2027 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the New England Region
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 55 schools to find the best return on investment for personal & culinary services students.
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2027 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the New England Region
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 Holyoke Community College the best value for a degree in personal & culinary services in the New England Region. Located in the rural area of Holyoke, Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,988, with out-of-state students paying around $10,932. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,763. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $43,423. That is a strong return on a $9,763 median debt.
Bunker Hill Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,168, with out-of-state students paying around $11,112. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,893 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Bunker Hill Community College earn a median of $51,782 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,893 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Southern Maine Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of South Portland, Southern Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Students borrow a median of $13,869 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $41,328. Set against $13,869 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Capital Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,059. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $43,086 early in their careers. Set against $12,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Massasoit Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brockton. Students from in state pay about $5,376 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Students borrow a median of $10,894 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $42,938. Set against $10,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Shore Community College earned the #6 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Danvers, North Shore Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,352 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,920. Students borrow a median of $14,145 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $51,255. That is a strong return on a $14,145 median debt.
Eastern Maine Community College came in at #7 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Bangor, Eastern Maine Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Students borrow a median of $17,741 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Eastern Maine Community College earn a median of $52,263 early in their careers. Set against $17,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cape Cod Community College earned the #8 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Cape Cod Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of West Barnstable. Students from in state pay about $6,000 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,944 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,669 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Cape Cod Community College earn a median of $47,939 early in their careers. Set against $14,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Berkshire Community College placed #9 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the rural area of Pittsfield, Berkshire Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,712 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,328. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $16,167 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Berkshire Community College earn a median of $45,806 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeastern Technical Institute ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of South Easton, Southeastern Technical Institute is a small public university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,000. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $49,476. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Lakes Region Community College placed #11 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the town of Laconia, Lakes Region Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,720 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,970 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $51,182 ten years out.
Empire Beauty School Hooksett earned the #12 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Empire Beauty School Hooksett is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hooksett. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Empire Beauty School Hooksett generally make around $24,089. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Empire Beauty School Laconia landed the #13 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the town of Laconia, Empire Beauty School Laconia is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,833. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $24,089. That is a strong return on a $9,833 median debt.
Empire Beauty School Somersworth landed the #14 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the suburb of Somersworth, Empire Beauty School Somersworth is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Somersworth earn a median of $20,596 early in their careers.
Academy Di Capelli School Of Cosmetology landed the #15 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Wallingford, Academy Di Capelli School Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,666. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $19,955.
Oxford Academy Of Hair Design Inc came in at #16 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Seymour, Oxford Academy Of Hair Design Inc is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,851. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Oxford Academy Of Hair Design Inc earn a median of $16,963 early in their careers.
Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute landed the #17 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Lowell, Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,944. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute generally make around $17,058.
Boston University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $25,232. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $63,598. Set against $25,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Johnson And Wales University Online ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Providence, Johnson And Wales University Online is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,365. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,745 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Johnson And Wales University Online earn a median of $27,514 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,745 median debt. Johnson And Wales University Online admits about 91% of applicants.
Riccis Academy Of Cosmetology came in at #20 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Newtown, Riccis Academy Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Riccis Academy Of Cosmetology generally make around $21,621.
Keene Beauty Academy earned the #21 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Keene, Keene Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,966. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Keene Beauty Academy earn a median of $17,164 early in their careers.
International Institute Of Cosmetology earned the #22 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Wethersfield, International Institute Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,946. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $20,111.
Catherine Hinds Institute Of Esthetics placed #23 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Woburn, Catherine Hinds Institute Of Esthetics 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 $26,234.
Charles H Mccann Technical School ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Charles H Mccann Technical School is a small public school located in the rural area of North Adams. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Charles H Mccann Technical School earn a median of $54,802 early in their careers.
New England Hair Academy came in at #25 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Malden, New England Hair Academy is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $8,083 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,390.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in personal & culinary services:
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Notes and References
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 · 55 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 55 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.
