Welcome to our selection of the best culinary and pastry schools in Oregon.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage reported by chefs and sous chefs in Oregon was $58,160 as of May 2023, while bakers reportedly made $38,160 per year, on average, higher than the national average for this profession.
Salaries vary depending on experience, education, location, and industry of employment.
One way to improve your earning prospects is by completing a diploma or degree in culinary science or a related field.
The schools included in our list take between a few months and two years to complete and offer hands-on training, certificate programs, and associate degrees, preparing students for employment in restaurants, bakeries, and other dining establishments.
Before being ready for your first job as a chef, you have to learn a few skills, such as:
- Cooking techniques
- Checking ingredients
- Following safety and sanitation standards
- Planning menus
- Inspecting supplies
- Monitoring sanitation practices
- Ordering and maintaining an inventory of foods
- And more
As more restaurants and dining places are expected to open across the nation, employment for chefs and head cooks is projected to grow 7 percent by 2034.
Employment for bakers in the United States is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
If you’re passionate about food, we encourage you to read our list and find out more about the best Oregon schools that offer culinary and baking programs.
#1Cascade Culinary Institute
About the School
Located on the Central Oregon Community College campus, Cascade Culinary Institute hosts a state-of-the-art culinary facility.
The institute offers competency-based instruction in a nurturing environment, with an emphasis on sustainability.
Courses Offered
The following certificates and degrees are available:
- Associate of Applied Science Culinary Arts AAS Degree
- Baking & Pastry Arts AAS Degree
- Hospitality Management AAS Degree
- Culinary Arts Certificate
- Baking & Pastry Arts Certificate
- Hospitality Management Certificate
Culinary Arts students take classes such as:
- Introduction to Culinary Arts
- Food Safety and Sanitation
- Applied Math for Culinary Arts
- Culinary Foundations
- Modern Garde Manger
- Food Truck Operations
- Butchery
- Culinary Arts Capstone
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2600 N.W. College Way, Bend, Oregon 97703
- Phone: 541-383-7700
- Website: https://www.cocc.edu
#2Southwestern Oregon Community College
About the School
Southwestern Oregon Community College offers a Culinary program that gives students the opportunity to learn from certified chefs and instructors who have years of professional experience.
The programs can be completed in 18 months.
The following programs are available at the college:
- Culinary Arts- Associate of Applied Science and Certificates of Completion are available.
- Baking & Pastry Arts- Associate of Applied Science and Certificate of Completion options are available
- Culinary or Baking Management- Culinary Management and Baking and Pastry Arts Management
- After completing a year of coursework, Culinary and Baking students move to a six-month directed practice externship.
The Culinary Arts Certificate includes courses such as:
- Culinary Foundation
- Intro to Food and Beverage
- Sanitation & Safety for Managers
- Baking & Pastry for Culinary Arts
- International Cuisine
- Restaurant Service
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1988 Newmark Ave. Coos Bay, OR 97420
- Phone: 541-888-2525
- Website: https://www.socc.edu
#3Linn-Benton Community College
About the School
Linn-Benton Community College offers a comprehensive two-year Culinary Arts program.
The program is based on classical French, European, and Modern cuisines.
All students must be 18 or older to attend the Culinary Arts program.
Courses Offered
The Culinary Arts program includes the following courses:
- Intro to Culinary Arts
- Patisserie & Baking
- Menu Development & Tournament Cooking
- Foodservice Safety and Sanitation
- Stations, Tools, and Culinary Techniques
- Purchasing for Chefs
- Creating the Menu
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany, Oregon 97321
- Phone: 541-917-4999
- Website: https://www.linnbenton.edu
#4Oregon State University
Oregon State University offers a Nutrition in Foodservice, Culinary, and Food Systems program through its College of Health and Nutrition.
Courses Offered
The following tracks are available:
- Food Systems
- Culinary
The Food Systems track teaches students about the food system and how food and foodservice contribute to climate change, as well as demands for water and waste disposal.
Courses include topics such as:
- Preserving land
- Water and fisheries
- Policies and economics of changing our food systems
The Culinary track teaches students about food operations and preparing healthy, trendy foods that consumers demand.
Culinary students learn how to cook professionally, develop and modify recipes, write healthy menus, and perform other related skills.
Contact Information
- Address: 160 SW 26th St, Corvallis, OR 97331
- Phone: 541-737-8900
- Website: https://health.oregonstate.edu
#5POIC Employment & Training
About the School
POIC Employment & Training provides paid training, employment resources, and career coaching to get students where they want to go.
Paid internship and pre-apprenticeship programs prepare students to be part of a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Courses Offered
The Culinary + Hospitality Emergent Fellowship Academy program spans 12 weeks.
Students receive a $200/week stipend as they learn basic industry standards.
Admission requirements include being at least 18 years of age, holding a high school diploma/GED, or being actively engaged in a GED program.
Students earn the following certifications: CPR, First Aid, Oregon Food Handlers Card, & OLCC.
Contact Information
- Address: 458 SE 185th Avenue #117, Portland, OR 97233
- Phone: 503.797.7222
- Website: https://www.portlandoic.org
#6University of Oregon
About the School
The University of Oregon offers a Food Studies program that includes a broad interdisciplinary approach that spans the social sciences, the humanities, and the natural sciences.
The program was founded in 2013 and offers more than 30 courses to choose from.
Those with a Food Studies minor can pursue careers such as: food writers, environmental health specialists, food justice advocates, nutritional health coaches, and many other industries.
Courses Offered
The program includes the following courses:
- Introduction to Food Studies
- Introduction to Nutritional Anthropology or Principles of Nutrition
- Food in World History or Food Ethics
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1585 E. 13th Ave., Eugene, OR 97403
- Phone: 800-BE-A-DUCK
- Website: https://www.uoregon.edu
#7Oregon Coast Culinary Institute
About the School
Oregon Coast Culinary Institute offers superior culinary education that begins with hands-on training in state-of-the-art kitchens.
Students get to master culinary skills with certified chef instructors who help them every step of the way.
They learn basic knife skills to advanced Garde Manger training.
OCCI offers students hands-on opportunities to learn the latest culinary skills in a state-of-the-art facility.
The institute is part of the Southwestern Oregon Community College.
Degree programs are available in culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, and management.
The programs can be completed in 18 months.
Students receive hands-on training in professional kitchens.
Contact Information
- Address: 1988 Newmark Ave. Coos Bay, Oregon 97420
- Phone: 541-888-2525
- Website: https://visittheoregoncoast.com
#8Culinary Institute of America
About the School
The Culinary Institute of America offers a variety of online programs for students who are looking to upgrade their resumes and improve their career prospects.
The online degrees are designed for food industry professionals.
The bachelor’s program is delivered exclusively online.
Master’s programs that include short residencies at the school’s California and New York campuses are available.
The institute has a location in St. Helena.
The main building is the hub of activity at the CIA’s California campus that features:
- Viking teaching kitchens that feature a unique configuration of cooking technologies and workspaces
- Ghirardelli Chocolate Discovery Center- this is where the famous Greystone Chocolates are handcrafted from premium, single-source chocolate.
- Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies- a state-of-the-art wine education center that features sensory classrooms designed for analyzing wines and beverages
- Williams Center for Flavor Discovery- home to the Gatehouse Restaurant.
Courses Offered
The institute offers the following Associate Degrees:
- Baking and Pastry Arts- a 64-credit curriculum that includes training in a variety of topics, including breads, confectionery art, production of desserts, design, advanced baking principles, menus, and cafe savory foods
- Culinary Arts- a 64-credit curriculum that includes classic and contemporary cooking techniques, flavor and menu development, nutrition, wines, production cooking, and world cuisines.
The Bachelor’s Degree is designed for CIA Associate Graduates Only.
Students need to have at least four years of full-time, progressive work experience after graduating from the institute’s associate degree program.
This gives them the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree without interrupting their work schedule.
Students get comprehensive food-specific skills.
They explore topics such as economics, sustainability of food systems, and key principles of business leadership.
Up to 30 transfer credits from a college other than CIA can be applied to complete the degree even faster.
Contact Information
- Address: 2555 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574
- Phone: 800-CULINARY
- Website: https://www.ciachef.edu
#9Institute of Culinary Education
The Institute of Culinary Education in Los Angeles helps students launch their careers in culinary arts.
The campus features 38,000 square feet of space dedicated to learning, innovation, and creativity.
Courses Offered
The following diplomas and degrees are available at ICE Los Angeles:
- Diploma: Culinary Arts
- Diploma: Pastry & Baking Arts
- Diploma: Health- Centered Culinary Arts
- Diploma: Restaurant & Culinary Management
- Associate Degree: Culinary Arts
- Associate Degree: Pastry & Baking Arts
- Associate Degree: Health- Centered Culinary Arts
The Diploma in Culinary Arts trains students for a career in professional kitchens, completed among the palm trees.
ICE Los Angeles’ Culinary Arts program teaches the theory, practice, and art of cooking.
The curriculum includes courses in:
- Kitchen Essentials
- Poultry, Pork, and Lamb
- Veal, Beef, and Seafood
- Plating & Restaurant Simulation
- Pastry & Baking
- International Cuisine
- Externship
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 225 Liberty Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10281
- Phone: (888) 354-CHEF
- Website: https://www.ice.edu
#10Bauman College
About the School
Bauman College offers a Holistic Chef program that can be completed online.
The program helps students become professional holistic chefs in 12 months.
The online program teaches students to prepare fresh, nutritious, and delicious foods using sustainable ingredients and practices.
Courses Offered
The program combines professional culinary techniques with a nutrition-centered approach to food preparation- in addition to teaching the business skills they need to advance their careers.
The curriculum and culinary classes include entrepreneurial lessons that give students the tools to succeed as professional chefs.
The college offers its students the opportunity to work in a real-world environment in their home region and prepare them to enter the workforce after completing this program.
Contact Information
- Address: 5900 Doyle Street, Emeryville, CA 94608
- Phone: (800) 987-7530
- Website: https://baumancollege.org
Schools Summary Table
Culinary & Pastry Average Salary in Oregon
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$44K
|
|
|
$63K
|
|
|
$87K
|
Culinary & Pastry Salary by Metro Area in Oregon
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, OR | 40 | $59,550 | $28.63 | $85,140 | $38,100 |
| Bend, OR | 250 | $61,440 | $29.54 | $81,690 | $44,090 |
| Corvallis, OR | 80 | $57,530 | $27.66 | $83,610 | $43,320 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 270 | $57,400 | $27.60 | $72,790 | $42,790 |
| Grants Pass, OR | 50 | $63,090 | $30.33 | $87,910 | $43,570 |
| Medford, OR | 150 | $65,160 | $31.33 | $84,970 | $44,950 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,320 | $66,010 | $31.74 | $91,990 | $46,730 |
| Salem, OR | 240 | $61,030 | $29.34 | $82,140 | $43,660 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our selection of the best culinary and baking schools in Oregon, it’s time to choose the program that best suits you.
This is an important step, so take your time and make sure you choose a school that fits your budget and learning style.
