2026 Best Value Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools in the Southeast Region
[Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/baking-and-pastry-arts-baker-pastry-chef/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 50 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools in the Southeast 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
Our analysis ranked Wilkes Community College the best value for a degree in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef in the Southeast Region. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. Students from in state pay about $2,572 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $9,125. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Wilkes Community College earn a median of $36,341 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,125 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Trident Technical College earned it the #2 place for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,546, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $50,166 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef will find it at Pensacola State College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,361, compared with $9,463 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $9,191. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Pensacola State College generally make around $45,811. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Valdosta. In-state tuition and fees average $3,480, while out-of-state students pay about $6,048. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $10,864. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College earn a median of $40,452 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,864 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Central Piedmont Community College one of the best values for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $11,861. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $27,127 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,861 median debt.
West Georgia Technical College landed the #6 spot for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef value this year. Set in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,978. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $12,651. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of West Georgia Technical College earn a median of $39,922 early in their careers. Set against $12,651 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Horry Georgetown Technical College earned the #7 position for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Located in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,518, compared with $10,978 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $19,500. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $24,466. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbus Technical College earned the #8 position for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,052 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,262. Students borrow a median of $15,845 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Columbus Technical College generally make around $37,936. That is a strong return on a $15,845 median debt.
North Georgia Technical College placed #9 among the best values for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. North Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Clarkesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,330, with out-of-state students paying around $5,898. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $12,279 in student loans. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from North Georgia Technical College generally make around $17,383. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ogeechee Technical College earned the #10 position for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Set in the town of Statesboro, Ogeechee Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,388, with out-of-state students paying around $5,956. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $11,894. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Ogeechee Technical College generally make around $35,521. That is a strong return on a $11,894 median debt.
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College placed #11 among the best values for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Located in the rural area of Martinsburg, Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,752 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,808. Students borrow a median of $18,402 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Blue Ridge Community And Technical College generally make around $41,032. That is a strong return on a $18,402 median debt.
Northwest Arkansas Community College came in at #12 for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bentonville. Students from in state pay about $3,342 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,238 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $12,500. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $26,011. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lanier Technical College came in at #13 for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Lanier Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,980, compared with $7,190 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $12,278. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Lanier Technical College generally make around $37,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cape Fear Community College landed the #14 spot for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef value this year. Cape Fear Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. In-state tuition and fees average $2,748, with out-of-state students paying around $8,892. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $12,388. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Cape Fear Community College earn a median of $42,889 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,388 median debt.
Wake Technical Community College placed #15 among the best values for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,254, while out-of-state students pay about $6,862. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $13,226 in student loans. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $38,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Savannah Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools. Set in the city of Savannah, Savannah Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,330, compared with $5,898 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $12,843. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Savannah Technical College earn a median of $37,386 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Daytona State College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,106, compared with $11,994 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,557 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $43,320. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Marion Technical College Ocala placed #18 among the best values for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Marion Technical College Ocala is a small public school located in the city of Ocala. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $8,750. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $31,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College placed #19 among the best values for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,250, while out-of-state students pay about $7,850. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $11,653. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College generally make around $34,214. Set against $11,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pierpont Community And Technical College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools. Set in the town of Fairmont, Pierpont Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,762, with out-of-state students paying around $13,660. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $16,268 in student loans. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Pierpont Community And Technical College earn a median of $26,399 early in their careers. Set against $16,268 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Manatee Technical College landed the #21 spot for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef value this year. Manatee Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Bradenton. Students borrow a median of $9,726 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Manatee Technical College earn a median of $27,210 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lively Technical Center landed the #22 spot for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef value this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Lively Technical Center is a small public university. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $10,260 in student loans. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Lively Technical Center generally make around $31,226. That is a strong return on a $10,260 median debt.
Nunez Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools. Set in the suburb of Chalmette, Nunez Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,255. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Nunez Community College generally make around $40,200. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Valencia College earned the #24 position for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Located in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $9,576. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $17,468. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $25,227. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Erwin Technical College earned the #25 position for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Set in the city of Tampa, Erwin Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students borrow a median of $13,595 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Erwin Technical College earn a median of $32,937 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,595 median debt.
Rest of the Top 42 Best Value Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef value ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 50 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
