Whether applying to the culinary arts diploma program or the associate in applied science program, all MTI applicants are required to complete the school's application. Successful first-time students provide official high school transcripts or general equivalence diploma scores. If scholastic aptitude tests were taken, applicants are required to send scores from these tests to the admissions office. In the event that an aptitude test was not taken, applicants must complete a school-administered aptitude test free of charge. Transfer students must submit transcripts from other technical schools or colleges. Finally, MTI requires proof of legal residence in the United States in the form of a state-issued driver's license, birth certificate copy, student visa, alien resident card copy or naturalization certificate copy.
The culinary arts diploma is completed after three full-time semesters. During the first two semesters, students learn textbook fundamentals about cooking and food service, including adequate sanitation measures, food service mathematics and restaurant food service. In addition, students learn how to operate professionally in food service environments with classes in customer service, microcomputer concepts and food cost control. Students also learn to take responsibility for others in their work environments by becoming trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, first aid and restaurant supervision. During the second semester, diploma candidates are required to take both a communications and math elective. The final semester is completed over a 12-week internship cooking in the school's restaurant kitchen and participating in a banquet service.
Students interested in obtaining associate in applied science degrees (A.A.S) in culinary arts complete the first two semesters of their program taking the same classes as diploma candidates. A.A.S students, however, must complete two additional semesters of education preparing them for business ownership in food service. These courses teach students about the fundamentals of nutrition, business management, accounting and marketing. A.A.S candidates must also take a social science elective during the third semester and a behavioral science elective in the fourth semester. They complete their programs with an internship like that of diploma candidates.
According to the MTI cost sheet for the 2010-2011 school year, the tuition for the culinary arts programs range from $6,600 to $7,500 per year. Scholarships are available to MTI students to offset tuition costs. First-year second semester students with grade point averages (GPAs) of at least 3.0 may be eligible for the Osterhaus endowed scholarship. Culinary students with GPAs of 3.25 or better may apply for the John Weber Memorial Scholarship. Freshmen may be elected by staff or faculty for the MTI staff scholarship, the MTI Edge scholarship or the American Culinary Federation of the Black Hills scholarship.