Finding the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services School for You
The personal & culinary services program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built 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.
Read more about our methodology
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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.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the personal & culinary services degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Leading the list is Suffolk County Community College, our #1 best value for personal & culinary services in the United States. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Georgia Technical College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,992, with out-of-state students paying around $7,202. Students borrow a median of $10,423 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $20,501. That is a strong return on a $10,423 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at El Centro College earned it the #3 place for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. That is a strong return on a $9,218 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Pensacola State College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Pensacola State College is a large public school located in the city of Pensacola. Students from in state pay about $2,361 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,463 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $23,911. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Skyline College earned it the #5 place for personal & culinary services. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,702.
Golden West College placed #6 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,380, compared with $11,628 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $82,984. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt.
Florida State College At Jacksonville earned the #7 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Students borrow a median of $13,577 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $29,668. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clover Park Technical College came in at #8 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lakewood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,634. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $19,389. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #9 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,318, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $14,692. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan Community College Area came in at #10 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,375, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $45,583. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College landed the #11 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,480 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,048. Students borrow a median of $10,864 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. 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.
Wilkes Community College placed #12 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,572, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,125. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Wilkes Community College earn a median of $36,341 early in their careers. Set against $9,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grossmont College placed #13 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,628 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $40,309 ten years out.
College Of The Mainland ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,711. 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.
College Of San Mateo landed the #15 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,428. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,831. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. Set against $12,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Piedmont Community College landed the #16 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $27,127. That is a strong return on a $11,861 median debt.
College Of The Canyons came in at #17 for value in personal & culinary services this year. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Crescent Technical College earned the #18 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,516, while out-of-state students pay about $6,084. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $17,619. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $45,062. That is a strong return on a $17,619 median debt.
Lake Land College placed #19 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,163. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $14,239. Set against $5,163 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College placed #20 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $5,868. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,492 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Georgia Northwestern Technical College earn a median of $41,229 early in their careers. Set against $8,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Regional Technical College placed #21 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,007, compared with $5,575 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,086 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Southern Regional Technical College generally make around $15,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fayetteville Technical Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,772. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $6,987. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $48,022 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kapiolani Community College came in at #23 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Honolulu, Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,284, with out-of-state students paying around $8,420. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,087 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Kapiolani Community College generally make around $26,882. That is a strong return on a $10,087 median debt.
Central Carolina Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,711, compared with $8,855 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,167 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Central Carolina Community College earn a median of $24,101 early in their careers. Set against $12,167 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Moraine Valley Community College came in at #25 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,149. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $43,844. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in personal & culinary services:
Narrow Personal & Culinary Services Schools by Region
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 2058 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 120 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
