2027 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in New Jersey
[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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for personal & culinary services students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in New Jersey
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Our analysis ranked Middlesex County College the best value for a degree in personal & culinary services in New Jersey. Middlesex County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Edison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,764, compared with $7,356 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,514 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Middlesex County College generally make around $37,975. That is a strong return on a $9,514 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mercer County Community College earned it the #2 place for personal & culinary services. Mercer County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of West Windsor. Students from in state pay about $5,310 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,174. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Mercer County Community College earn a median of $45,389 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hudson County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Jersey City, Hudson County Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,384, compared with $9,248 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,900 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Hudson County Community College earn a median of $26,170 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,900 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Atlantic Cape Community College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the rural area of Mays Landing, Atlantic Cape Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,594, while out-of-state students pay about $8,350. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Atlantic Cape Community College generally make around $31,639. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Passaic County Community College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Paterson, Passaic County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,300 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,560. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,581. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Passaic County Community College generally make around $28,957. Set against $9,581 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brookdale Community College landed the #6 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,270 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,140. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Brookdale Community College earn a median of $37,374 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Union County Vocational Technical School came in at #7 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Scotch Plains, Union County Vocational Technical School is a small public institution. Median earnings reach $37,590 ten years out.
Robert Fiance Beauty Schools North Plainfield placed #8 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Robert Fiance Beauty Schools North Plainfield is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of North Plainfield. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $8,248. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Robert Fiance Beauty Schools North Plainfield earn a median of $22,676 early in their careers. Set against $8,248 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ocean County Vocational Technical School came in at #9 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Ocean County Vocational Technical School is a small public school located in the suburb of Toms River. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,292.
P B Cosmetology Education Center earned the #10 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Gloucester, P B Cosmetology Education Center is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,667 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of P B Cosmetology Education Center earn a median of $16,387 early in their careers. Set against $7,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rizzieri Aveda School For Beauty And Wellness earned the #11 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Voorhees, Rizzieri Aveda School For Beauty And Wellness is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $6,333 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Rizzieri Aveda School For Beauty And Wellness earn a median of $16,954 early in their careers. Set against $6,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Total Image Beauty Academy earned the #12 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Total Image Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Union City. Students borrow a median of $8,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Total Image Beauty Academy earn a median of $12,507 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,500 median debt.
Artistic Academy Of Hair Design placed #13 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Morris Plains, Artistic Academy Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Artistic Academy Of Hair Design generally make around $17,274. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Empire Beauty School Bloomfield earned the #14 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Bloomfield, Empire Beauty School Bloomfield is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,765 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Bloomfield earn a median of $18,408 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Empire Beauty School Union landed the #15 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Empire Beauty School Union is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Union. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $15,765. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Empire Beauty School Union generally make around $18,408. That is a strong return on a $15,765 median debt.
Atlantic Beauty And Spa Academy Llc came in at #16 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Atlantic Beauty And Spa Academy Llc is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Egg Harbor Township. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Atlantic Beauty And Spa Academy Llc generally make around $18,284. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Empire Beauty School Cherry Hill earned the #17 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Cherry Hill, Empire Beauty School Cherry Hill is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $14,492. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Cherry Hill earn a median of $16,251 early in their careers. Set against $14,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Robert Fiance Beauty Schools West New York earned the #18 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Robert Fiance Beauty Schools West New York is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of West New York. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,428 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $14,650. Set against $8,428 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Innovate Salon Academy Ewing came in at #19 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Innovate Salon Academy Ewing is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Ewing. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,667. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $16,420.
Monmouth County Vocational School District ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Freehold, Monmouth County Vocational School District is a small public university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,168. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $11,531. That is a strong return on a $10,168 median debt.
Innovate Salon Academy Brick Township Nj placed #21 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Brick Township, Innovate Salon Academy Brick Township Nj is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,667. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $16,420.
Eastwick College Hackensack landed the #22 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Eastwick College Hackensack is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hackensack. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,075. Students borrow a median of $22,522 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Eastwick College Hackensack earn a median of $37,108 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cutting Edge Academy earned the #23 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Succasunna, Cutting Edge Academy is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Cutting Edge Academy generally make around $19,411.
Parisian Beauty School earned the #24 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Hackensack, Parisian Beauty School is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,083. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Parisian Beauty School earn a median of $15,517 early in their careers. Set against $9,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Innovate Salon Academy placed #25 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Innovate Salon Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of South Plainfield. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,667. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $16,420.
More Personal & Culinary Services Rankings
View All Personal & Culinary Services Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.
