Pastry Chef Schools in Missouri

by Faith Montgomery

Students searching for pastry chef schools in Missouri will have four different colleges to choose from. And compared to other states, the programs are extremely versatile – offering both Certificate and Associate degree programs. Located in the major cities of Ferguson, St. Louis, Springfield, St. Peters and Wildwood (to name a few) these colleges have flexible day and night classes designed to accommodate your busy schedule. And because of the wide range of settings and curriculums to choose from, students can easily find a campus that suits their personal and financial needs. In fact, once you graduate from one of these programs, it will be easier to be hired as an entry level pastry chef – opening the doors for many new opportunities in the future.

The most popular choices for students are St. Louis Community College and Ozarks Technical Community College. These colleges are composed of multiple locations throughout Missouri, making finding a local certificate or degree program extremely simple. But that isn’t where the advantages end! Tuition is extremely affordable, falling between $86 and $88 per credit hour for In-District students. However, there is one aspect that should be considered before applying and enrolling on a particular institution. For students who prefer to become a pastry chef by pursuing the culinary arts with specialized classes, Ozarks Technical would be the best option. But if you prefer a program that caters specifically to the pastry arts niche, St. Louis is the perfect solution for you.

For individuals who do not live In-District, tuition can be more expensive. Also, the curriculum, class times or syllabus could be an imperfect match. But this does not mean you should put your dreams of pastry creation on hold. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in St. Louis is a nationally recognized institution, with campuses located not only in Missouri – but can be found throughout the United States

However, all students should consider the level of employment when looking for pastry chef jobs after graduation. Currently, the availability of openings is anticipated to decrease by 2% by the year 2018. Also the average salary for entry level positions begins at $16,000 annually. This makes the market extremely competitive, and pastry chef pay slightly lower than the national average.

But don’t let this discourage you from your dreams of creating confectionary delights for restaurant and patisserie patrons to enjoy! The educational experience in Missouri is better than most states, with a larger selection of campuses and curriculums to choose from. So once you graduate, starting your career path will be significantly easier.

Missouri Pastry Chef Schools

Ferguson, Saint Louis, Wildwood
School Name: St. Louis Community College (4 campuses)
Florissant Valley Address: 3400 Pershall Road, Ferguson, MO 63135
Florissant Valley Contact: (314) 513-4200
Forest Park Address: 5600 Oakland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110
Forest Park Contact: (314) 644-9100
Meramec Address: 11333 Big Bend Road, St. Louis, MO 63122
Meramec Contact: (314) 984-7500
Wildwood Address: 2645 Generations Drive, Wildwood, MO 63040
Wildwood Contact: (636) 422-2000
Website: http://www.stlcc.edu/
Certificate in Baking and Pastry Arts
Associate in Applied Science in Hospitality Studies: Baking and Pastry Arts

Springfield
School Name: Ozarks Technical Community College
Address: 1001 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield, MO 65802
Contact: (417) 447-7500
Website: http://www.otc.edu/index.php
Baking Arts Certificate
Associate in Applied Science in the Culinary Arts

St. Peters
School Name: Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in St. Louis
Address: 7898 Veterans Memorial Parkway, St. Peters, MO 63376
Contact: (866) 951-7222
Website: http://www.chefs.edu/St-Louis
Certificate in Baking and Pastry Arts

More Info on Becoming a Pastry Chef