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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools in Texas

3 Colleges in the United States
$13,293 Avg Student Debt
$39,392 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Badge [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.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools in Texas

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools

1
El Centro College crest
El Centro College
Dallas, TX

For return on investment in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef, no school beat El Centro College this year. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $9,218. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $31,127. Set against $9,218 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

2

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Texas College earned it the #2 place for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $24,084. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.

3

Students looking for strong value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef will find it at El Paso Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $8,542. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

4
Del Mar College crest
Del Mar College
Corpus Christi, TX

A rank of #4 makes Del Mar College one of the best values for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,500, with out-of-state students paying around $6,050. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $7,476 in student loans. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $40,661. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

5

Austin Community College District is a great value for students pursuing a degree in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $14,519. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $44,895. Set against $14,519 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

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6
St Philips College crest
St Philips College
San Antonio, TX

St Philips College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools. St Philips College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,653 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $45,185. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

7

Houston Community College came in at #7 for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $26,217. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $26,419 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

8

San Jacinto Community College placed #8 among the best values for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $38,107. That is a strong return on a $11,376 median debt.

9

Collin County Community College District landed the #9 spot for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef value this year. Collin County Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of McKinney. In-state tuition and fees average $2,014, while out-of-state students pay about $6,064. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $9,716 in student loans. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Collin County Community College District generally make around $42,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

10

Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Austin came in at #10 for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Set in the city of Austin, Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Austin is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $16,491. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Austin generally make around $25,743. That is a strong return on a $16,491 median debt.

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11

Culinary Institute Inc ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools. Culinary Institute Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,803. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $20,144. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Culinary Institute Inc earn a median of $24,664 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,144 median debt.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 11 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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