About JWU


Founded in 1914 by pioneering educators Mary Wales and Gertrude Johnson, Johnson & Wales University (JWU) has prepared students for successful careers through hands-on, career-focused education for more than 110 years.

Student walking on Geabe Commons in Downcity
A person leans over a microscope, examining a specimen in a bright, modern laboratory setting.
A chef in a professional kitchen carefully garnishes a dish with a small green herb.
Students walling in front of Gaebe Commons

Where Bold Beginnings Lead to Bright Futures

Today, JWU is recognized for excellence in culinary, hospitality, business, health, arts and sciences, and food innovation. More than 8,000 students learn on our campuses in Providence, Rhode Island, and Charlotte, North Carolina or through flexible online programs.

Experiential education is the foundation of a JWU education. Through internships, industry partnerships, labs and real-world projects, students graduate ready to lead, innovate and succeed. Graduates join a powerful global alumni network, connecting them to industry leaders and entrepreneurs in more than 130 countries.

8,188

Total Students

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100%

Students Participated in Experiential Education

92.3%

Career Outcomes Rate

99% On-Campus students receive aid

95

Undergraduate & Graduate Programs

Real-World Tested and Ready to Lead

At Johnson & Wales University, we believe that learning by doing is one of the most effective and high-impact ways to learn — which is why experiential learning has been woven into all aspects of our education, in and out of the classroom, for more than 110 years. From collecting and analyzing data through research and fieldwork to volunteering with companies and events related to your field of study, JWU’s approach to experiential education puts students on a path to success.

Find your Fit

JWU in Action

Fall scen of Gaebe Commons with students walking

Accreditation

Johnson & Wales University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (the “Commission”; formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Inc.). This accreditation encompasses the university’s campuses in Providence, Rhode Island; and Charlotte, North Carolina, and its online programs.

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Inclusive Community

At Johnson & Wales University, we believe that a welcoming, inclusive community is essential to student success, innovation and academic excellence. 

Johnson & Wales —
A Brief History

Johnson & Wales has grown from a small Providence business school into a multi-college university recognized nationally for culinary arts, hospitality, business, healthcare and the arts and sciences. Through key accreditation milestones, strategic campus expansions and consolidations, and innovative program planning, JWU has continually reshaped itself to strengthen its academic offerings and better serve students.

JWU History Timeline 1914: Johnson & Wales Business School opens its doors 1954: ACICS accreditation 1963: Associate degrees offered 1970: Bachelor’s degrees offered, allowing name change to Johnson & Wales College 1972–1973: Culinary and hospitality programs launch 1985: Graduate degrees introduced 1988: Becomes Johnson & Wales University 1992–1993: Four colleges formed; NECHE accreditation 2016: College of Health & Wellness launches 2020: Culinary Arts becomes College of Food Innovation & Technology 2024: JWU Pledge introduced 2025: Three-year degree options launch