The U.S. Department of Education lists 28 North Carolina schools with culinary programs in the CIP 12.05 family: 26 public and 2 private nonprofit. After grants, students paid between $1,095 and $27,426 a year on average (median $6,109).
Program mix: 9 of the 28 report baking & pastry (CIP 12.0501) completions; 1 grant a bachelor’s-level credential in this family. The largest campus on the list is Wake Technical Community College (19,675 students). Every figure below comes from the College Scorecard and IPEDS federal data, retrieved July 2026. No rankings, just the numbers, sortable however you need them.
| School | City | Type | Tuition/yr | Net price/yr | Enrollment | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vance-Granville Community College | Henderson | Public | $1,944 | $3,286 | 1,665 | Culinary Arts |
| Durham Technical Community College | Durham | Public | $1,986 | $1,664 | 3,890 | Culinary Arts |
| South Piedmont Community College | Polkton | Public | $2,022 | $6,675 | 1,833 | Culinary Arts |
| Sandhills Community CollegeReports both culinary arts and baking & pastry completions. | Pinehurst | Public | $2,040 | $4,157 | 2,539 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| College of the Albemarle | Elizabeth City | Public | $2,242 | $2,253 | 2,001 | Culinary Arts |
| Wake Technical Community CollegeLargest enrollment on this list (19,675 students). | Raleigh | Public | $2,254 | $8,759 | 19,675 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Carteret Community CollegeReports both culinary arts and baking & pastry completions. | Morehead City | Public | $2,310 | $10,764 | 1,172 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Guilford Technical Community College | Jamestown | Public | $2,320 | $15,002 | 9,260 | Culinary Arts |
| Coastal Carolina Community College | Jacksonville | Public | $2,512 | $9,461 | 2,724 | Culinary Arts |
| Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute | Hudson | Public | $2,526 | $10,810 | 2,393 | Culinary Arts |
| Montgomery Community College | Troy | Public | $2,538 | $13,832 | 852 | Culinary Arts |
| Piedmont Community CollegeLowest average net price in the state: $1,095/yr after grants. | Roxboro | Public | $2,556 | $1,095 | 457 | Culinary Arts |
| Wilkes Community CollegeReports both culinary arts and baking & pastry completions. | Wilkesboro | Public | $2,572 | - | 1,355 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Wilson Community College | Wilson | Public | $2,572 | $3,064 | 1,373 | Culinary Arts |
| Lenoir Community College | Kinston | Public | $2,578 | $4,127 | 1,469 | Culinary Arts |
| Robeson Community CollegeReports both culinary arts and baking & pastry completions. | Lumberton | Public | $2,581 | $2,892 | 1,551 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Alamance Community College | Graham | Public | $2,592 | $6,109 | 3,080 | Culinary Arts |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville | Public | $2,628 | $3,589 | 9,471 | Culinary Arts |
| Tri-County Community College | Murphy | Public | $2,636 | $7,799 | 472 | Culinary Arts |
| Mitchell Community College | Statesville | Public | $2,641 | $6,481 | 1,948 | Culinary Arts |
| Central Carolina Community College | Sanford | Public | $2,711 | $5,446 | 3,237 | Culinary Arts |
| Cape Fear Community CollegeReports both culinary arts and baking & pastry completions. | Wilmington | Public | $2,748 | $9,610 | 9,764 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Central Piedmont Community CollegeReports both culinary arts and baking & pastry completions. | Charlotte | Public | $2,792 | $3,345 | 15,067 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Nash Community College | Rocky Mount | Public | $2,866 | $3,338 | 1,689 | Culinary Arts |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeReports both culinary arts and baking & pastry completions. | Asheville | Public | $2,882 | $11,602 | 5,110 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Southwestern Community College | Sylva | Public | $4,112 | $5,207 | 1,249 | Culinary Arts |
| Livingstone College | Salisbury | Private | $18,296 | $13,479 | 924 | Culinary Arts |
| Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteReports both culinary arts and baking & pastry completions. | Charlotte | Private | $42,419 | $27,426 | 1,184 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
Showing 28 of 28 schools
What Culinary School Costs in North Carolina
The lowest real-cost route in North Carolina is Piedmont Community College in Roxboro, at $1,095 a year average net price after grants. Public in-state tuition starts at $1,944 published, and community-college district residents can sometimes pay less than the listed rate. Sort the table by net price and check the out-of-state toggle if you are crossing state lines; residency can double the bill at public schools.
North Carolina Culinary School FAQs
How many culinary schools are in North Carolina?
28 North Carolina institutions report culinary programs (CIP 12.05 family) to the U.S. Department of Education: 26 public and 2 private or for-profit. The count covers degree- and certificate-granting schools in the College Scorecard as of July 2026.
How much does culinary school cost in North Carolina?
Average net price, what students actually pay per year after grants, ranges from $1,095 to $27,426 across North Carolina culinary schools, with a median of $6,109. Published tuition is often higher; net price is the more accurate number.
What is the cheapest culinary school in North Carolina?
Piedmont Community College in Roxboro has the lowest average net price at $1,095 per year. Community college district residents can sometimes pay less than the published in-state rate.
Which North Carolina schools offer baking and pastry programs?
9 North Carolina schools reported baking & pastry (CIP 12.0501) completions in the latest federal data, including Sandhills Community College, Wake Technical Community College, Carteret Community College.
Culinary Schools in Nearby States
School list, tuition, net price, and enrollment from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS completions data (CIP 12.05 family), retrieved July 2026. Notes are computed from the same records. See our methodology for how these lists are built.