27 colleges and career schools in Pennsylvania train cooks, chefs and bakers, 19 of them public community or technical colleges. After grants, students pay between $5,167 and $38,509 a year on average, with a median of $14,111; the lowest-cost option is Westmoreland County Community College in Youngwood. Of these, 14 teach baking & pastry and 5 offer culinary or restaurant management.
The table below lists every Pennsylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTI Career Institute-YorkPrograms run by The Pennsylvania School of Culinary Arts, a division of YTI Career Institute-Lancaster: Culinary Arts/Restaurant Management and Pastry Arts. ACF listing shows an expired 6/30/2021 end date. | Lancaster | For-profit | - | $14,637 | 642 | Culinary Arts Baking & Pastry Culinary Management |
| Greater Altoona Career & Technology CenterAdult intergenerational diplomas (adults in daytime high-school classes): Culinary Arts and Bakery & Pastry Arts; $9,983 for 2026-27, 900 hours. | Altoona | Public | - | $12,419 | 220 | Culinary Arts Baking & Pastry |
| Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center | Johnstown | Public | - | $14,111 | 105 | Culinary Arts |
| Clearfield County Career and Technology Center | Clearfield | Public | - | $14,460 | 31 | Culinary Arts |
| Somerset County Technology Center | Somerset | Public | - | $14,444 | 59 | Culinary Arts |
| Berks Career & Technology Center | Leesport | Public | - | $20,536 | 47 | Culinary Arts |
| Lehigh Career & Technical Institute | Schnecksville | Public | - | $23,735 | 14 | Baking & Pastry |
| Community College of PhiladelphiaCulinary Arts A.A.S. (64 credits) plus Culinary Arts I/II proficiency certificates. Says 'certified by the ACF' but is not on ACF's current accredited list. | Philadelphia | Public | $4,632 | $11,911 | 11,948 | Culinary Arts |
| Community College of Allegheny CountyCulinary Arts A.S., Culinary Basics Certificate, Baking & Pastry Arts A.S. | Pittsburgh | Public | $4,842 | $13,970 | 9,544 | Culinary Arts Baking & Pastry |
| Northampton County Area Community CollegeReports both culinary arts and baking & pastry completions. | Bethlehem | Public | $5,550 | $12,119 | 7,667 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Bucks County Community CollegeCulinary Arts AA and Baking and Pastry Arts AA (62 credits each). | Newtown | Public | $5,683 | $6,389 | 5,289 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Westmoreland County Community CollegeCulinary Arts AAS (68 credits) and Pastry Arts AAS (66 credits), with certificate and apprenticeship options; ACF-accredited through 12/31/2027. | Youngwood | Public | $6,018 | $5,167 | 2,441 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Reading Area Community CollegeOnly culinary credential: 18-credit Institutional and Commercial Cooking Certificate (2026-27). No restaurant-management program found. | Reading | Public | $6,480 | $9,228 | 3,703 | Culinary Arts |
| Luzerne County Community CollegeReports culinary arts, baking & pastry, and management programs to the U.S. Dept. of Education. | Nanticoke | Public | $6,600 | $9,433 | 3,317 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts Culinary Management |
| Montgomery County Community CollegeReports both culinary arts and baking & pastry completions. | Blue Bell | Public | $6,690 | $11,124 | 7,301 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Delaware County Community CollegeCulinary courses are at the Southeast Center in Drexel Hill (Center for Culinary Arts & Hospitality Studies). | Drexel Hill | Public | $6,930 | $6,576 | 6,861 | Culinary Arts |
| Harrisburg Area Community CollegeCulinary Arts AAS (66 credits) and Baking and Pastry Arts certificate, Harrisburg Campus; ACF-accredited through 6/30/2029. | Harrisburg | Public | $6,975 | $14,471 | 9,533 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Pennsylvania Highlands Community CollegeCulinary Arts A.A.S. and Certificate at the Center for Culinary Excellence, Johnstown; no baking credential (baking is a topic within the AAS). | Johnstown | Public | $7,110 | $6,200 | 788 | Culinary Arts |
| Commonwealth Technical InstituteCTI at Hiram G. Andrews Center serves Pennsylvanians with disabilities; AST Culinary Arts (1,800 hrs, about 16 months) and Culinary Assistant diploma (900 hrs). The old dli.pa.gov URL redirects. | Johnstown | Private | $7,714 | $11,714 | 129 | Culinary Arts |
| Indiana University of PennsylvaniaAcademy of Culinary Arts; Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts became 2-year AAS degrees for fall 2025; ACF-accredited through 6/30/2030. | Punxsutawney | Public | $11,380 | $16,804 | 6,764 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Laurel Technical InstituteCulinary Arts specialized associate, 16 months, Hermitage; January 2027 start advertised. | Hermitage | For-profit | $13,431 | $6,778 | 163 | Culinary Arts |
| Jna Institute of Culinary ArtsFor-profit school; published price $14,575, average net $19,404 after aid. | Philadelphia | For-profit | $14,575 | $19,404 | 15 | Culinary Arts Culinary Management |
| Pennsylvania College of TechnologyCulinary Arts Technology and Baking & Pastry Arts A.A.S. (60 credits each), plus Culinary Applications and Professional Baking certificates; ACF-accredited through 12/31/2029. | Williamsport | Public | $18,240 | $25,110 | 4,464 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts |
| Lackawanna CollegeReports culinary arts, baking & pastry, and management programs to the U.S. Dept. of Education. | Scranton | Private | $18,400 | $19,951 | 1,947 | Baking & Pastry Culinary Arts Culinary Management |
| Walnut Hill CollegeAssociate degrees in Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts and Hospitality Management; bachelor's in Culinary, Pastry, Hotel Management and Restaurant Management. $32,475 per academic year (2026-27). | Philadelphia | For-profit | $29,499 | $32,351 | 175 | Culinary Arts Baking & Pastry Culinary Management |
| Mercyhurst UniversityCulinary Arts undergraduate certificate. | Erie | Private | $45,770 | $19,444 | 2,191 | Culinary Arts |
| Drexel UniversityBS in Culinary Arts & Science (not affected by the Hospitality Management admissions pause). | Philadelphia | Private | $62,412 | $38,509 | 13,233 | Culinary Arts |
Showing 27 of 27 schools
Standout culinary programs in Pennsylvania
Four Pennsylvania colleges are on the American Culinary Federation’s current accredited list: Penn College, IUP’s Academy of Culinary Arts, Westmoreland and HACC. The three after them are the main options in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania College of Technology (Williamsport)
- Programs: “Culinary Arts Technology” and “Baking & Pastry Arts” (60-credit AAS degrees), plus two certificates. Students cook at Le Jeune Chef, the program’s fine dining restaurant.
- ACF: accredited through December 2029.
- 2026-27 cost: $631 a credit in-state in fall ($896 out of state), including fees: an estimated $38,067 in-state or $54,082 out of state for the culinary AAS (our arithmetic; lab-hour fees, tools and a laptop extra).
- Suits: students who want an ACF-accredited degree from a Penn State affiliate.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Academy of Culinary Arts (Punxsutawney)
- Programs: Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry Arts, two-year Associate in Applied Science degrees since fall 2025 (they were clock-hour programs before). The final semester is a paid externship.
- ACF: accredited through June 2030.
- 2026-27 cost: $4,169 a semester in tuition for Pennsylvania residents ($6,045 otherwise) plus fees: an estimated $26,416 for four semesters for residents and $37,006.40 for non-residents (our arithmetic). Campus housing is $4,723 a semester.
- Suits: students who want a small residential campus. Classes are in Punxsutawney, not on IUP’s main campus in Indiana.
Westmoreland County Community College (Youngwood)
- Programs: “Culinary Arts, AAS” (68 credits, with an internship) and “Pastry Arts, AAS” (66 credits), plus certificates and apprenticeship versions run with the local ACF chapter.
- ACF: accredited through December 2027.
- 2026-27 cost: $2,235 a full-time semester for county residents, $4,376 for other Pennsylvanians, $6,564 out of state, plus fees. The culinary AAS is an estimated $14,487 in county, $23,752 out of county and $32,942 out of state (our arithmetic; lab fees extra).
- Suits: Pittsburgh-region students who want ACF accreditation or an apprenticeship. Its $5,167 net price is the lowest in our Pennsylvania data.
Harrisburg Area Community College (Harrisburg)
- Programs: a 66-credit Culinary Arts AAS and a Baking and Pastry Arts certificate, in person at the Harrisburg Campus.
- ACF: accredited through June 2029.
- 2026-27 cost: $237 a credit with fees for students from the 22 sponsoring school districts, $342.25 for other Pennsylvanians and $487.25 out of state, so the AAS is an estimated $15,642, $22,588.50 or $32,158.50 (our arithmetic). HACC announced on November 3, 2026 that tuition drops for fall 2027, to $150 a credit for sponsored students and $250 for other Pennsylvanians.
- Suits: central Pennsylvania students who want an ACF-accredited degree near home.
Community College of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)
- Programs: “Culinary Arts, A.S.”, a “Culinary Basics” certificate and “Baking & Pastry Arts, A.S.”, with an externship of at least 100 hours. Not ACF-accredited.
- Cost: $130 a credit or $1,950 a full-time semester for Allegheny County residents; about $7,800 in tuition for four semesters (our arithmetic; fees extra). Other Pennsylvanians pay double and out-of-state students triple.
- Suits: Allegheny County residents who want the lowest tuition for a culinary or baking degree.
Community College of Philadelphia (Philadelphia)
- Programs: a 64-credit Culinary Arts A.A.S. and two proficiency certificates; no baking program. Students run Bistro 17, a public lunch on Main Campus.
- ACF: the college says its degree is “certified by the American Culinary Federation”, but it is not on ACF’s current accredited list.
- Cost: $174 a credit for Philadelphia residents ($348 for other Pennsylvanians, $522 out of state): about $11,136 in tuition for city residents (our arithmetic).
- Suits: Philadelphia residents who want a low-cost degree in the city.
Walnut Hill College (Philadelphia)
- Programs: associate degrees in Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts and Hospitality Management, and bachelor’s degrees in Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts, Hotel Management and Restaurant Management. Formerly The Restaurant School; students work in public restaurants including Bistro Perrier. Not ACF-accredited.
- 2026-27 cost: $32,475 a year. The associate degree is six 10-week terms (about 18 months), an estimated $66,015 for Culinary Arts with fees, before housing (our arithmetic).
- Suits: students who want an accelerated private program with a path to a bachelor’s.
Around Philadelphia, Bucks County Community College in Newtown, Montgomery County Community College and Delaware County Community College in Drexel Hill all teach culinary arts, and Drexel University offers a BS in Culinary Arts & Science. In the Lehigh Valley, Northampton Community College in Bethlehem has a 71-credit Culinary Arts AAS. Near Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Lackawanna College and Luzerne County Community College offer culinary and pastry programs. In Lancaster, YTI Career Institute’s Pennsylvania School of Culinary Arts is still on ACF’s list but with an end date of June 2021, so we do not count it as accredited.
What culinary school costs in Pennsylvania
Where you live inside Pennsylvania matters. Community colleges charge county or sponsoring-district residents the lowest rate and about double for other Pennsylvanians: $130 against $260 a credit at CCAC, $149 against $292 at Westmoreland, $174 against $348 in Philadelphia, $170 against $340 at Bucks. For local residents, a two-year community college degree runs from about $7,800 in tuition at CCAC to about $15,642 with fees at HACC, with Bucks (an estimated $14,459) and Westmoreland in between. IUP ($26,416 for residents), Penn College ($38,067) and Walnut Hill ($66,015) cost more. Tools, uniforms and lab fees are extra almost everywhere.
The cheapest non-degree route is an adult program at a career and technology center. Greater Altoona CTC’s 900-hour adult diplomas in Culinary Arts and Bakery & Pastry Arts cost $9,983 for 2026-27. At Greater Altoona, Greater Johnstown and Somerset County, these are intergenerational programs: adults join the daytime high-school classes when seats allow. By average net price, Westmoreland ($5,167), Pennsylvania Highlands in Johnstown ($6,200) and Bucks ($6,389) are the least expensive colleges; our methodology page explains these figures. Compare programs on our baking & pastry and culinary management pages, or look at Ohio and New Jersey.
Culinary jobs and pay in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania pays chefs slightly above the national median and cooks, bakers and food service managers a little below it.
| Job | Jobs in Pennsylvania | Median pay in Pennsylvania | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant cooks | 54,100 | $36,580 | $37,390 |
| Bakers | 10,380 | $36,360 | $37,160 |
| Chefs and head cooks | 9,170 | $63,860 | $62,470 |
| Food service managers | 10,530 | $64,750 | $69,390 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Studying online from Pennsylvania?
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. Pennsylvania residents can also enroll in the Institute of Culinary Education’s online diplomas ($22,000 to $22,500). We compare every option, with accreditation and outcomes, on our online culinary schools page.
Closed or changed schools you may still see listed
- Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts, Pittsburgh took its last new students in January 2016 and closed in 2017, when all US Le Cordon Bleu campuses shut. If you are searching for the “Pennsylvania Culinary Institute”, no school by that name is open today.
- The Art Institute of Pittsburgh closed in March 2019 after being placed in federal receivership.
- The Art Institute of Philadelphia closed by 2019; the whole Art Institutes system shut on September 30, 2023.
- Lehigh Carbon Community College no longer lists culinary arts among its programs; the last culinary degree sheet we found is from its 2023-24 catalog.
- Keystone College discontinued its culinary associate degree in fall 2015.
- Delaware Valley University offers food science, not culinary arts, so we no longer list it.
Pennsylvania culinary school FAQs
How many culinary schools are in Pennsylvania?
27 colleges and career schools in Pennsylvania reported culinary graduates to the U.S. Department of Education and still list the program, 19 of them public community or technical colleges. Four are on the American Culinary Federation's current accredited list: Penn College, IUP's Academy of Culinary Arts, Westmoreland County Community College and HACC.
How much does culinary school cost in Pennsylvania?
After grants, students pay between $5,167 and $38,509 a year on average, with a median of $14,111. At 2026-27 rates, a community college culinary degree for local residents runs from about $7,800 in tuition at CCAC to about $15,642 at HACC, while Penn College's in-state culinary AAS is an estimated $38,067 and Walnut Hill's associate degree about $66,015.
What is the cheapest culinary school in Pennsylvania?
Westmoreland County Community College in Youngwood has the lowest average net price, $5,167 a year. For published tuition, CCAC charges Allegheny County residents $130 a credit or $1,950 for a full-time semester, the lowest rate among the large programs.
Which Pennsylvania schools offer baking and pastry programs?
Penn College, IUP's Academy of Culinary Arts, Westmoreland, CCAC, Bucks, Montgomery County, HACC (certificate), Northampton (diploma), Luzerne, Lackawanna, Walnut Hill, YTI's Pennsylvania School of Culinary Arts in Lancaster and Greater Altoona CTC (adult diploma) all offer baking or pastry credentials.
Is the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute still open?
No school by that name is open today. Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts in Pittsburgh took its last new students in January 2016 and closed in 2017, and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh closed in March 2019.
Which culinary schools are in Philadelphia?
Community College of Philadelphia offers a 64-credit Culinary Arts degree at $174 a credit for city residents, and Walnut Hill College offers culinary, pastry and hospitality degrees at $32,475 a year. JNA Institute of Culinary Arts and Drexel University's BS in Culinary Arts & Science are also in the city, with Bucks, Montgomery and Delaware County community colleges in the suburbs.
Can adults take culinary classes at a Pennsylvania career and technology center?
Yes. Greater Altoona, Greater Johnstown and Somerset County run intergenerational programs where adults join daytime high-school culinary classes when seats allow. Greater Altoona's 900-hour adult diploma costs $9,983 for 2026-27.
Culinary schools in nearby states
Sources
- American Culinary Federation, Accredited Postsecondary Programs, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Pennsylvania College of Technology, Baking & Culinary, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Pennsylvania College of Technology, Tuition, Fees and Charges, retrieved November 9, 2026
- IUP news, Academy of Culinary Arts programs approved as AAS degrees, retrieved November 9, 2026
- IUP Academy of Culinary Arts, Costs, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Westmoreland County Community College, Culinary Arts AAS 2026-27, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Westmoreland County Community College, Tuition and Fees, retrieved November 9, 2026
- HACC, Culinary Arts, retrieved November 9, 2026
- HACC, Tuition and HACC, Tuition Update, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Community College of Allegheny County, Culinary Arts, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Community College of Allegheny County, Tuition and Cost, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Community College of Philadelphia, Culinary Arts, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Community College of Philadelphia, Tuition and Fees, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Bucks County Community College, Tuition, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Walnut Hill College, Tuition and Fees, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center, Intergenerational Programs, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Wikipedia, Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, retrieved November 9, 2026
- Wikipedia, Art Institute of Pittsburgh, retrieved November 9, 2026
- The Art Institutes, closed schools information, 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