North Dakota does not currently have a college that awards a baking or pastry certificate or degree. The North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton teaches the most baking in the state, as five required courses inside its Culinary Arts degree.
This page covers what that program includes and costs, and how North Dakota residents can study baking in nearby states at reduced tuition.
Culinary Programs With Baking Coursework at a Glance
| School | Location | Credentials, Baking Coursework and Estimated Costs |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State College of Science | Wahpeton | Culinary Arts AAS: 63 credits – about $13,325 Italian Cuisine Certificate: 11–19 credits – about $2,327–$4,019 Baking coursework: five required 2-credit baking courses in the AAS (10 credits); Italian Breads and Pastries (2 credits) in the certificate |
| United Tribes Technical College | Bismarck | Culinary Arts & Nutrition AAS: 60 credits – about $9,264 Baking coursework: Culinary Baking (4 credits) Not listed in the college’s 2026–27 catalog; confirm that the program is running |
Estimates are tuition and mandatory fees for North Dakota residents, before financial aid. The North Dakota State College of Science figures use its 2026–27 per-credit rate and are upper limits, because its per-credit fees stop at 12 credits a semester. The United Tribes figure uses the college’s flat full-time tuition and its most recent posted fee table. Estimates exclude instructional and program fees, books, uniforms, tools, and living costs.
What Each Program Offers
North Dakota State College of Science
The 63-credit Culinary Arts AAS requires five 2-credit baking courses: Baking Fundamentals, Pastry Fundamentals, Foundations of Yeast Bread, Cakes and Cake Decorating, and Viennoiserie. Students run the 6th Street Eatery in the spring semester and complete a 4-credit summer internship. The program is taught face to face in Wahpeton.
The college also offers an Italian Cuisine Certificate of 11 to 19 credits and a shorter Certificate of Completion, each including Italian Breads and Pastries. The catalog says the Certificate of Completion is not eligible for federal financial aid. The college does not state American Culinary Federation accreditation for its culinary program.
United Tribes Technical College
United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck has offered a 60-credit Culinary Arts & Nutrition AAS over four semesters, with one 4-credit Culinary Baking course. Its program page is still online, but the program does not appear in the college’s 2026–27 catalog or in its 2026 class schedules. Contact the college to confirm whether it is enrolling students.
Tuition and Additional Costs
The North Dakota State College of Science charges North Dakota residents $168.83 per credit in tuition plus $42.68 in fees, or $211.51 per credit, for 2026–27. Minnesota residents pay $231.77 under reciprocity and other U.S. residents $245.28. Kitchen courses carry an added instructional fee of $60 per credit, about $3,120 across the Culinary Arts degree, and the catalog lists further program costs for tools and uniforms.
United Tribes Technical College lists flat full-time tuition of $1,800 per semester plus fees, with no difference by state of residence.
Students should also budget for:
- Instructional fees on kitchen courses
- Uniforms, knives, and tools
- Food safety certification
- Textbooks and supplies
- Housing, transportation, and living expenses
Studying Baking in Another State at Reduced Tuition
North Dakota residents have three reduced-tuition routes to public colleges in other states. Under the North Dakota and Minnesota reciprocity agreement, a North Dakota resident can attend a Minnesota public institution and pay a set reciprocity rate after applying through the state. See the Minnesota page for baking programs there.
North Dakota also takes part in the Midwest Student Exchange Program and the Western Undergraduate Exchange. Both limit tuition at participating public colleges to no more than 150 percent of the resident rate, for the programs each campus chooses to include. Ask the college whether its baking program is covered. Other nearby options are on the Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Colorado pages.
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
The North Dakota State College of Science listed a 64-credit Baking and Pastry Arts AAS and a 23-credit certificate in its 2025–26 catalog. Neither appears in the 2026–27 catalog, which also dropped several other culinary credentials, and the college has published no explanation. Advanced baking courses remain in its course list. Ask the college whether the baking program will return.
Bismarck State, Lake Region State, Williston State, and Dakota College at Bottineau 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 North Dakota have a baking and pastry school?
Not one that currently awards a baking or pastry credential. The North Dakota State College of Science teaches five baking courses inside its Culinary Arts degree.
How much does culinary school cost in North Dakota?
For North Dakota residents, the North Dakota State College of Science’s 63-credit Culinary Arts AAS is estimated at up to about $13,325 in tuition and mandatory fees, before a $60 per credit instructional fee on kitchen courses.
Can North Dakota residents get in-state rates in Minnesota?
Not in-state rates, but North Dakota and Minnesota have a reciprocity agreement that sets a reduced rate at Minnesota public institutions for North Dakota residents who apply.
What happened to the baking program at NDSCS?
The Baking and Pastry Arts degree and certificate were in the 2025–26 catalog and are not in the 2026–27 catalog. The college has not published a reason.
Can I study baking online from North Dakota?
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.