About Us Western Culinary Institute 921 SW Morrison Street, Suite 400 Portland, OR 97205 Welcome to the Western Culinary Institute, located in Portland, Oregon. If you're not familiar with our city, you're in for a real treat. Two-thirds of our students come from out of state, and for good reason: Surrounded by rivers, mountains, and lush green hills, Portland is stunningly beautiful, and known for being one of the most livable cities in the United States. Though it's a mid-sized city, it has a big-city feel. Portlanders enjoy an exciting array of arts and entertainment, including a thriving restaurant scene. In short, Portland is a great place in which to live, go to school, and work. As Americans' taste for fine cuisine grew in the '80s, so did the demand for professionally trained chefs. In 1983, two Portland businessmen, Horst Mager (locally famous for his Rheinlander restaurant and yearly Oktoberfest celebration) and Donald Waldbauer, teamed up to establish Western Culinary Institute. WCI quickly gained a reputation for being one of the nation's outstanding private schools. The school was originally called the Horst Mager Culinary Institute, and its quality, hands-on curriculum attracted students from all over the United States, as well as many countries around the world. In 1986, the Institute adopted its corporate name, Western Culinary Institute, to better reflect its geographic location and reputation as a nationally recognized culinary institute. In 1996, WCI became a part of Career Education Corporation (CEC), a network of career schools known for their quality curricula and their ability to place graduating students in positions within their chosen fields. And more great news for WCI students: In 1999, WCI formed a partnership with world-famous Le Cordon Bleu, meaning that future WCI students can graduate with a coveted Le Cordon Bleu diploma. We want you to become a student at WCI. Please take some time to surf our site, and contact us to receive more information about the school and your opportunities in the culinary arts field. Please contact us for more information.