2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
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
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Texas Womans University earned the #1 spot for value among personal & culinary services schools in the United States. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,640, with out-of-state students paying around $18,480. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $24,211 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Texas Womans University earn a median of $54,611 early in their careers. Set against $24,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #2 makes Universidad Del Este one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Carolina, Universidad Del Este is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,750. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,000. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Universidad Del Este generally make around $14,017. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Nicholls State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Thibodaux, Nicholls State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,149, with out-of-state students paying around $9,242. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $26,063 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $23,038. That is a strong return on a $26,063 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Students borrow a median of $23,648 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $52,829 early in their careers. Set against $23,648 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Suny College Of Technology At Canton came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the town of Canton, Suny College Of Technology At Canton is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,742, while out-of-state students pay about $15,769. Students borrow a median of $23,640 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Canton generally make around $46,515. Set against $23,640 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
National Louis University landed the #6 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $13,245 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $17,500. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $24,786 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #7 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $24,875 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $60,367. That is a strong return on a $24,875 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #8 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $33,688. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi placed #9 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the rural area of Delhi, Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,772, compared with $12,762 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,303 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Delhi earn a median of $20,213 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,303 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Central Oklahoma came in at #10 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,818, with out-of-state students paying around $19,704. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $27,143. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from University Of Central Oklahoma generally make around $45,804. Set against $27,143 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Point Park University came in at #11 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,570. Students borrow a median of $28,323 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Point Park University earn a median of $40,759 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Mid America College Of Funeral Service earned the #12 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Mid America College Of Funeral Service is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Jeffersonville. Students from in state pay about $19,000 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,203 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Mid America College Of Funeral Service generally make around $56,427. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Culinary Institute Of America came in at #13 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Hyde Park, Culinary Institute Of America is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,670. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $27,000. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $43,808. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Johnson And Wales University Providence placed #14 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Johnson And Wales University Providence is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,982. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Johnson And Wales University Providence earn a median of $32,775 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,499. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College generally make around $27,593. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Drexel University earned the #16 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $28,838 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $67,556. That is a strong return on a $28,838 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Other Personal & Culinary Services Degree Levels
Explore the best-value personal & culinary services schools at other degree levels:
View All Personal & Culinary Services Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 10 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.
