2027 Best Value Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools in North Carolina
[Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/baking-and-pastry-arts-baker-pastry-chef/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef students.
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2027 Best Value Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef Schools in North Carolina
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
Our analysis ranked Wilkes Community College the best value for a degree in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef in North Carolina. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $2,572, compared with $8,716 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $9,125. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Wilkes Community College generally make around $36,341. Set against $9,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef schools. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $11,861. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $27,127. That is a strong return on a $11,861 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Fayetteville Technical Community College one of the best values for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,628, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,909 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $40,584 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,909 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef will find it at Sandhills Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of Pinehurst, Sandhills Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,648. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $9,238. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates of Sandhills Community College earn a median of $46,492 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,238 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wake Technical Community College earned it the #5 place for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,254, with out-of-state students paying around $6,862. Typical student debt for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates is $13,226. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $38,673. That is a strong return on a $13,226 median debt.
Cape Fear Community College landed the #6 spot for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef value this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,748 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,892. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $12,388 in student loans. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $42,889. Set against $12,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Carteret Community College earned the #7 position for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Carteret Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Morehead City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,310, with out-of-state students paying around $8,222. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $5,566 in student loans. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Carteret Community College generally make around $48,953. Set against $5,566 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College came in at #8 for value in baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef this year. Located in the city of Asheville, Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,882, while out-of-state students pay about $9,026. Students borrow a median of $18,883 to complete the baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef program here. Early-career baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef graduates make about $32,602. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Johnson And Wales University Charlotte placed #9 among the best values for baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef. Johnson And Wales University Charlotte is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte. In-state tuition and fees average $41,982. Baking & Pastry Arts/baker/pastry Chef graduates carry a median of $20,873 in student loans. Soon after graduation, baking & pastry arts/baker/pastry chef degree recipients from Johnson And Wales University Charlotte generally make around $30,145. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Johnson And Wales University Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
