2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Associate’s Degree Schools
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong personal & culinary services education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2058 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for personal & culinary services students.
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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
Our analysis ranked Suffolk County Community College the best value for a degree in personal & culinary services in the United States. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Golden West College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,380, compared with $11,628 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $21,500. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $82,984. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Central Piedmont Community College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,861. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $27,127. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Metropolitan Community College Area earned it the #4 place for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $45,583. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes El Centro College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Students borrow a median of $9,218 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $31,770 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,218 median debt.
Clover Park Technical College landed the #6 spot for personal & culinary services value 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.
Central New Mexico Community College placed #7 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,112. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $20,292. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kapiolani Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Honolulu, Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,284, while out-of-state students pay about $8,420. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,087 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Kapiolani Community College earn a median of $26,882 early in their careers. Set against $10,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Wyoming College placed #9 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the town of Torrington, Eastern Wyoming College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,290, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,690 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $24,995. That is a strong return on a $7,690 median debt.
Grossmont College landed the #10 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $10,628 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,309 ten years after entry.
Cerritos College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,306. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $13,133 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moraine Valley Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. 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, compared with $9,846 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,149. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $43,844. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Canyons came in at #13 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Carolina Community College placed #14 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sanford. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $24,101. That is a strong return on a $12,167 median debt.
Santa Monica College earned the #15 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $10,708. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,193 ten years after entry.
San Diego Mesa College came in at #16 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $29,852. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mt San Antonio College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,384. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,384 median debt.
Renton Technical College earned the #18 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Renton, Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,330, with out-of-state students paying around $7,768. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $18,582 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $80,411. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuyahoga Community College District earned the #19 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $14,636. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $39,394. That is a strong return on a $14,636 median debt.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College came in at #20 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,144, with out-of-state students paying around $9,094. Students borrow a median of $14,382 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Kalamazoo Valley Community College earn a median of $26,843 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,382 median debt.
Orange Coast College placed #21 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. In-state tuition and fees average $1,392, while out-of-state students pay about $11,640. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $46,306. That is a strong return on a $8,978 median debt.
Citrus College landed the #22 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Citrus College is a large public school located in the suburb of Glendora. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,204, while out-of-state students pay about $10,636. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,065 ten years after entry.
Sacramento City College came in at #23 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Students borrow a median of $13,180 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Sacramento City College earn a median of $18,184 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trident Technical College landed the #24 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,546 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. 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.
Pensacola State College placed #25 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Pensacola State College is a large public school located in the city of Pensacola. In-state tuition and fees average $2,361, compared with $9,463 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Pensacola State College earn a median of $23,911 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s personal & culinary services value ranking:
Other Personal & Culinary Services Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Personal & Culinary Services rankings across degree levels:
View All Personal & Culinary Services Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, 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 116 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.
