2026 Best Value Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools in Washington
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef students.
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2026 Best Value Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools in Washington
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
Our analysis ranked Clover Park Technical College the best value for a degree in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef in Washington. Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lakewood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,634. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $15,154 in student loans. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Clover Park Technical College earn a median of $42,209 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Bellingham Technical College one of the best values for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Located in the city of Bellingham, Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,431, while out-of-state students pay about $5,809. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,748 ten years after entry.
A rank of #3 makes Peninsula College one of the best values for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Set in the town of Port Angeles, Peninsula College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,718, while out-of-state students pay about $5,270. Students borrow a median of $12,730 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. 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.
Renton Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Renton, Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,330 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,768 for out-of-state students. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $18,582 in student loans. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $80,411. Set against $18,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,997, compared with $12,062 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,695 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earn a median of $60,000 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,695 median debt.
Spokane Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools. Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Spokane. In-state tuition and fees average $5,461, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $16,486. 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 came in at #7 for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College Central Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,238, while out-of-state students pay about $5,796. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $14,699 in student loans. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Seattle Community College Central Campus generally make around $53,048. That is a strong return on a $14,699 median debt.
Seattle Community College South Campus landed the #8 spot for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef value this year. Seattle Community College South Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Seattle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,208, with out-of-state students paying around $5,796. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,486.
Clark College came in at #9 for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Clark College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Vancouver. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,233, compared with $11,183 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,432 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Clark College earn a median of $43,768 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,432 median debt.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 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.
