[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong personal & culinary services education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 272 schools to find the best return on investment for personal & culinary services students.
El Centro College earned the #1 spot for value among personal & culinary services schools in the United States. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,218 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $31,770. That is a strong return on a $9,218 median debt.
Joliet Junior College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $16,375. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $28,252. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,861. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $27,127. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Suffolk County Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,246. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. 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 Eastern Wyoming College, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Torrington, Eastern Wyoming College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,290 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,690. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Eastern Wyoming College earn a median of $24,995 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,690 median debt.
Middlesex County College came in at #6 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,764 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,356. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,514 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Middlesex County College earn a median of $37,975 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,514 median debt.
Trident Technical College earned the #7 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. 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. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College placed #8 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,144, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Set against $14,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earned the #9 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,517, with out-of-state students paying around $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.
Wilkes Community College earned the #10 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,572 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,125. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $36,341. Set against $9,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Monica College earned the #11 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, compared with $10,708 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $42,193 ten years out.
Schoolcraft College earned the #12 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,799 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,501. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Schoolcraft College earn a median of $27,248 early in their careers. Set against $15,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuyahoga Community College District landed the #13 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,636 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $39,394. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cerritos College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $13,133. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Miami Dade College landed the #15 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,882 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $31,101. That is a strong return on a $10,882 median debt.
Metropolitan Community College Area placed #16 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,799. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $45,583. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt.
College Of The Sequoias ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $37,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Golden West College placed #18 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, while out-of-state students pay about $11,628. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $21,500. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $82,984. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kapiolani Community College came in at #19 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Honolulu, Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,284 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,420 for out-of-state students. 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.
College Of The Canyons came in at #20 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. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,776. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
Austin Community College District placed #21 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,519 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $44,895. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Spokane Community College came in at #22 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,461 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Students borrow a median of $7,980 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Spokane Community College generally make around $19,122. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College placed #23 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,252, while out-of-state students pay about $8,132. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,858 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $35,562. Set against $7,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Joaquin Delta College came in at #24 for value in personal & culinary services this year. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $6,382. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from San Joaquin Delta College generally make around $65,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moraine Valley Community College landed the #25 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,822, compared with $9,846 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $43,844. That is a strong return on a $11,149 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:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 272 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 272 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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong personal & culinary services education at a price that pays off.
