Minnesota has two public colleges with baking or pastry credentials, both in the Twin Cities: Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park and Saint Paul College in Saint Paul. Hennepin offers a 20-credit baking certificate, a 25-credit pastry entrepreneurship certificate, and a 60-credit baking associate degree. Saint Paul College offers a 30-credit Pastry and Baking Certificate within its broader Culinary Arts program.
The two colleges present costs differently. Hennepin’s figures are estimates built from its 2026–27 per-credit rates, which are higher for culinary courses than for standard courses. Saint Paul College publishes a cost table with a range that includes fees and an allowance for books and supplies.
Baking and Pastry Programs at a Glance
| School | Location | Programs, Credits and Estimated Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Hennepin Technical College | Brooklyn Park | Baking and Pastry Entrepreneur AAS: 60 credits – about $14,544 Pastry Entrepreneur Certificate: 25 credits – about $6,018 Baking and Pastry Entrepreneur Certificate: 20 credits – about $5,141 |
| Saint Paul College | Saint Paul | Pastry and Baking Certificate: 30 credits – about $8,236–$11,364 |
The two colleges’ figures use different methods and are not directly comparable. Hennepin’s estimates apply its 2026–27 rates of $257.03 per culinary credit and $225.67 per standard credit, which include standard per-credit fees, to each catalog course list. They exclude books, tools, uniforms, supplies, and special course fees, and the Pastry Entrepreneur Certificate figure covers its 25 listed credits only, not any foundational baking courses a student may need first. Saint Paul College’s range is its published estimated total, which includes tuition of $6,076.50–$9,204, listed fees, and about $1,300 for books, uniforms, and culinary supplies. All figures are before financial aid and exclude living costs.
Which Minnesota Baking Program May Fit You?
Start With a Short Baking Certificate
Hennepin Technical College‘s 20-credit Baking and Pastry Entrepreneur Certificate is the shortest baking credential at these two schools. It covers production courses over two recommended semesters with no general education requirement.
Learn Bakery Business Skills
Hennepin‘s 25-credit Pastry Entrepreneur Certificate and 60-credit AAS add cost control, accounting, marketing, and operations. The certificate builds on baking foundations, so check which courses are needed first.
Earn a 30-Credit Pastry Certificate
Saint Paul College offers a direct Pastry and Baking Certificate with a published total cost range.
Earn a Baking Associate Degree
Hennepin‘s Baking and Pastry Entrepreneur AAS combines 45 technical credits with 15 general education credits across four recommended semesters.
Keep Broader Culinary Work Open
Saint Paul College also offers a 58-credit Culinary Arts Diploma and a 68-credit Culinary Arts AAS that add general kitchen and restaurant training. Ask how certificate credits apply.
Certificate or Associate Degree?
Certificates
Minnesota’s baking certificates run 20 to 30 credits. Hennepin’s 20-credit certificate concentrates on production baking, its 25-credit certificate on business and advanced pastry coursework, and Saint Paul College’s 30-credit certificate on pastry and baking within a culinary program. Ask how completed certificate credits count toward a later degree.
Associate Degree
Hennepin’s 60-credit Baking and Pastry Entrepreneur AAS is the baking-focused associate degree on this page. It combines hands-on pastry courses, a capstone, business study, and general education. Saint Paul College’s diploma and AAS are Culinary Arts awards that cover a wider mix of cooking and restaurant operations.
Tuition and Additional Costs
Hennepin Technical College’s 2026–27 schedule lists $257.03 per credit for culinary courses and $225.67 per credit for standard courses, with standard per-credit fees included. Saint Paul College lists $6,076.50–$9,204 in tuition for its 30-credit certificate and publishes a range because tuition rates vary; its cost table adds student association, activity, technology, parking, and health service fees.
Both colleges discuss grants and scholarships, and eligible Minnesota residents may explore the North Star Promise. Ask each school for an itemized estimate for the same planned course load.
Baking students should also budget for:
- Special course fees or differential charges on some courses
- Uniforms, tools, and culinary supplies
- Textbooks
- Parking and transportation
- Living expenses
Questions to Ask Before Applying
- What are the current catalog requirements for the exact award I want?
- Which term does the first required baking course start, and is every later class offered on schedule?
- How many hours per week will I need to be on campus, and what prerequisites or placement steps apply?
- What is the itemized cost for my schedule, and what financial aid am I eligible for?
- How do completed certificate credits count toward a later diploma or degree?
Hennepin Technical College
Hennepin Technical College offers three baking and pastry awards at its Brooklyn Park campus. The 20-credit Baking and Pastry Entrepreneur Certificate covers sanitation, baking foundations, artisan breads, custards, chocolates, and specialty pastry over a recommended two-semester sequence. The separate 25-credit Pastry Entrepreneur Certificate adds nutrition, menu planning, cost control, advanced baking, accounting, marketing, and operations, and the 60-credit AAS combines 45 technical and 15 general education credits across four recommended semesters. Instruction is in the daytime, and kitchen training requires campus attendance.
See the Hennepin Technical College baking profile for curriculum, costs, and admissions details.
Saint Paul College
Saint Paul College offers a 30-credit Pastry and Baking Certificate as the focused baking credential within its Culinary Arts program, alongside a 58-credit Culinary Arts Diploma and a 68-credit Culinary Arts AAS that cover a wider mix of cooking and restaurant operations. Training is in person in a culinary lab. The college publishes a cost table for all three awards that includes fees and an estimated $1,300 for books, uniforms, and culinary supplies.
See the Saint Paul College baking profile for curriculum, costs, and admissions details.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Minnesota schools offer baking or pastry programs?
Two: Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park and Saint Paul College in Saint Paul.
Does Minnesota offer a baking and pastry associate degree?
Yes. Hennepin Technical College offers a 60-credit Baking and Pastry Entrepreneur AAS. Saint Paul College’s associate degree is a 68-credit Culinary Arts AAS, not a baking-titled degree.
What is the shortest baking program in Minnesota?
Hennepin Technical College’s 20-credit Baking and Pastry Entrepreneur Certificate, planned over two semesters, is the shortest listed baking credential at these two schools.
How much does a baking program cost in Minnesota?
Hennepin’s course-rate estimates are about $5,141 for its 20-credit certificate, about $6,018 for its 25-credit certificate, and about $14,544 for its AAS, before books and supplies. Saint Paul College publishes an estimated total of $8,236–$11,364 for its 30-credit certificate, including fees and an allowance for books and supplies.
Can I study baking online in Minnesota?
Not fully. Both programs need in-person kitchen time. Some of Hennepin’s entrepreneurship coursework mixes classroom and online delivery, but hands-on baking classes require campus attendance.
Program requirements and costs can change. Confirm all details with the school before applying.