2027 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Colorado
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong personal & culinary services education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 28 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 Colorado
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 Pikes Peak Community College this year. 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, compared with $17,110 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Pikes Peak Community College earn a median of $41,037 early in their careers. Set against $16,066 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Colorado Mountain College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #2 spot 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, compared with $12,840 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,953 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Colorado Mountain College generally make around $48,694. That is a strong return on a $12,953 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Trinidad State Junior College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,608 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,318. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,502. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $53,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lamar Community College earned it the #4 place for personal & culinary services. Located in the town of Lamar, Lamar Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,550, compared with $7,260 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,300. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Lamar Community College earn a median of $25,669 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arapahoe Community College earned it the #5 place for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,434, compared with $17,034 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $22,675. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $50,953. That is a strong return on a $22,675 median debt.
Delta Montrose Technical College earned the #6 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. 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. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Delta Montrose Technical College generally make around $17,125. Set against $6,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Otero Junior College landed the #7 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the town of La Junta, Otero Junior College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $7,270. Students borrow a median of $21,759 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Otero Junior College generally make around $66,338. Set against $21,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pickens Technical College landed the #8 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, compared with $9,250 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,500. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $22,997. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Emily Griffith Technical College landed the #9 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Denver, Emily Griffith Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,730. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $20,324. Set against $9,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Colorado Northwestern Community College came in at #10 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the rural area of Rangely, Colorado Northwestern Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,594 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,304 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $18,127. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Colorado Northwestern Community College earn a median of $56,978 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,127 median debt.
Pueblo Community College earned the #11 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,049, while out-of-state students pay about $17,649. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,106 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Pueblo Community College generally make around $12,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeastern Junior College earned the #12 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Northeastern Junior College is a small public school located in the town of Sterling. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,730, compared with $8,267 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,500 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $22,488. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Fort Collins earned the #13 position 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. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,850 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Fort Collins generally make around $20,746. Set against $7,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mesa State College came in at #14 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $22,310. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $43,617. Set against $22,310 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Boulder came in at #15 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Boulder is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Boulder. Students borrow a median of $14,198 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $27,953. Set against $14,198 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The Salon Professional Academy Colorado Springs came in at #16 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, The Salon Professional Academy Colorado Springs is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from The Salon Professional Academy Colorado Springs generally make around $21,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Xenon International Academy Denver ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Aurora, Xenon International Academy Denver is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $8,885 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Xenon International Academy Denver earn a median of $19,903 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,885 median debt.
Stacey James Institute landed the #18 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Parker, Stacey James Institute is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Stacey James Institute generally make around $19,659.
Empire Beauty School Thornton ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Thornton, Empire Beauty School Thornton is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $14,492. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Thornton earn a median of $16,251 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Aveda Institute Denver earned the #20 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Denver, Aveda Institute Denver is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $26,636. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Empire Beauty School Littleton earned the #21 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Littleton, Empire Beauty School Littleton is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,667 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Empire Beauty School Littleton generally make around $15,322. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Empire Beauty School Aurora placed #22 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Aurora, Empire Beauty School Aurora is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,667. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Aurora earn a median of $15,322 early in their careers. Set against $10,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Intellitec College Grand Junction came in at #23 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Intellitec College Grand Junction is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $13,541 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Intellitec College Grand Junction earn a median of $18,804 early in their careers. Set against $13,541 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
International Salon And Spa Academy came in at #24 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, International Salon And Spa Academy is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $8,244 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from International Salon And Spa Academy generally make around $16,847. That is a strong return on a $8,244 median debt.
Paul Mitchell The School Colorado Springs came in at #25 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, Paul Mitchell The School Colorado Springs is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $12,822 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $20,417. Set against $12,822 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 28 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in personal & culinary services:
More Personal & Culinary Services Rankings
View All Personal & Culinary Services Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 28 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.
