Collin College runs its Pastry Arts program through the Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Education (IHCE) on the Frisco Campus. The 2026–27 catalog lists three pastry credentials: a 60-credit Pastry Arts AAS, a 24-credit Pastry Arts Level 1 Certificate, and a 12-credit ESC – Advanced Pastry Arts Level 3 Certificate.
According to the college, the culinary and pastry programs are accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation, and the catalog states that AAS graduates are eligible for the ACF Certified Pastry Culinarian (CPC) credential. Pastry Arts is also one of Collin’s selective admission programs, so students need departmental acceptance and a mandatory Pastry Arts orientation before they enroll.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| School | Collin College |
| Location | Frisco Campus, 9700 Wade Blvd., Frisco, Texas |
| Credentials | Pastry Arts AAS; Pastry Arts Level 1 Certificate; ESC – Advanced Pastry Arts Level 3 Certificate |
| Credits | 60; 24; or 12 credits |
| Length | Five semesters (AAS) or two semesters (each certificate) in the catalog layout |
| Accreditation | American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (culinary and pastry programs) |
| Department | Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Education |
Baking and Pastry Program Options
All three pastry credentials sit under Academic Workforce Programs in the 2026–27 Collin College Catalog. The IHCE department page lists orientation dates and program contacts. Many courses run in an eight-week format.
Pastry Arts AAS
The Pastry Arts AAS totals 60 credits over five semesters. Its pastry sequence covers baking fundamentals, breads and rolls, pies and cookies, two levels of cake decorating, chocolates and confections, and the Advanced Pastry Shop capstone. A cooperative education course places students in a baking or pastry workplace.
Support courses include Introduction to Hospitality Industry, Nutrition and Menu Planning, Purchasing for Hospitality Operations, and Hospitality Human Resources Management. General education requirements are Composition I, Contemporary Mathematics, Business and Professional Communication, a humanities or fine arts course, and a social or behavioral science course. One three-credit elective completes the plan.
Pastry Arts Level 1 Certificate
The Level 1 Certificate packs eight courses into 24 credits over two semesters. First comes Basic Food Preparation, Sanitation and Safety, Nutrition and Menu Planning, and Fundamentals of Baking. The second semester adds Breads and Rolls, Cake Decorating I, Chocolates and Confections, and the capstone course, Pies, Tarts, Teacakes, and Cookies. All eight courses also appear in the AAS.
ESC – Advanced Pastry Arts Level 3 Certificate
Collin lists the Advanced Pastry Arts credential as an Enhanced Skills Certificate. Its 12 credits cover Laminated Dough, Pâte à Choux, and Donuts; Plated Desserts; Bakery Operations and Management; and a capstone in Quantity Bakeshop Production. None of these four courses is required in the AAS, so the ESC extends the degree’s pastry training rather than repeating it. Ask an advisor whether the AAS or other coursework must come first.
Curriculum and Baking Courses
Across the three credentials, PSTR courses include:
- Fundamentals of Baking
- Breads and Rolls
- Pies, Tarts, Teacakes, and Cookies
- Cake Decorating I and II
- Chocolates and Confections
- Advanced Pastry Shop
- Laminated Dough, Pâte à Choux, and Donuts; Plated Desserts
- Quantity Bakeshop Production and Bakery Operations and Management
Sanitation and Safety is tied to ServSafe and Food Protection Management certification. The catalog warns that pastry labs involve long periods of standing, lifting up to 60 pounds, and working around open flames and cleaning chemicals.
Tuition and Additional Costs
Collin’s tuition and fees page still shows the 2025–26 schedule, the most recent posted. Tuition is $65 per credit in-district (Collin County), $125 out-of-district, and $200 out-of-state, and every student pays a $2 per credit student activity fee, for totals of $67, $127, and $202. A $2 student record fee is charged each term. The estimates use the semester counts in the catalog layout:
| Program | Credits | Estimated in-district tuition and fees | Estimated out-of-district tuition and fees | Estimated out-of-state tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pastry Arts AAS (5 semesters) | 60 | $4,030 | $7,630 | $12,130 |
| Pastry Arts Level 1 Certificate (2 semesters) | 24 | $1,612 | $3,052 | $4,852 |
| ESC – Advanced Pastry Arts Level 3 Certificate (2 semesters) | 12 | $808 | $1,528 | $2,428 |
These figures leave out course fees, textbooks, uniforms, tools, the $100 late registration fee, and living costs. Students are automatically enrolled in the Cougar Book Bundle at $23 per credit unless they opt out each semester.
The college’s additional course fee list charges $75 for each PSTR lab course and for Basic Food Preparation. That comes to about $600 for the AAS, $450 for the Level 1 Certificate, and $300 for the ESC.
Admissions and Financial Aid
Collin has an open-door admissions policy for students 18 and older. New students apply online, complete campus safety training, provide meningitis vaccination records or an exemption if needed, take the TSI Assessment or show an exemption, submit transcripts, and attend New Student Orientation if they are first-time college students.
Pastry Arts adds its own step. The catalog lists it among the programs that require departmental acceptance, and students must attend the mandatory Pastry Arts orientation. For financial aid, complete the FAFSA and ask the Financial Aid office whether each pastry certificate qualifies for Pell Grants. The catalog notes that students without a high school diploma or equivalent are not eligible for federal aid.
Career Preparation and Transfer Considerations
Collin says program graduates qualify for a variety of bakery positions in food service. The AAS pairs pastry production with hospitality management courses and a cooperative education placement, and ACF CPC eligibility gives graduates a recognized industry certification to pursue.
The Pastry Arts AAS is a workforce degree. Collin advises students who plan to transfer to meet with an advisor and check the receiving college’s degree requirements before starting to see which courses will apply.
Which Collin Pathway May Fit You?
| Pathway | May fit students who want |
|---|---|
| Pastry Arts Level 1 Certificate | A two-semester, 24-credit start in baking, breads, cakes, confections, and pies |
| Pastry Arts AAS | The full ACF-accredited degree, with cooperative education, hospitality management, and CPC eligibility |
| ESC – Advanced Pastry Arts Level 3 Certificate | Twelve credits of laminated dough, plated desserts, bakery management, and quantity production |
Questions to Ask Before Applying
- When is the next Pastry Arts orientation, and what does departmental acceptance involve?
- What are the prerequisites for the ESC – Advanced Pastry Arts certificate?
- Which semesters can new pastry students start in, and which courses run in eight-week sessions?
- What do uniforms, knife kits, and tools cost?
- Are the Level 1 and Level 3 certificates eligible for Pell Grants?
- How is the cooperative education placement arranged?
Program details and costs can change. Confirm current requirements with Collin College before applying.