Rhode Island has one school with baking and pastry credentials: Johnson & Wales University in Providence, a private university that offers a 61-credit associate degree and a 121-credit bachelor’s degree in Baking & Pastry Arts.
No Rhode Island public college awards a baking credential. The Community College of Rhode Island teaches baking as coursework inside its culinary programs, at a small fraction of the private university’s price.
Baking and Pastry Programs at a Glance
| School | Location | Programs, Credits and Estimated Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson & Wales University | Providence | Baking & Pastry Arts AS: 61 credits – $91,792 (2 years) Baking & Pastry Arts BS: 121 credits – $183,108 (4 years) |
Johnson & Wales figures are estimated tuition and fees at the 2026–27 full-time rate, before scholarships and grants. They exclude housing, meals, books, uniforms, and tools. Johnson & Wales has campuses in more than one state, so its programs are covered on one national page.
Culinary Programs With Baking Coursework
The Community College of Rhode Island does not offer a baking or pastry credential. Its culinary programs at the Newport County Campus include baking and pastry courses.
| School | Location | Culinary Credentials, Baking Coursework and Estimated Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Community College of Rhode Island | Newport | Culinary Craftsmanship Associate in Arts: 60 credits – about $12,264 Culinary Essentials Certificate: 19 credits – about $5,285 Baking coursework: Baking and Pastry 1 and 2 (4 credits each) in the degree; Baking and Pastry 1 in the certificate |
Estimates use the college’s 2026–27 in-state tuition and mandatory fees: the full-time flat rate over four semesters for the degree, including a $100 fee charged in the 17-credit third semester, and part-time per-credit rates over two semesters for the certificate. They exclude course materials charged at $21 per credit, lab fees, uniforms, and tools. Other New England residents pay about $17,840 and $7,660, and out-of-state students about $32,696 and $14,804.
Which Rhode Island Baking Program May Fit You?
Earn a Baking and Pastry Associate Degree
Johnson & Wales University offers a two-year Baking & Pastry Arts AS in Providence with 24 credits of baking and pastry labs and 12 credits of internship or approved study abroad.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
Johnson & Wales also offers a four-year Baking & Pastry Arts BS in Providence that students can enter as first-year students.
Study Culinary Arts at a Public College
The Community College of Rhode Island’s 60-credit Culinary Craftsmanship degree includes two baking and pastry courses and a 3-credit co-op, and its 19-credit Culinary Essentials Certificate includes one. Admission is open, and at least one course in each program is taken online.
Earn a Baking Credential at Public Tuition Rates
Community colleges in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire offer baking certificates and degrees, and Rhode Island residents may qualify for regional tuition there.
Associate Degree or Bachelor’s Degree?
Associate Degree
The 61-credit associate degree at Johnson & Wales concentrates on baking and pastry labs with a smaller general education core.
Bachelor’s Degree
The 121-credit bachelor’s degree adds business and general education coursework to the associate-level pastry training.
Tuition and Additional Costs
Johnson & Wales charges $45,408 a year in full-time tuition for 2026–27, plus a $250 student activity fee each year and a $476 new student fee in the first semester, with the same rate for residents and non-residents.
The Community College of Rhode Island charges Rhode Island residents a full-time flat rate of $2,792 in tuition plus $249 in fees per semester for 2026–27, or $255 per credit plus fees for part-time students. Other New England residents pay 150 percent of in-state tuition.
Students should also budget for:
- Housing and meals
- Uniforms, knife and pastry tool kits
- Course materials and lab fees
- Textbooks and supplies
- Transportation and living expenses
Studying Baking in Another New England State at Reduced Tuition
The New England Regional Student Program, also called Tuition Break, lets residents of one New England state enroll in approved programs at public colleges in the other five at a reduced rate, capped at 175 percent of the in-state rate. Community colleges take part, and eligibility is set program by program, so check the program finder on the New England Board of Higher Education’s website before applying.
For 2026–27, New Hampshire’s community colleges charge $357 per credit at the regional rate, compared with $238 for New Hampshire residents and $523 for other out-of-state students. Massachusetts community colleges set their regional rate at 150 percent of the resident tuition component. See the New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut pages for baking programs and costs.
Programs No Longer Listed
The Community College of Rhode Island’s culinary programs include baking and pastry courses but no baking-titled credential. The Genesis Center in Providence runs a noncredit culinary training program with food safety credentials and a one-year culinary apprenticeship at its training restaurant; it lists no baking content.
Questions to Ask Before Applying
- What scholarships and grants apply, and what is the net price?
- How many of the required courses are baking and pastry labs?
- Where do internships take place, and are they paid?
- Can associate degree credits be applied to the bachelor’s degree?
- Is the out-of-state baking program I want approved for the New England regional tuition rate?
Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales is a private, nonprofit university whose Providence campus offers a 61-credit Baking & Pastry Arts AS and a 121-credit Baking & Pastry Arts BS in its College of Food Innovation & Technology. The university also teaches baking and pastry in Charlotte, North Carolina, and offers an online degree-completion program.
See the Johnson & Wales University national baking profile for curriculum, costs, and admissions details.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Rhode Island schools offer baking or pastry programs?
One. Johnson & Wales University in Providence offers an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree in Baking & Pastry Arts.
Does Rhode Island have a public baking program?
No. The Community College of Rhode Island teaches baking and pastry courses within its culinary programs but does not award a baking credential.
How much does a baking degree cost in Rhode Island?
Estimated tuition and fees at Johnson & Wales are about $91,792 for the two-year associate degree and $183,108 for the four-year bachelor’s degree, before scholarships and grants.
How much do the community college culinary programs cost?
For Rhode Island residents, the Community College of Rhode Island’s Culinary Craftsmanship degree is estimated at about $12,264 and its Culinary Essentials Certificate at about $5,285, before course materials and lab fees.
Can I study baking online in Rhode Island?
Johnson & Wales offers an online degree-completion bachelor’s program for students who already hold an associate degree. See the online baking schools page for details and other options.
Program requirements and costs can change. Confirm all details with the school before applying.