by our College Data Analytics Team
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 221 schools to find the best return on investment for personal & culinary services students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the personal & culinary services degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in personal & culinary services, no school beat Joliet Junior College this year. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, 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. Set against $16,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lake Land College earned it the #2 place for personal & culinary services. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,415, with out-of-state students paying around $14,301. Students borrow a median of $5,163 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $14,297 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,163 median debt.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #3 spot 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, while out-of-state students pay about $10,044. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,145. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $36,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Cuyahoga Community College District one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,636 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $39,394 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,636 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,144, 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. Set against $14,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Richland Community College earned the #6 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Richland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Decatur. Students from in state pay about $4,680 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,070 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,562 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $46,233. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Schoolcraft College earned the #7 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,799, while out-of-state students pay about $6,501. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $15,750. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $27,248. Set against $15,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Moraine Valley Community College placed #8 among the best values for personal & culinary services. 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. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $43,844. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College came in at #9 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,727. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lincoln Land Community College earned the #10 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,744, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,272. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $43,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Macomb Community College placed #11 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Macomb Community College generally make around $20,701. Set against $9,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lorain County Community College placed #12 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Lorain County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Elyria. Students from in state pay about $4,265 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,860 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Lorain County Community College earn a median of $40,095 early in their careers. Set against $17,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage landed the #13 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $26,952 early in their careers. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Carl Sandburg College landed the #14 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Galesburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,390, with out-of-state students paying around $8,900. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $8,604. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $48,534. That is a strong return on a $8,604 median debt.
Northwestern Michigan College placed #15 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Traverse City, Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,860, with out-of-state students paying around $13,476. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $14,199. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $26,586. That is a strong return on a $14,199 median debt.
College Of Lake County placed #16 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,785. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Danville Area Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the town of Danville, Danville Area Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,440 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,440. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,470. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Danville Area Community College generally make around $36,123. That is a strong return on a $9,470 median debt.
Henry Ford Community College came in at #18 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,144 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $36,247. That is a strong return on a $19,144 median debt.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College placed #19 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,926, with out-of-state students paying around $7,169. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,294. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Mchenry County College earned the #20 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,162, while out-of-state students pay about $14,399. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,440. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. That is a strong return on a $7,440 median debt.
Sinclair Community College earned the #21 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,834 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $28,037. Set against $15,834 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grand Rapids Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Grand Rapids Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $4,179, compared with $12,219 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,625 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of $26,052 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kaskaskia College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,570. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,875. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Kaskaskia College generally make around $45,658. That is a strong return on a $7,875 median debt.
Oakland Community College placed #24 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $5,560. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,865 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $43,205. Set against $15,865 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Milwaukee Area Technical College placed #25 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,943 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $23,954. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
These schools also delivered strong value for personal & culinary services this year:
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 · 221 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 221 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.