2026 Best Value Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools in the Far Western Region
[Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/baking-and-pastry-arts-baker-pastry-chef/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools.
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2026 Best Value Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools
Clover Park Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools in the Far Western Region. Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lakewood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,634. Students borrow a median of $15,154 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Clover Park Technical College generally make around $42,209. That is a strong return on a $15,154 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Renton Technical College earned it the #2 place for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Renton. Students from in state pay about $6,330 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,768 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,582 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Renton Technical College generally make around $80,411. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bellingham Technical College earned it the #3 place for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Set in the city of Bellingham, Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,431, compared with $5,809 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,748.
Peninsula College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools. Peninsula College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Port Angeles. Students from in state pay about $4,718 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,270. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $12,730 in student loans. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $51,243. Set against $12,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earned it the #5 place for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Located in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,997, compared with $12,062 for out-of-state students. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $19,695 in student loans. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $60,000. Set against $19,695 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Spokane Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools. Located in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,461, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $16,486 in student loans. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $23,529. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seattle Community College Central Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools. Seattle Community College Central Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,238, while out-of-state students pay about $5,796. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $14,699. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Seattle Community College Central Campus earn a median of $53,048 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seattle Community College South Campus came in at #8 for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Seattle Community College South Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Seattle. Students from in state pay about $5,208 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,796 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,486.
Southwestern Oregon Community College earned the #9 position for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Set in the town of Coos Bay, Southwestern Oregon Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,192 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Southwestern Oregon Community College generally make around $27,791. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Alaska Fairbanks placed #10 among the best values for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Set in the city of Fairbanks, University Of Alaska Fairbanks is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,083, with out-of-state students paying around $25,892. Students borrow a median of $23,439 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of University Of Alaska Fairbanks earn a median of $50,963 early in their careers. Set against $23,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Clark College came in at #11 for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Located in the city of Vancouver, Clark College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,233, while out-of-state students pay about $11,183. Students borrow a median of $15,432 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Clark College generally make around $43,768. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Oregon Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools. Located in the city of Bend, Central Oregon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,683, while out-of-state students pay about $15,246. Students borrow a median of $16,250 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Central Oregon Community College generally make around $52,183. Set against $16,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cabrillo College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools. Set in the suburb of Aptos, Cabrillo College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,270, while out-of-state students pay about $9,862. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $10,425 in student loans. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $47,750. That is a strong return on a $10,425 median debt.
Institute Of Technology Inc came in at #14 for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Set in the suburb of Clovis, Institute Of Technology Inc is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $13,399 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $21,509. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
