New Jersey has nine schools with baking or pastry training. Eight are community colleges with credit programs, in Mays Landing, Paramus, Asbury Park, Randolph, Jersey City, Wanaque, Mount Holly, and Newton, and Gloucester County Institute of Technology in Sewell offers a noncredit adult evening class. Credit programs range from 16-credit certificates to 60-credit associate degrees.
County colleges charge their lowest rates to residents of their own county. For 2026–27, in-county tuition and per-credit fees are $229 per credit at Passaic County Community College, $237 at Sussex County Community College, and $241 at County College of Morris. Atlantic Cape Community College charges local residents $700 per credit for Academy of Culinary Arts courses, so its certificate costs far more than others of similar length.
Baking and Pastry Programs at a Glance
| School | Location | Programs, Credits and Estimated Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Cape Community College | Mays Landing | Baking and Pastry I Certificate: 30 credits – about $17,748 Culinary Arts AAS, Baking and Pastry Option: 60 credits |
| Bergen Community College | Paramus | Baking Certificate of Achievement: 18 credits – about $3,974 Continuing education Certificate in Baking: six noncredit courses |
| Brookdale Community College | Asbury Park | Pastry Arts Academic Credit Certificate: 32 credits – about $8,120 |
| County College of Morris | Randolph | Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate of Achievement: 16 credits – about $3,856 |
| Gloucester County Institute of Technology | Sewell | Adult education Baking and Pastry Arts night class: noncredit – $1,299 |
| Hudson County Community College | Jersey City | Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate: 30 credits – about $8,687 Culinary Arts (Baking) Proficiency Certificate: 11 credits – about $3,193 Culinary Arts AAS, Baking and Pastry Option: 60 credits – about $17,373 |
| Passaic County Community College | Wanaque | Baking Certificate of Achievement: 16 credits – about $3,664 Baking Career Certificate: 33 credits – about $7,557 Pastry and Baking Arts AAS: 60 credits – about $13,740 |
| Rowan College at Burlington County | Mount Holly | Baking and Pastry Career Certificate (SPC.BKP) |
| Sussex County Community College | Newton | Baking & Pastry Arts Certificate: 30 credits in an older published sequence Baking & Pastry Arts Option AAS |
Estimates use 2026–27 in-county or local rates, before financial aid, on the basis each profile states: tuition and college fee at County College of Morris; tuition plus student activity and PCCC Access charges at Passaic; two 9-credit terms including the semester registration fee at Bergen; two 15-credit terms from the college’s tuition and fee grid at Hudson; tuition and general fee at Brookdale; and tuition and mandatory fees for 21 program credits and nine general education credits at Atlantic Cape. They exclude course, lab, and culinary fees, books, uniforms, tools, and living costs. Gloucester County Institute of Technology’s figure is its published price for the listed 2026–27 session. No figure is shown for Sussex because its 30-credit total comes from an older sequence; at $237 per in-county credit, 30 credits would be $7,110. Rowan College at Burlington County has not published a clear current credit total for its certificate, Bergen prices its continuing education certificate separately, and the Atlantic Cape and Sussex AAS options need separate estimates. Because the figures cover different credit totals and fees, they are not direct price comparisons. Out-of-county figures appear in each profile.
Which New Jersey Baking Program May Fit You?
Earn a Short Baking Certificate
County College of Morris in Randolph and Passaic County Community College in Wanaque each offer a 16-credit Certificate of Achievement, and Bergen Community College in Paramus offers an 18-credit Baking Certificate of Achievement planned over two semesters.
Earn a Longer Baking or Pastry Certificate
Hudson County Community College in Jersey City and Atlantic Cape Community College in Mays Landing offer 30-credit certificates, Brookdale Community College teaches a 32-credit Pastry Arts certificate in Asbury Park, and Passaic offers a 33-credit Baking Career Certificate. Sussex County Community College in Newton also lists a Baking & Pastry Arts certificate; confirm its current credit total.
Earn an Associate Degree
Passaic County Community College offers a 60-credit Pastry and Baking Arts AAS, and Atlantic Cape offers a 60-credit Culinary Arts AAS with a Baking and Pastry option. Hudson and Sussex also list baking and pastry AAS options; confirm their current credit totals in the catalog.
Take a Noncredit or Continuing Education Class
Gloucester County Institute of Technology in Sewell offers an adult Baking and Pastry Arts night class that meets on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Bergen has a six-course continuing education Certificate in Baking that is separate from its academic certificate.
Study in Burlington County
Rowan College at Burlington County lists a Baking and Pastry Career Certificate at its Culinary Arts Center in Mount Holly, which includes a student-run restaurant. Ask the college for the current checksheet and credit total.
Certificate, Associate Degree, or Noncredit Class?
Short Certificates
The 16-credit certificates at County College of Morris and Passaic and Bergen’s 18-credit academic certificate focus on a smaller course load. They suit students who want concentrated baking training without a full culinary degree.
Longer Certificates
The 30- to 33-credit certificates at Hudson, Atlantic Cape, Sussex, Brookdale, and Passaic include more coursework. Check each plan for general education and work experience: Atlantic Cape requires 200 documented work-experience hours, and Hudson’s certificate includes an externship.
Associate Degrees
Passaic lists a 60-credit Pastry and Baking Arts AAS. Atlantic Cape, Hudson, and Sussex list baking and pastry options within an AAS. A degree adds general education and more culinary coursework, so ask how certificate credits apply if you plan to continue.
Noncredit and Continuing Education
Gloucester County Institute of Technology’s night class carries no college credits and has a set session price. Bergen says graduates of its continuing education certificate may seek assessment for up to 18 credits through its prior-learning process, which is not an automatic transfer.
Tuition and Additional Costs
New Jersey county colleges set separate rates for in-county, out-of-county, and out-of-state students. For 2026–27, County College of Morris charges $241 per credit for Morris County residents and $385 for other New Jersey county residents, including its college fee. Passaic charges $229 per in-county credit and $311 out of county with its per-credit charges, and Sussex charges $237 and $312. Brookdale lists $208 tuition plus a $45.75 general fee per credit for Monmouth County residents.
A credit total alone can miss culinary program fees. Atlantic Cape charges local residents $700 per credit for Academy of Culinary Arts courses, including a $400 program fee, compared with $189 per credit for general education. Sussex lists a $186 culinary arts lab fee where applicable, and Rowan College at Burlington County’s published culinary rate is $607 per Burlington County credit.
Baking students should also budget for:
- Culinary program, course, and lab fees, which several colleges charge on baking courses
- Uniforms, knife kits, and baking tools
- ServSafe or other food safety certification
- Textbooks and instructional materials
- Transportation and living expenses
Questions to Ask Before Applying
- What is the current credit total and course sequence for the credential I want?
- What will a term-by-term bill look like with tuition, required fees, culinary or lab fees, tools, uniforms, and books?
- Do I qualify for the in-county rate?
- Where are the baking labs taught, and is that site different from the main campus?
- Is an internship, externship, or other work experience required, and how is it arranged?
- Will my certificate credits apply to an associate degree later?
Atlantic Cape Community College
Atlantic Cape’s Academy of Culinary Arts in Mays Landing offers a 30-credit Baking and Pastry I certificate and a 60-credit Culinary Arts AAS with a Baking and Pastry option. The certificate follows a two-semester sequence with 200 hours of documented work experience, and the AAS requires 400 hours. Culinary program credits carry a much higher rate than general education credits.
See the Atlantic Cape Community College baking profile for curriculum, costs, and admissions details.
Bergen Community College
Bergen Community College in Paramus offers an 18-credit academic Baking Certificate of Achievement and a separate six-course continuing education Certificate in Baking. The academic sequence runs over two suggested semesters and includes introductory and advanced baking plus two choices from confectionery arts, artisan bread production, and specialty cakes. The two credentials have different tuition structures, so ask which route fits your goal before enrolling.
See the Bergen Community College baking profile for curriculum, costs, and admissions details.
Brookdale Community College
Brookdale’s 32-credit Pastry Arts Academic Credit Certificate is taught through its Culinary Education Center in Asbury Park, not the main campus in Lincroft. The catalog includes baking skills, patisserie, advanced pastry arts, confections, and six general education credits. Brookdale requires a C or better in career courses and a ServSafe sanitation exam for the certificate.
See the Brookdale Community College baking profile for curriculum, costs, and admissions details.
County College of Morris
County College of Morris in Randolph offers a 16-credit Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate of Achievement. Its six courses include food management, introductory and advanced baking, chocolates, and food as art. The college says the certificate can also be a step toward its Culinary Arts and Sciences associate program.
See the County College of Morris baking profile for curriculum, costs, and admissions details.
Gloucester County Institute of Technology
Gloucester County Institute of Technology’s postsecondary and adult education division offers a noncredit Baking and Pastry Arts night class in Sewell. The listed 2026–27 session meets Mondays and Tuesdays from 5 to 9 p.m. for $1,299 and covers doughs, cakes, decorating, chocolate, and other baking topics, with ServSafe certification offered. This adult class is separate from the school’s high school program.
See the Gloucester County Institute of Technology baking profile for curriculum, costs, and admissions details.
Hudson County Community College
Hudson County Community College’s Culinary Arts Institute in Jersey City offers a 30-credit Baking and Pastry Arts certificate, a shorter Baking Proficiency Certificate, and a Culinary Arts AAS with a Baking and Pastry option. The certificate combines four bakeshop courses, bench work, sanitation, and an externship. Lab students need the college’s required uniform and knife kit.
See the Hudson County Community College baking profile for curriculum, costs, and admissions details.
Passaic County Community College
Passaic County Community College offers a 16-credit Baking Certificate of Achievement, a 33-credit Baking Career Certificate, and a 60-credit Pastry and Baking Arts AAS. Culinary classes use the professional kitchens at the Wanaque Academic Center, and the career certificate includes a baking internship. Some baking courses carry course fees, and students should plan for a uniform, shoes, and a knife kit.
See the Passaic County Community College baking profile for curriculum, costs, and admissions details.
Rowan College at Burlington County
Rowan College at Burlington County lists a Baking and Pastry Career Certificate (SPC.BKP) at its Culinary Arts Center in Mount Holly. Its program page describes commercial kitchen and bakery skills, while the linked catalog has used an older Cooking and Baking name and code. Ask the college for the current SPC.BKP checksheet and a written cost estimate.
See the Rowan College at Burlington County baking profile for curriculum, costs, and admissions details.
Sussex County Community College
Sussex County Community College lists a Baking & Pastry Arts certificate and an AAS baking and pastry option in Newton, and student-made pastries have been showcased through its Arbor Bakeshop. An older certificate sequence shows 30 credits, but students should confirm the current catalog total. Fall 2026 in-county tuition and standard per-credit fees total $237 per credit, plus any culinary lab and material fees.
See the Sussex County Community College baking profile for curriculum, costs, and admissions details.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many New Jersey schools offer baking or pastry programs?
Nine schools are listed: Atlantic Cape Community College; Bergen Community College; Brookdale Community College; County College of Morris; Gloucester County Institute of Technology; Hudson County Community College; Passaic County Community College; Rowan College at Burlington County; and Sussex County Community College.
Are there online baking and pastry programs in New Jersey?
The listed programs emphasize in-person kitchen practice. Some general education or theory courses may have online sections, but students should confirm each term’s format with the college.
Does New Jersey offer a baking and pastry associate degree?
Yes. Passaic County Community College lists a 60-credit Pastry and Baking Arts AAS, and Atlantic Cape lists a 60-credit Culinary Arts AAS with a Baking and Pastry option. Hudson and Sussex also list baking or pastry AAS options; confirm their current credit totals and course plans in the catalog.
What is the shortest baking program in New Jersey?
Among credit programs, County College of Morris and Passaic County Community College each offer a 16-credit Certificate of Achievement, and Bergen’s academic certificate is 18 credits. Gloucester County Institute of Technology’s adult night class is a single noncredit session.
How much does a baking program cost in New Jersey?
For in-county students, estimates for the 16- to 18-credit certificates are about $3,664 at Passaic, $3,856 at County College of Morris, and $3,973.50 at Bergen. Longer certificates are estimated at about $7,557 to $8,686.70 at Passaic, Brookdale, and Hudson, and about $17,748 at Atlantic Cape. Passaic’s 60-credit AAS is about $13,740, and Gloucester County Institute of Technology lists its noncredit class at $1,299. These amounts exclude course and supply costs and rest on different fee bases, so they are not final price comparisons.
Program requirements and costs can change. Confirm all details with the school before applying.