2027 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Rocky Mountains 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 76 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for personal & culinary services students.
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2027 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
For return on investment in personal & culinary services, no school beat Eastern Wyoming College this year. Set in the town of Torrington, Eastern Wyoming College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,290 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,690 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Eastern Wyoming College generally make around $24,995. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Utah Valley University one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Students borrow a median of $16,478 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $27,056. That is a strong return on a $16,478 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Snow College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Snow College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Ephraim. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,338, compared with $14,288 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,440 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $42,776. Set against $10,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pikes Peak Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Pikes Peak Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Colorado Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,510, while out-of-state students pay about $17,110. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $16,066. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Pikes Peak Community College generally make around $41,037. That is a strong return on a $16,066 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Southern Idaho earned it the #5 place for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,360 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,840. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,175 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of College Of Southern Idaho earn a median of $39,099 early in their careers. Set against $11,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Colorado Mountain College landed the #6 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Glenwood Springs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,616, with out-of-state students paying around $12,840. Students borrow a median of $12,953 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Colorado Mountain College generally make around $48,694. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Salt Lake Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,426, while out-of-state students pay about $14,244. Students borrow a median of $10,855 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $31,788. Set against $10,855 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trinidad State Junior College came in at #8 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Trinidad. In-state tuition and fees average $4,608, while out-of-state students pay about $7,318. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,502. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Trinidad State Junior College generally make around $53,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar Community College came in at #9 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Lamar, Lamar Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,550 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,260. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,300. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Lamar Community College generally make around $25,669. Set against $9,300 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arapahoe Community College placed #10 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,434, while out-of-state students pay about $17,034. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $22,675 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Arapahoe Community College generally make around $50,953. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Helena College University Of Montana ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Helena, Helena College University Of Montana is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,106 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,278. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $19,906. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Helena College University Of Montana generally make around $47,160. That is a strong return on a $19,906 median debt.
Delta Montrose Technical College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the rural area of Delta, Delta Montrose Technical College is a small public institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $6,850. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,125. That is a strong return on a $6,850 median debt.
Idaho State University earned the #13 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,610, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,420. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Ogden Weber Technical College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Ogden Weber Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Ogden. Students borrow a median of $8,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $14,030. That is a strong return on a $8,833 median debt.
Central Wyoming College landed the #15 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Central Wyoming College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Riverton. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,100. Students borrow a median of $12,820 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $65,164. That is a strong return on a $12,820 median debt.
Otero Junior College placed #16 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Otero Junior College is a small public school located in the town of La Junta. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $7,270. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $21,759. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $66,338. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colorado Northwestern Community College landed the #17 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the rural area of Rangely, Colorado Northwestern Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,594, with out-of-state students paying around $7,304. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $18,127 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Colorado Northwestern Community College earn a median of $56,978 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeastern Junior College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Northeastern Junior College is a small public school located in the town of Sterling. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,730, with out-of-state students paying around $8,267. Students borrow a median of $8,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Northeastern Junior College earn a median of $22,488 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,500 median debt.
Pickens Technical College landed the #19 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Aurora, Pickens Technical College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,140, while out-of-state students pay about $9,250. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Pickens Technical College earn a median of $22,997 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Emily Griffith Technical College placed #20 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Denver, Emily Griffith Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,730 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Emily Griffith Technical College earn a median of $20,324 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,730 median debt.
Bridgerland Technical College placed #21 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Logan, Bridgerland Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Bridgerland Technical College generally make around $21,281. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pueblo Community College landed the #22 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,049, while out-of-state students pay about $17,649. Students borrow a median of $14,106 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Pueblo Community College earn a median of $12,890 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,106 median debt.
Mesa State College earned the #23 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, with out-of-state students paying around $25,124. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $22,310 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $43,617. That is a strong return on a $22,310 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Fort Collins came in at #24 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Loveland, Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Fort Collins is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,850. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Fort Collins earn a median of $20,746 early in their careers. Set against $7,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Evans Hairstyling College Cedar City ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the town of Cedar City, Evans Hairstyling College Cedar City is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $11,052.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for personal & culinary services this year:
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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 · 76 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 76 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.
