[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1558 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for personal & culinary services students.
Finding the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services School for You
The right personal & culinary services school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
For return on investment in personal & culinary services, no school beat El Centro College this year. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,218. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $31,127 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Georgia Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,992, while out-of-state students pay about $7,202. Students borrow a median of $10,423 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from South Georgia Technical College generally make around $20,501. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Joliet Junior College, which ranked #3. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,375 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $28,252. Set against $16,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Skyline College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
Pensacola State College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,361, compared with $9,463 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Pensacola State College generally make around $23,911. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trident Technical College landed the #6 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. In-state tuition and fees average $4,546, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $15,000. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $50,166 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
College Of San Mateo earned the #7 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,428 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Mainland came in at #8 for value in personal & culinary services this year. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,310, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Students borrow a median of $5,711 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from College Of The Mainland generally make around $18,495. Set against $5,711 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suffolk County Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,246. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. Set against $11,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State College At Jacksonville landed the #10 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,577 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $29,668. Set against $13,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College landed the #11 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,480, with out-of-state students paying around $6,048. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,864. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College generally make around $19,659. Set against $10,864 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indian River State College earned the #12 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. Students from in state pay about $2,764 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,540. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $18,411. Set against $9,540 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College earned the #13 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,838, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Students borrow a median of $10,882 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $31,101 early in their careers. Set against $10,882 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Piedmont Community College landed the #14 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $27,127. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wilkes Community College placed #15 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,572, while out-of-state students pay about $8,716. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,125 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $36,341. Set against $9,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Middlesex County College came in at #16 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,764 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,356. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,514 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $37,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Monica College placed #17 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, compared with $10,708 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,193.
Lake Land College placed #18 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,415, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,163 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $14,297. That is a strong return on a $5,163 median debt.
Oxnard College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,517, while out-of-state students pay about $10,044. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,145 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $36,330. Set against $12,145 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #21 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,636 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $39,394. Set against $14,636 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College earned the #22 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,144 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,094. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $14,382. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Kalamazoo Valley Community College generally make around $26,843. That is a strong return on a $14,382 median debt.
Chattahoochee Technical College landed the #23 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540, while out-of-state students pay about $6,108. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $16,767 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Hillsborough Community College earned the #24 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Students from in state pay about $2,491 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $19,657 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $29,451. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Regional Technical College landed the #25 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,007, while out-of-state students pay about $5,575. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,086. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,168. That is a strong return on a $9,086 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in personal & culinary services:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 1558 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1,558 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
