Welcome to our selection of the best culinary and pastry schools in Wisconsin.
The schools included in our list offer hands-on training, certificate programs, and associate degrees, preparing students for careers as station chefs, sous chefs, pastry chefs, restaurant managers, catering managers, and other food service specialist roles.
The programs focus on teaching skills such as: food preparation, culinary safety and sanitation, baking principles, contemporary cuisine, and more.
During your training, you will also prepare for SafeServ and other industry-specific certifications.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage reported by chefs and sous chefs in Wisconsin was $60,570 as of May 2023, while bakers reportedly made $34,330 per year, on average.
As more food-serving establishments are expected to open in the future, the demand for high-quality dishes will also grow.
As a result, both professions are expected to grow in the future.
Employment for chefs and head cooks across the United States 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, also faster than the average for all occupations.
If you’re passionate about preparing delicious dishes and you want to turn this into a profession, we encourage you to read our selection.
#1Blackhawk Technical College
About the School
Blackhawk Technical College offers programs for graduating high school students, adult learners, or transfer students.
The Culinary Arts program available at the college leads to an Associate Degree and awards 63-64 credits.
The program is accredited by the American Culinary Federation.
The estimated total cost for this program is approximately $12,500.
Courses Offered
The following courses are included in this program:
- Food Science
- Food Service Sanitation
- Nutrition
- Culinary Supervision
- Culinary Internship
- Global Cuisine
- Advanced Cuisine
- Contemporary Cuisine
- And more
The college also offers a Culinary Production Line Cook and an Allergen Baker program.
The 24-credit Culinary Production Line Cook program prepares students for careers as Line Cooks, Prep Cooks, and Broiler Chefs.
Tuition for this program is approximately $4,770.
The Allergen Baker program is designed for students who want to start a career in baking and meet the growing demand for allergen-free foods.
Contact Information
- Address: 6004 S County Road G, Janesville, WI 53546
- Phone: (608) 758-6900
- Website: https://www.blackhawk.edu
#2Fox Valley Technical College
About the School
Fox Valley Technical College offers high-tech occupational training for today’s workplace to help students sharpen job skills.
Students have 200 programs to choose from.
Courses Offered
The following Culinary, Baking, & Hospitality programs are available at the college:
- Baking & Pastry Management- AAS
- Baking & Pastry Production- TD
- Culinary Apprenticeship- A
- Culinary Arts AAS
- Food Service Production TD
- Hospitality Specialist- TD
- Meat Processing Specialist- C
- And more
Program duration and cost vary depending on the type of credential you want to obtain.
The Baking & Pastry Production program leads to a Technical Diploma and awards 27 credits.
The estimated cost for this program is around $6,100.
Program outcomes include:
- Apply baking principles
- Apply principles of nutrition
- Apply principles of safety and sanitation
- Demonstrate baking practices
Contact Information
- Address: 1825 N. Bluemound Drive, Appleton, WI 54914-1643
- Phone: 800-735-FVTC (3882)
- Website: https://www.fvtc.edu
#3Lakeshore College
About the School
Lakeshore College offers a Culinary Arts program that is available for those who are passionate about creative cooking.
Students train in a state-of-the-art facility, custom-designed for educational purposes.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the college:
- Culinary Technical Diploma
- Culinary & Baking Basics Technical Diploma
- Culinary Arts Associate Degree
Students take classes such as:
- Culinary Math
- Dining Room and Beverage Service
- Introduction to Baking and Pastry
- Product Identification and Purchasing
- Cooking Methods
- Garde Manger
- Introduction to Stocks, Soups, and Sauces
- Advanced Patisserie and Desserts
- Principles of Sustainability
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1290 North Avenue, Cleveland, WI 53015
- Phone: 888.468.6582
- Website: https://lakeshore.edu
#4Nicolet College
About the School
Nicolet College offers a Culinary program that emphasizes hands-on learning and provides a true culinary management experience with the student-run Top of the Hill restaurant.
The following culinary programs are available:
- Baking Technical Certificate
- Catering Technical Certificate
- Culinary Arts Associate of Applied Science
- Culinary Assistant Technical Diploma
- Kitchen Assistant Technical Certificate
- And more
The Culinary Arts program outline includes the following courses:
- Culinary Math
- Sanitation and Safety Basics
- Culinary Principles
- Garde Manger Basics
- Nutrition
- Catering
- Advanced Professional Cooking
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 5364 College Drive, Rhinelander, WI 54501
- Phone: 715.365.4410 or 800.544.3039
- Website: https://www.nicoletcollege.edu
#5Waukesha County Technical College
About the School
Waukesha County Technical College offers a Culinary Management program that includes 61 credits.
The program can be completed in two years.
Students devote 1,000-plus lab hours to learn the latest culinary techniques and trends, and gain practical, hands-on experience in meal planning, preparation, preservation, and serving at the on-campus training restaurants.
Courses Offered
The program includes the following courses:
- Restaurant Operation Management
- Hospitality Law & Liability
- Principles of Food Preparation
- Restaurant Cuisine
- International and Regional Cuisine
- Baking for Culinary Arts
- And more
Learning outcomes include:
- Apply principles of safety and sanitation in food service operations
- Apply principles of nutrition
- Demonstrate culinary skills
- Plan menus
- Analyze culinary financial information
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 800 Main Street, Pewaukee, WI 53072
- Phone: 262.691.5566
- Website: https://www.wctc.edu
#6Northcentral Technical College
About the School
Northcentral Technical College offers a Culinary Arts program for learners who are passionate about food.
Students have the opportunity to practice and apply skills learned in cooking methods, baking, sanitation, menu planning, nutrition, fine dining, cost control, and more.
The approximate program cost is $15,330.
Graduates are able to:
- Apply principles of nutrition
- Demonstrate culinary skills
- Plan menus
- Relate food service operations to sustainability
- Apply principles of safety and sanitation in food service operations
- And more
The program includes 62 credits and courses such as:
- Sanitation for Food Service Operations
- Culinary Fundamentals
- Breakfast Cuisine
- Mid-Day Meals
- Nutrition
- Soup & Stock Production
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1000 W. Campus Dr., Wausau, WI 54401
- Phone: 715.675.3331
- Website: https://www.ntc.edu
#7Gateway Technical College
About the School
Gateway Technical College offers several Hospitality and Culinary Arts programs, including:
- Culinary Assistant
- Culinary Arts
- Baking and Pastry Arts
- Basic Cooking Skills
The Culinary Assistant program leads to a technical diploma and gives hands-on training in knife handling, baking, food preparation techniques, and short-order deli skills.
Students learn in state-of-the-art facilities in Racine and Elkhorn.
They can have the opportunity to earn a certificate in Basic Cooking Skills or Baking and Pastry Arts as they work toward their diploma.
Tuition and fees for this program sum up to approximately $6,100.
Books and supplies cost roughly an additional $2,400.
Contact Information
- Address: 3520 – 30th Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53144
- Phone: 800-247-7122
- Website: https://www.gtc.edu
#8Chippewa Valley Technical College
About the School
Chippewa Valley Technical College offers a Culinary Management program that includes 60 credits and leads to an Associate Degree.
The program is available in Eau Claire and starts in August.
The estimated total cost for this program is approximately $15,300.
Courses Offered
The two-year program teaches students about:
- Budgeting & Forecasting
- Culinary Arts
- Customer Service
- Food & Beverage Operations
- Management
- Menu Planning
- Nutrition
- Sanitation & Safety
- And more
A Baking and Pastry Program is also available at the college and teaches:
- Basic bakeshop fundamental techniques
- How to manage a bakery
- Advanced bakeshop techniques
- Banque and catering services
- Retail concepts
Contact Information
- Address: 620 W. Clairemont Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701
- Phone: 715-833-6300
- Website: https://www.cvtc.edu
#9Institute of Culinary Education
About the School
The Institute of Culinary Education helps students launch their careers in culinary arts by offering classes in New York, Los Angeles, and online.
The campus features 38,000 square feet of space dedicated to learning, innovation, and creativity.
Courses Offered
The following diplomas and degrees are available online:
- Culinary Arts and Food Operations
- Health-Centered Culinary Arts & Food Operations
- Baking and Pastry Arts & Food Operations
- Restaurant & Culinary Management
- Associate Degree: Culinary Arts & Food Operations
- Associate Degree: Baking and Pastry Arts & Food Operations
- And more
The Culinary Arts and Food Operations program provides students with comprehensive and convenient online culinary school training.
The 900-hour intensive culinary school curriculum explores the theory, science, technique, plate development, and culinary business fundamentals.
The Health-Centered Culinary Arts & Food Operations program provides training in the techniques and art of cooking with a focus on plant-forward cooking, whole foods, and sustainability.
Contact Information
- Address: 225 Liberty Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10281
- Phone: (888) 354-CHEF
- Website: https://www.ice.edu
#10Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
An online program is also provided by Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, a school that offers a business-focused curriculum with programs that may include topics in business and entrepreneurship.
Financial aid is available for students who qualify.
Courses Offered
The following paths are available:
- Culinary Arts
- Plant-Based Culinary Arts
- Baking & Pastry Arts
- Holistic Nutrition & Wellness
- Food Entrepreneurship
- Hospitality & Restaurant Operations Management
Escoffier offers an online Diploma in Culinary Arts and Operations and an Associate of Occupational Studies Degree in Culinary Arts.
The programs provide students with a basic understanding of culinary techniques and practical business skills that can set them apart from their peers.
Students can complete their training in 60 weeks.
The online culinary arts programs are designed to work with students’ schedules.
An online diploma in Professional Pastry Arts and an Associate of Occupational Studies degree in Baking & Pastry are also available.
Students enrolled in the Professional Pastry Arts program take classes such as:
- Fundamentals of Baking and Pastry
- Menu Design and Management
- Contemporary Pastry Arts
- Foundations of Bread
- Foodservice Management
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 637 South Broadway, Suite H, Boulder, CO 80305
- Phone: 877-249-0305
- Website: https://www.escoffier.edu
Schools Summary Table
Culinary & Pastry Average Salary in Wisconsin
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$32K
|
|
|
$62K
|
|
|
$90K
|
Culinary & Pastry Salary by Metro Area in Wisconsin
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | 60 | $58,290 | $28.02 | $82,040 | $28,250 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 50 | $61,980 | $29.80 | $82,620 | $27,690 |
| Green Bay, WI | 150 | $57,430 | $27.61 | $80,740 | $30,570 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | 40 | $62,470 | $30.04 | $80,790 | $45,410 |
| Kenosha, WI | 50 | $60,620 | $29.14 | $82,070 | $31,070 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 50 | $59,560 | $28.64 | $81,620 | $41,060 |
| Madison, WI | 360 | $63,730 | $30.64 | $84,990 | $39,500 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 640 | $67,020 | $32.22 | $91,860 | $43,670 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 50 | $61,770 | $29.70 | $76,100 | $37,760 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | 50 | $61,820 | $29.72 | $81,330 | $30,790 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 40 | $62,490 | $30.04 | $84,680 | $38,440 |
| Wausau, WI | 40 | $64,480 | $31.00 | $80,780 | $44,140 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
If you’re passionate about food and you want to start a career in a restaurant, the schools included in our list of the best cooking and baking schools can help you land your first job in the field.
Now that you have read our selection of the best culinary and baking schools in Wisconsin, it’s time to continue the research and apply for the program that best fits your learning style and career aspirations.
