Best institutions to study Bartending/Bartender
A program that prepares individuals to professionally prepare mixed alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and related products and manage bars, lounges, and beverage service operations in the hospitality industry.
8 U.S. institutions graduated 171 Bartending/Bartender students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 12.0502, a specialization of Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05), and leads most directly to the Bartenders occupation (BLS SOC 35-3011).
About Bartending/Bartender programs
A program that prepares individuals to professionally prepare mixed alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and related products and manage bars, lounges, and beverage service operations in the hospitality industry. Includes instruction in mixology, oenology, accounting and cash management, inventory and cellar management, bar and lounge management, applicable laws and regulations, customer service, and labor/employment regulations.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Bartending/Bartender program, part of the Culinary Arts and Related Services field, prepares individuals for a career in the hospitality industry by teaching them to professionally prepare mixed alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. This program is ideal for those interested in managing bars, lounges, and beverage service operations.
Students will gain essential skills in mixology, customer service, and inventory management. Coursework covers applicable laws and regulations, as well as accounting and cash management, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for various roles in the beverage service sector.
Credentials awarded
What Bartending/Bartender graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year157 graduates / yr · 6 institutions92%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years10 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.8%
- Award of less than 12 weeks4 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.3%
Graduates over time
Bartending/Bartender completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,599 |
| 2013 | 1,411 |
| 2014 | 739 |
| 2015 | 663 |
| 2016 | 503 |
| 2017 | 466 |
| 2018 | 303 |
| 2019 | 289 |
| 2020 | 247 |
| 2021 | 183 |
| 2022 | 157 |
| 2023 | 194 |
| 2024 | 237 |
| 2025 | 171 |
Top 8 institutions for Bartending/Bartender, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NUC University Bayamon, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 116 | 54% | $9,377 | $12,403 |
| 2 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez - Carolina Campus Carolina, PRPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 20 | 34% | $8,847 | $14,017 |
| 3 | IVAEM College Caguas, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 83% | $9,106 | — |
| 4 | Puerto Rico Advance Institute Bayamon, PRPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 10 | — | — | — |
| 5 | Crescent City Bartending School New Orleans, LAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 89% | $21,019 | $13,763 |
| 6 | Columbus State Community College Columbus, OHPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 4 | 28% | — | — |
| 7 | University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College North Little Rock, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 36% | — | $25,597 |
| 8 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NMPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 31% | — | $23,139 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Culinary Arts and Related Services field (CIP 12.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 5 states & territories
Where Bartending/Bartender graduates come from. Each state links to all Culinary Arts and Related Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | 4 | 157 | NUC University116 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 6 | Crescent City Bartending School6 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 4 | Columbus State Community College4 / yr |
| Arkansas | 1 | 3 | University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College3 / yr |
| New Mexico | 1 | 1 | Central New Mexico Community College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 35-3011, Bartenders, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Bartending program can pursue careers as bartenders, with a job outlook that is faster than average, featuring an annual growth rate of 5.9%. The median wage for bartenders is approximately $33,530, with 129,600 annual openings projected in the U.S.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 12.0502
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bartendersprimary SOC 35-3011 | $34,340 | +5.9% Faster than average | ~129,600 | No formal educational credential |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Bartending/Bartender programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Clean glasses, utensils, and bar equipment.
- Collect money for drinks served.
- Balance cash receipts.
- Check identification of customers to verify age requirements for purchase of alcohol.
- Clean bars, work areas, and tables.
- Attempt to limit problems and liability related to customers' excessive drinking by taking steps such as persuading customers to stop drinking, or ordering taxis or other transportation for intoxicated patrons.
Tools and technology used
Other Culinary Arts and Related Services specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05).
- Culinary Arts/CIP 12.0503
Chef Training 11,808 graduates / yr353 institutions - Baking and Pastry Arts/CIP 12.0501
Baker/ Pastry Chef 5,575 graduates / yr193 institutions - Cooking and Related Culinary ArtsCIP 12.05004,439 graduates / yr153 institutions
- Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/CIP 12.0504
Manager 1,663 graduates / yr115 institutions - Food Preparation/CIP 12.0505
Professional Cooking/ Kitchen Assistant 1,230 graduates / yr56 institutions - Culinary Arts and Related ServicesCIP 12.0599312 graduates / yr17 institutions
- Culinary Science/CIP 12.0509
Culinology partial data261 graduates / yr8 institutions - Institutional Food WorkersCIP 12.0508187 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Food Service, Waiter/CIP 12.0507
Waitress, and Dining Room Management/ Manager partial data129 graduates / yr9 institutions - Meat Cutting/CIP 12.0506
Meat Cutter 48 graduates / yr10 institutions - Wine Steward/CIP 12.0510
Sommelier limited data12 graduates / yr2 institutions
Common questions
What is the duration of the Bartending program?+
The program typically awards credentials in at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and customer service.
What are the job prospects for bartenders?+
The job outlook for bartenders is favorable, with significant annual openings and a growth rate of 5.9%.
Do I need formal education to become a bartender?+
No formal educational credential is required to work as a bartender.
What is the CIP code for Bartending/Bartender?+
Bartending/Bartender is CIP 12.0502 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Culinary Arts and Related Services (CIP 12.05). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to professionally prepare mixed alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and related products and manage bars, lounges, and beverage service operations in the hospitality industry. Includes instruction in mixology, oenology, accounting and cash management, inventory and cellar management, bar and lounge management, applicable laws and regulations, customer service, and labor/employment regulations.
How many institutions offer Bartending/Bartender programs?+
8 U.S. institutions reported Bartending/Bartender graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 5 states & territories, awarding 171 credentials in the year. That is 0.7% of all Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates.
How much do Bartending/Bartender graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Bartenders occupation, which Bartending/Bartender most directly leads to, pays a median of $34,340 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Culinary Arts and Related Services field report median earnings of $14,017 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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