Montana does not currently have a college that awards a baking or pastry certificate or degree. Baking is taught as coursework inside culinary arts programs at Missoula College, Gallatin College, and Flathead Valley Community College.
This page covers what those culinary programs include and cost, and where Montana residents can earn a baking credential in nearby states or online.
Culinary Programs With Baking Coursework at a Glance
| School | Location | Credentials, Baking Coursework and Estimated Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Flathead Valley Community College | Kalispell | Culinary Arts and Catering AAS: 63 credits – about $13,005 Baking coursework: Baking and Pastry (5 credits) and Baking and Pastry II (2 credits) |
| Gallatin College, Montana State University | Bozeman | Culinary Arts AAS: 62 credits – about $9,363 Baking coursework: Baking and Pastry (4 credits) |
| Missoula College, University of Montana | Missoula | Culinary Arts Certificate of Applied Science: 37 credits – about $7,812 Food Service Entrepreneurship and Hospitality AAS: 62 credits – about $10,416 Baking coursework: Baking & Pastry (5 credits) required in both |
Estimates use each college’s 2026–27 Montana resident tuition and mandatory fees over its published plan, before financial aid. Flathead Valley’s figure is its in-district rate and uses 2025–26 program requirements, the latest we could confirm. Estimates exclude course fees, books, uniforms, tools, and living costs.
What Each Program Offers
Flathead Valley Community College
The Culinary Institute of Montana at Flathead Valley Community College offers a 63-credit Culinary Arts and Catering AAS over five terms. It schedules two baking courses, Baking and Pastry and Baking and Pastry II, for 7 credits in all. Admission is by application, placement testing, and an interview, with a fall start.
Course fees are significant: the college’s schedules list $500 for Baking and Pastry and $300 for Baking and Pastry II, with other culinary courses at $250 to $650.
Gallatin College, Montana State University
Gallatin College in Bozeman offers a 62-credit Culinary Arts AAS over four semesters and a summer, with one 4-credit Baking and Pastry course. It also offers a 10-credit summer Culinary Skills certificate that has no baking course. The college says openings are limited, and it states no culinary accreditation.
Missoula College, University of Montana
Missoula College offers a 37-credit Culinary Arts Certificate of Applied Science and a 62-credit Food Service Entrepreneurship and Hospitality AAS. Both require one 5-credit Baking & Pastry course, which carries a $250 course fee. The course catalog also lists Patisserie and a bakery and espresso retail management course, which are not required in either credential.
The catalog states American Culinary Federation accreditation on the AAS page. The college’s own pages give slightly different credit totals for both credentials than the catalog lists, so confirm the current plan with an advisor.
Tuition and Additional Costs
Montana’s two-year colleges charge a flat rate for 12 or more credits. For 2026–27 that is $2,604 per semester for Montana residents at Missoula College and $2,066.25 at Gallatin College. Out-of-state students pay $9,644 and $8,089.05. Flathead Valley Community College charges in-district, out-of-district, and out-of-state rates; its AAS is estimated at about $13,005, $16,482, and $30,900 respectively.
Course fees on kitchen classes are charged on top of tuition at all three colleges.
Students should also budget for:
- Course fees on culinary and baking classes
- Uniforms, knives, and tools
- Food safety certification
- Textbooks and supplies
- Housing, transportation, and living expenses
Studying Baking in Another State at Reduced Tuition
The Western Undergraduate Exchange lets residents of western states attend participating public two-year and four-year colleges in other member states for no more than 150 percent of the resident tuition rate. Each college decides which programs it includes and can limit the number of awards, so ask whether the baking program you want is covered.
Baking and pastry programs in member states are on the Idaho, Washington, Utah, Oregon, and Colorado pages. The College of Southern Idaho, the closest, offers two baking certificates and an associate degree.
A few schools teach baking coursework online, with students baking at home and finishing with an in-person externship. The online baking schools page lists those programs.
Programs No Longer Listed
Flathead Valley Community College listed an Advanced Baking and Pastry certificate in its catalogs through 2021–22. It has not appeared since, and the college’s current program list shows only the Culinary Arts and Catering AAS in this area. City College at MSU Billings and Highlands College list no culinary or baking program.
Questions to Ask Before Enrolling
- How many of the required courses are baking or pastry courses, and when are they offered?
- Can I take the baking courses without enrolling in the full culinary program?
- What program, course, and lab fees apply on top of tuition?
- Does the internship or capstone allow a bakery or pastry placement?
- Do I qualify for a regional or reciprocity tuition rate at a college in another state?
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Montana have a baking and pastry school?
Not one that awards a baking or pastry credential. Three Montana colleges teach baking courses inside culinary arts programs.
How much does culinary school cost in Montana?
For Montana residents, estimated tuition and mandatory fees run from about $7,812 for Missoula College’s 37-credit certificate to about $13,005 for Flathead Valley Community College’s AAS at the in-district rate, before course fees.
Which Montana culinary program includes the most baking?
Flathead Valley Community College schedules two baking and pastry courses totaling 7 credits. Missoula College requires one 5-credit course, and Gallatin College one 4-credit course.
Where is the nearest baking program to Montana?
The College of Southern Idaho offers baking certificates and an associate degree, and Washington and Utah have several baking and pastry programs. Each state page on this site lists them with costs.
Can I study baking online from Montana?
Possibly. Online programs must be authorized to enroll students in your state, so confirm with the school. See the online baking schools page.
Program requirements and costs can change. Confirm all details with the school before applying.