah Toscano ’29.
Whether you shoot hoops with the basketball team or hit the back nine with the golf team, you’ll be a winner here.
Women’s Athletics
• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Golf
• Soccer
• Softball
• Tennis
• Track & Field
• Volleyball
Men’s Athletics
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cross Country
• Golf
• Soccer
• Tennis
“We recognize that our students begin their journey at JWU equipped with unique lived experiences that shape their lives. We make an intentional effort to build an environment where students feel comfortable being their authentic selves.”
R.J. Kilgore, Director of Academic Support
We’ve Got Your Back
The health and wellness of our students is a top priority. We take a holistic approach to supporting students by offering services that emphasize the importance of mental health as well as physical, spiritual, academic and financial well-being.
Academic Success Center
Tutoring, writing labs and study skills workshops
Accessibility Services
Accommodations for learning disabilities, physical challenges and/or chronic medical conditions
Bank of America Summer
Bridge Program
An outreach program for accepted students from the greater Charlotte area to stay on campus for a one-week summer experience that will prepare them to transition into college life
Counseling Services
Confidential, professional counseling to support you throughout your JWU experience
Health & Wellness Services
Basic healthcare services, such as treatment of common illnesses, prescription refills, lab testing, wound care and STI screening and prevention
Residential Life
Support team for resident students that assists with housing, roommate and community living, locating campus resources and more
Student Academic Services
Course registration and planning, understanding degree requirements, reviewing transcripts and more
Student Financial Services
Financial planning to help you pay for college, now through graduation
COURTNEY EVANS ’19
At just 26, Courtney Evans has already made a name for herself in the food world. The Culinary Arts alum has worked with a James Beard-nominated chef, led the kitchens of some of Charlotte’s hottest restaurants and was a finalist in Netflix’s “Next Gen Chef” competition in 2025.
“JWU exposed me to so many avenues of what I could do,” says Evans. “The networking and personable skills they taught me made me feel prepared to step into this world and not feel lost. That network and those connections are immeasurable.”
131,000+
JWU alumni from 130 countries in 117 industries
Forever Wildcats
When you graduate from JWU, you’ll be joining an alumni network that spans the globe.
JWU alumni often return to campus to recruit students at our career fairs, visit classes to share insight about their industry and network with the next generation of Wildcats. Their affinity for their alma mater runs deep, and they love nothing more than returning to their old stomping grounds.
Our Alumni Family
What are Wildcat alumni up to?
There’s just something about Charlotte that makes our alumni want to stick around after graduating. They have changed the landscape of the city by opening successful restaurants and businesses, aiding in the creation of new industries and connecting with the locals through community service projects and programs.
SAVORING A “TOP CHEF” WIN
Tristen Epps ’09
Epps was named the winner of the 22nd season of “Top Chef,” making him the first Black chef to win the prestigious TV cooking competition in 15 years. His food highlights his passion for Afro-Caribbean cuisine and mastery of global techniques from a childhood spent traveling the world in a military family. Now based in Houston, Texas, the James Beard-nominated chef has been working on building his hospitality group, Epps & Flows Culinary, and developing pop-up concepts.
Top Employers of JWU Alumni
• Aramark
• Compass Group
• Hilton
• Marriott International
• The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN POLITICS
Alijah Jamison ’24
In the short time since he graduated from the Business Administration program, Alijah Jamison ’24 has made a big impact. He serves as a District Liaison for the U.S. House of Representatives, working directly with constituents in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also recently completed his Master of Professional Studies in Political Management from the George Washington University.
Merit Scholarships
Your academic performance and/or involvement in select student organizations could make you eligible for a variety of grants and scholarships.
Our Career & Technical Student Organization (CTSO) Scholarship is offered to incoming students with past or present memberships in organizations such as DECA, FBLA, SkillsUSA, etc. Or, if you have an outstanding high school academic record, you could qualify for the Presidential Academic Scholarship.
You can even earn a grant just for visiting us. The JWU Visit Grant is awarded to eligible high school seniors who visit our campus before December 1 of their senior year.
For more information on scholarships and grants, visit jwu.edu/scholarships.
JWUThe Pledge
The JWU Pledge covers up to 100% of eligible undergraduate students’ tuition, making a college education more affordable and accessible.
This program includes grants, scholarships and aid from federal, state and institutional sources to cover the cost of tuition.
Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify for the JWU Pledge. Our FAFSA school code is 003404.
JWU Pledge Eligibility
Income Range Grant & Scholarship Package
Income up to $80,000 and Pell Eligible (verified by FAFSA)
between $80,001 - $200,000 (verified by FAFSA)
The JWU Pledge covers tuition only and is based on your family’s income as reported on the FAFSA. It does not cover lab or other fees, books, supplies, or room and meal plans.
The packages referenced above do not include loans. If you’re eligible for loans, you may choose to use them to help pay for housing, meal plans, fees, books, supplies or other educational expenses not covered by the JWU Pledge.
Learn more about the JWU Pledge and eligibility requirements at jwu.edu/thepledge.
of our on-ground students receive institutional aid 98%
Understanding Financial Aid
Once you’ve applied and been accepted to JWU, you’ll be assigned a personal financial planner to assist you and your family with creating a plan to pay for college.
To receive financial aid, you’ll need to complete the FAFSA. This helps us determine your financial aid package and what you may qualify for.
First steps for U.S. students applying for financial aid:
1 Create your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID at studentaid.gov
2 Gather your license, social security card and bank statements
3
List JWU’s school code, 003404
For more information, check out jwu.edu/payingforcollege.
Started Let’s Get
Applying is the first step toward your future at JWU.
We review everything you submit holistically. What are we looking for? Your story — who you are in your school, community, home and life — and who you want to become.
Application Components
• Common Application OR JWU Application
• High school transcript(s)
• Essay (optional but encouraged)
• Standardized test scores (optional and totally up to you)
Fall 2027 Application Deadlines
• Early Action 1: November 1
• Early Action 2: January 3
• Regular: March 1
• Transfer Priority: April 12
• Rolling: through July 15
Apply (for free!) at apply.jwu.edu
Johnson & Wale s University
801 West Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Charlotte
Notice of nondiscrimination: Johnson & Wales University (JWU) admits students of or with any age, color, disability, ethnic and national origin, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital or parental status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other legally protected category to all the activities, privileges, programs, and rights generally accorded or made available to students at the university. JWU does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnic and national origin, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital or parental status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other legally protected status, in administration of its admissions policies, educational policies, loan and scholarship programs, and athletic or any other school-administered programs. Inquiries regarding the university’s nondiscrimination policies may be directed to the university’s Title IX Coordinator. The university’s full nondiscrimination notice can be located at catalog.jwu.edu
The university reserves the right to make changes at any time to any of its activities, courses, facilities, modalities, offerings, programs, and services as it deems appropriate. All statistics are the most current as of February 2026. For the latest statistics and information, visit jwu.edu/about-jwu