by our College Data Analytics TeamBaking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef was the 367th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 4,322 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 3.1% increase in baking and pastry arts degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 4,190.
This year's Best Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools ranking compares 48 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom baking and pastry arts rankings further below.
Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef majors are found most commonly in careers in which monitoring/assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action is important. Talking to others to convey information effectively and adjusting actions in relation to others' actions are all required skills for careers related to this major.
baking and pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional baking and pastry arts certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of baking and pastry arts degrees. You can get anything from a in baking and pastry arts/baker/pastry chef to the highest baking and pastry arts degree, a . How long it takes to complete some common baking and pastry arts degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to baking and pastry arts, with approximately 22.2% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for baking and pastry arts workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 33.7% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 24.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 15.9% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 12.0% |
| Some College Courses | 8.6% |
See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in baking and pastry arts/baker/pastry chef have received.
This of course varies depending on which baking and pastry arts career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your baking and pastry arts degree? Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef careers are expected to grow 8.5% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to baking and pastry arts/baker/pastry chef.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Bakers | 205,600 | 7.6% |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | 160,600 | 9.6% |
As you might expect, salaries for baking and pastry arts graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for baking and pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers baking and pastry arts grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $52,160 |
| Bakers | $28,660 |
With over 324 different baking and pastry arts degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased baking and pastry arts school rankings to help you with this.
Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef is one of 11 different types of Culinary Arts programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Culinary Arts/Chef Training | 9,052 |
| General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts | 3,156 |
| Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager | 1,380 |
| Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant | 801 |
| Other Culinary Arts & Related Services | 433 |
Image Credit: By U.S. Army Europe Images under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
