In our renowned Culinary and Pastry Arts program, you'll train alongside experienced professionals, develop dynamic skills and build strong industry connections — all at a fraction of the cost of for-profit culinary schools.
Our program provides training through classroom instruction and hands-on participation in Culinary and Pastry Arts. Students get real world experience each semester preparing complete three-course meal services that are open to the public.
Culinary and Pastry Arts at a Glance
2 months-1 year to complete1
$880-$3,960 tuition2
- Brookhaven
- Cedar Valley
- Eastfield
- El Centro
- Mountain View
- North Lake
- Richland
- Culinary, Pastry and Hospitality Center3
2 years to complete1
$5,940 tuition2
- Brookhaven
- Cedar Valley
- Eastfield
- El Centro
- Mountain View
- North Lake
- Richland
- Culinary, Pastry and Hospitality Center3
What Can I Study?
I Want to Go to Work
-
Workforce Certificates
- ACF Certified Culinarian Apprenticeship Related Instruction $- 6 months
- ACF Certified Fundamentals Cook Certification/Apprenticeship Related Instruction $- 2 months
- Bakery Assistant $- 2 months
- Culinary Arts Cook $- 2 months
- HUGS Training Academy $3,200 12 weeks
- Wine and Beverage Management $880 2 months
-
Credit Certificates
- Bakery/Pastry Foundations Certificate $1,584 8 months
- Bakery/Pastry Specialist Certificate $3,960 1 year
- Culinary Arts Foundations Certificate $1,782 8 months
- Culinary Arts Specialist Certificate $3,663 1 year
- Food and Beverage Specialist Certificate $1,782 8 months
Can I Get a Job?
Dallas College offers a variety of certificates and degrees to help you gain the skills you need to start working right away.
- These credentials are often considered Career and Technical Education (CTE).
- These credentials are established with the assistance and cooperation of representatives from local business, to meet local and regional employment needs.
- Higher level certificates and degrees will typically lead to a higher salary in the workforce.
- Workforce (CE) Certificates can often be completed faster than traditional credit certificates but typically do not offer college credit.
- Level 1, Level 2, Enhanced Skills certificates and others, offer college credit and are often stackable to help you build skills as you work towards an Associate Degree.
- Workforce credentials may give you college credit at Dallas College, but they may not transfer to other colleges or universities.
If you're unsure if this is the right path for you, you can talk to a Pathway Specialist for advice.
Pathway Specialist
- 972-669-6400
- PathwaySpecialist@DallasCollege.edu
What Can I Earn? Will There Be Plenty of Jobs?
Add classroom knowledge and practical skills to your passion for cooking or baking, and you’ll be ready to make a name for yourself in the food and hospitality industry. Check out a few of the incredible career opportunities you’ll be ready for. Your future starts here!
Bakers
$16/hr
Median Salary
1077
Job Openings
+14%
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Coordination
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Time Management
- Reading Comprehension
- Operations Monitoring
Chefs and Head Cooks
$25/hr
Median Salary
855
Job Openings
+19%
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Coordination
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Time Management
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Social Perceptiveness
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Service Orientation
Restaurant Cooks
$17/hr
Median Salary
6499
Job Openings
+24%
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Monitoring
- Coordination
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Time Management
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
$18/hr
Median Salary
5906
Job Openings
+14%
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Speaking
- Coordination
- Monitoring
- Service Orientation
- Active Listening
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Instructing
- Social Perceptiveness
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
All jobs data gathered for Dallas/Fort Worth. Source: Dallas College Labor Market Intelligence and Lightcast4.
“The culinary program had a blend of professors, ranging from those with decades of experience in the industry to military backgrounds to science backgrounds. They had such a wealth of knowledge, which really translated for me into this deep knowledge for foods and flavors and science. If I had not pursued this education, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” Read Ngoc Trinh's story.
Dallas College School of Business, Hospitality and Global Trade Culinary Arts and Bakery/Pastry- Food Hospitality and Management Completion Rates by Cohort and Academic Year Completion
| CIP: 12.0501 | CIP Description: Bakery and Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef | 2020-2021 # | 2020-2021 % | 2021-2022 # | 2021-2022 % | 2022-2023 # | 2022-2023 % | 2023-2024 # | 2023-2024 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Cohort- 80 | 3 | 3.8% | 72 | 8.8%2 | 133 | 16.3%3 | 17 | 21.3% | |
| 2021 Cohort- 76 | 2 | 2.6% | 92 | 11.8%2 | 183 | 23.7%3 | |||
| 2022 Cohort-122 | 0 | 0 | 133 | 10.7%3 |
| CIP: 12.0503 | CIP Description: Culinary Arts/Chef Training | 2020-2021 # | 2020-2021 % | 2021-2022 # | 2021-2022 % | 2022-2023 # | 2022-2023 % | 2023-2024 # | 2023-2024 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Cohort-3,321 | 47 | 1.4% | 802 | 2.4%2 | 973 | 2.9%3 | 115 | 3.5% | |
| 2021 Cohort- 150 | 5 | 3.3% | 112 | 7.3%2 | 243 | 16.0%3 | |||
| 2022 Cohort- 166 | 5 | 3.0% | 262 | 15.7%2 |
The cohorts include AAS, C1, and C2 programs selected as the primary student programs of study with a program begin date from August 01 through the academic year followed for completion of AAS, C1 and C2 awards within 1 year, 2 years, 3 years or 4 years based on the cohort completion up to end of 2023-24 academic year.
| Program | Outcome Measures | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culinary Arts | Job Placement Rate | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| ACF Entry Level Certification Rate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bakery/Pastry | Job Placement Rate | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| ACF Entry Level Certification Rate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Food and Hospitality Management | Job Placement Rate | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Hugs Training Academy
Hugs Training Academy provides adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities entry-level skills and training to prepare them to enter the workforce in the culinary and hospitality industries.
The term “Hugs” represents Hugs Café Inc. beliefs: Hope. Understanding. Grace. Success.
This non-profit social enterprise located in McKinney, TX has partnered with Dallas College to provide meaningful training to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities preparing them for the opportunity to obtain competitively paid employment. Hugs Cafe Inc is a non-profit social enterprise in McKinney, Texas dedicated to providing meaningful training and competitively paid employment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is our passion to offer a place of hope, understanding, grace, and success to each individual so they may be recognized for their abilities and talents in the community.
Fill out the Hugs Training Academy Application below to schedule your in-person assessment and student interview to begin the process.
Find Out More About Culinary and Pastry Arts
Sign up to receive additional information about Culinary and Pastry Arts or call 972-669-6400.
School of Business, Hospitality and Global Trade
- 972-860-8912
- PathwaySuccess@DallasCollege.edu
Dallas College
- 972-669-6400
- Text College to 214-978-6457
- StudentHelp@DallasCollege.edu
1Length of time is based on catalog degree plans. Prerequisites may be required, which are not included in this estimate. For most programs, full-time student status is assumed, a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.
2Cost is based on tuition rates for program hours for Dallas County residents. The price of most required learning materials (books, software, supplies, etc.) is included with the price of tuition. Visit our Paying for College site to learn more about cost, financial aid, scholarships and more.
3Each location offers a unique combination of certificate and degree options. Not all degree and certificate offerings are available for admission/start at all campuses every semester.
4A portion of Lightcast’s data comes from O*NET Online by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Lightcast has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.