7 colleges and career schools in Kansas train cooks, chefs and bakers, all of them public community or technical colleges. After grants, students pay between $8,607 and $16,744 a year on average, with a median of $14,176; the lowest-cost option is Washburn Institute of Technology in Topeka. Of these, 2 teach baking & pastry and one offers culinary or restaurant management.
The table below lists every Kansas school that reported culinary graduates to the U.S. Department of Education and whose own catalog still shows the program, checked in November 2026. Net price is what aid recipients actually paid per year, school-wide, from the federal College Scorecard; sort by it rather than by the published tuition. Programs we single out further down were checked on each school’s website.
| School | City | Type | Tuition/yr | Net price/yr | Enrollment | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County Community CollegeOnly ACF-accredited culinary programs in Kansas (Chef Apprenticeship AAS, Baking and Pastry Certificate; ACF end date 12/31/2026). | Overland Park | Public | $2,424 | $14,176 | 11,332 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts Culinary Management |
| Kansas City Kansas Community College | Kansas City | Public | $3,210 | $16,744 | 3,319 | Culinary Arts |
| Butler Community CollegeCulinary taught at the Redler Institute of Culinary Arts, 622 Cloud Avenue, Andover (source: https://www.butlercc.edu/Redler, retrieved 2026-11-10). | Andover | Public | $3,541 | $15,724 | 5,104 | Culinary Arts |
| Flint Hills Technical College | Emporia | Public | $6,400 | $16,017 | 352 | Culinary Arts |
| Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and TechnologyCulinary classes at WSU Tech NICHE, 124 S. Broadway, downtown Wichita. | Wichita | Public | $7,238 | $8,805 | 2,828 | Culinary Arts |
| Fort Hays Tech North Central | Hays | Public | $7,350 | $12,393 | 441 | Culinary Arts |
| Washburn Institute of Technology | Topeka | Public | $8,880 | $8,607 | 615 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
Showing 7 of 7 schools
Standout culinary programs in Kansas
Johnson County Community College (Overland Park)
JCCC is the only Kansas college on the American Culinary Federation’s accredited list, and its programs have ACF accreditation through December 2026. It offers a “Chef Apprenticeship, AAS”, a “Hospitality Management, AAS” and a two-semester “Pastry/Baking Certificate”, taught in the 36,000-square-foot Wylie Hospitality and Culinary Academy. The pastry certificate admits at most 16 students a year; its graduation rate was 93.8% in 2025-26. Fall 2026 tuition with fees is $106 per credit for Johnson County residents. It suits Kansas City-area students, especially in pastry.
Butler Community College: Redler Institute of Culinary Arts (Andover)
Butler teaches culinary at the Redler Institute in Andover, east of Wichita, not in El Dorado. It offers a 60- to 61-credit “Culinary Arts (Associate of Applied Science)” and three “Professional Culinary Arts” certificates of 16 to 46 credits, with separate pastry and savory kitchens. At $109.25 per credit with fees for Butler County residents, the AAS is an estimated $6,555 to $6,664. It is not ACF-accredited. It suits Wichita-area students on a budget.
WSU Tech: Culinary Arts at NICHE (Wichita)
WSU Tech teaches its “Associate of Applied Science, Culinary Arts” (61 credits) and “Technical Certificate, Culinary Arts” (25 credits) at its National Institute for Culinary and Hospitality Education, 124 S. Broadway downtown. Culinary courses cost $350 per credit in 2026-27 and general education $139, with no residency difference; the AAS was listed at $17,028 for 2025-26, and we estimate about $18,185 at 2026-27 rates. It is not ACF-accredited. It suits central Wichita students, including those from out of state.
Washburn Institute of Technology (Topeka)
Washburn Tech’s 2026-27 catalog lists a 48-hour “Culinary Arts – Cert C” and two 24-hour, two-semester options: “Culinary Arts: Baking & Pastry – Cert A” and “Culinary Arts: Savory Cuisine – Cert A”. Graduates can add an Associate of Applied Science conferred by Washburn University, so the two are one program. At $198 per credit including the materials fee, for any student, Cert C is an estimated $9,504 and a Cert A $4,752. It suits Topeka students and anyone wanting a short baking credential.
Culinary school in Kansas City
On the Kansas side of the metro, the choices are JCCC in Overland Park and Kansas City Kansas Community College, whose program page lists a “Culinary Arts, A.A.S.” and culinary certificates. KCKCC charges $110 per credit for Wyandotte County residents and $125 for other Kansans. Missouri residents get discounts at both: JCCC’s $158 Metro Rate covers Missouri ZIP codes starting 640 or 641, and KCKCC’s $150.50 KC Metro Rate covers Jackson, Johnson, Platte, Clay and Cass counties. See also our Missouri guide.
What culinary school costs in Kansas
Community colleges charge by county of residence. At JCCC, 2026-27 tuition with fees is $106 per credit for Johnson County residents, $128 for other Kansans and $250 out of state; at Butler it is $109.25 for Butler County, $143.50 for other Kansans and $209.50 out of state. Technical colleges charge more: WSU Tech’s culinary courses are $350 per credit, and Flint Hills Technical College in Emporia estimates $11,274.50 for its 34-credit Hospitality Culinary Arts certificate and $19,902.50 for its 65-credit AAS, supplies included.
By average net price after aid, Washburn Tech ($8,607) and WSU Tech ($8,805) are lowest, and KCKCC ($16,744) highest (see our methodology). Our baking & pastry page compares pastry options.
Culinary jobs and pay in Kansas
Kansas pays cooks, bakers and chefs a little below the national median, and food service managers slightly above it.
| Job | Jobs in Kansas | Median pay in Kansas | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant cooks | 11,620 | $35,130 | $37,390 |
| Bakers | 1,370 | $34,300 | $37,160 |
| Chefs and head cooks | 860 | $58,390 | $62,470 |
| Food service managers | 1,540 | $70,320 | $69,390 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Studying online from Kansas?
If no campus is close enough, accredited online diplomas and associate degrees in culinary arts and baking & pastry exist, but every one ends with an in-person externship in a working kitchen. Escoffier’s online baking & pastry diploma costs $22,800 and its associate degree $34,425 for the whole program. The Institute of Culinary Education’s online programs are not approved for Kansas residents. We compare every option, with accreditation and outcomes, on our online culinary schools page.
Closed or changed schools you may still see listed
- Washburn University is no longer listed separately: its culinary AA and AAS are built on Washburn Tech’s certificate, and all teaching is at Washburn Tech.
- Fort Hays Tech North Central moved its culinary program, now a 41-hour certificate, from Beloit to Hays in November 2025.
- WSU Tech moved culinary classes to its downtown NICHE building at 124 S. Broadway.
Kansas culinary school FAQs
How many culinary schools are in Kansas?
Seven public colleges: Johnson County Community College, Kansas City Kansas Community College, Butler Community College, WSU Tech, Washburn Institute of Technology, Flint Hills Technical College and Fort Hays Tech North Central. Washburn University's culinary degrees are built on Washburn Tech's program, so we count them once.
How much does culinary school cost in Kansas?
After grants, students pay between $8,607 and $16,744 a year on average, with a median of $14,176. For 2026-27, Butler County residents pay $109.25 per credit with fees at Butler, an estimated $6,555 to $6,664 for the culinary AAS, while Flint Hills Technical College estimates $19,902.50 for its AAS.
What is the cheapest culinary school in Kansas?
Washburn Institute of Technology in Topeka has the lowest average net price at $8,607 a year, and its 24-hour Cert A options cost an estimated $4,752 for any student. By the credit, JCCC is cheapest for Johnson County residents at $106.
Which Kansas schools offer baking and pastry programs?
Johnson County Community College offers an ACF-accredited Pastry/Baking Certificate that admits up to 16 students a year, and Washburn Tech offers a two-semester Culinary Arts: Baking & Pastry Cert A.
Where can I study culinary arts in Kansas City?
On the Kansas side, Johnson County Community College in Overland Park and Kansas City Kansas Community College both offer culinary programs. Missouri residents in nearby ZIP codes or counties pay discounted metro rates: $158 per credit at JCCC and $150.50 at KCKCC.
Are any Kansas culinary programs ACF-accredited?
Only Johnson County Community College's programs, including the Chef Apprenticeship AAS and the Pastry/Baking Certificate. They hold ACF accreditation through December 2026.
Culinary schools in nearby states
Sources
- American Culinary Federation, Accredited Postsecondary Programs, retrieved November 9, 2026
- JCCC, Pastry/Baking Certificate, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Johnson County Community College, Tuition Rates, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Kansas City Kansas Community College, Culinary Arts, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Kansas City Kansas Community College, Tuition and Fees, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Butler Community College, Redler Institute of Culinary Arts, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Butler Community College, Tuition and Fees, retrieved November 9, 2026
- WSU Tech, Culinary Arts, retrieved November 9, 2026
- WSU Tech, 2026-27 Tuition by Program, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Washburn Tech catalog 2026-2027, Culinary Arts, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Washburn Tech, Tuition and Fees, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Flint Hills Technical College, Hospitality Culinary Arts cost sheet 2026-2027, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Hays Post, Fort Hays Tech North Central culinary space in Hays, retrieved November 9, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025, retrieved November 9, 2026
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, retrieved November 9, 2026