by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 39 schools to find the best return on investment for personal & culinary services students.
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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 Sowela Technical Community College this year. Located in the city of Lake Charles, Sowela Technical Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,305. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,391. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $45,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Baton Rouge 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 Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,321. Students borrow a median of $17,624 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Baton Rouge Community College generally make around $43,394. That is a strong return on a $17,624 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Bossier Parish Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Bossier City, Bossier Parish Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,268. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $20,593 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Bossier Parish Community College earn a median of $43,661 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,593 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northshore Technical Community College earned it the #4 place for personal & culinary services. Set in the rural area of Lacombe, Northshore Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,299. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,815 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Northshore Technical Community College generally make around $31,601. Set against $14,815 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delgado Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Delgado Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,279. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $23,563 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Delgado Community College generally make around $15,278. Set against $23,563 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Louisiana Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Lafayette, South Louisiana Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,210. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,435 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of South Louisiana Community College earn a median of $38,854 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Nunez Community College placed #7 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Chalmette, Nunez Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,255. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Nunez Community College generally make around $40,200. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Nicholls State University came in at #8 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Thibodaux, Nicholls State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,149 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,242 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,063 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Nicholls State University generally make around $23,038. That is a strong return on a $26,063 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
John Jay Beauty College Kenner placed #9 among the best values for personal & culinary services. John Jay Beauty College Kenner is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Kenner. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $8,093. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,493. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Omega Institute Of Cosmetology landed the #10 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Houma, Omega Institute Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $5,250 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Omega Institute Of Cosmetology generally make around $12,524. That is a strong return on a $5,250 median debt.
Cloyds Beauty School 3 Inc came in at #11 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Monroe, Cloyds Beauty School 3 Inc is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Cloyds Beauty School 3 Inc earn a median of $15,184 early in their careers.
Northwest Louisiana Technical College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Northwest Louisiana Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Minden. In-state tuition and fees average $4,109. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,927. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Northwest Louisiana Technical College earn a median of $31,448 early in their careers. Set against $9,927 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pineville Beauty School ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the suburb of Pineville, Pineville Beauty School is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Pineville Beauty School earn a median of $18,093 early in their careers.
Cosmetology Training Center came in at #14 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Lafayette, Cosmetology Training Center is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $7,402 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Cosmetology Training Center earn a median of $14,052 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,402 median debt.
Cloyds Beauty School 1 Inc ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Cloyds Beauty School 1 Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of West Monroe. Graduates go on to earn a median of $18,603 ten years after entry.
Blue Cliff College Metairie came in at #16 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Blue Cliff College Metairie is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Metairie. Students borrow a median of $16,535 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Blue Cliff College Metairie earn a median of $15,719 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stage One The Hair School earned the #17 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Lake Charles, Stage One The Hair School is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Stage One The Hair School earn a median of $17,395 early in their careers. Set against $9,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Louisiana Beauty College earned the #18 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Houma, South Louisiana Beauty College is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $7,720 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from South Louisiana Beauty College generally make around $15,617. Set against $7,720 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Denham Springs Beauty School ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the suburb of Denham Springs, Denham Springs Beauty School is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $11,471. Set against $9,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Opelousas School Of Cosmetology ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the town of Opelousas, Opelousas School Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,797. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Opelousas School Of Cosmetology generally make around $12,711. That is a strong return on a $5,797 median debt.
My Les Beauty College Gretna earned the #21 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. My Les Beauty College Gretna is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Gretna. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of My Les Beauty College Gretna earn a median of $17,980 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Compass Career College came in at #22 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Compass Career College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hammond. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,458. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Compass Career College generally make around $12,318. That is a strong return on a $12,458 median debt.
Celebrity Stylist Beauty School came in at #23 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Celebrity Stylist Beauty School is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Monroe. Students borrow a median of $13,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Celebrity Stylist Beauty School earn a median of $14,178 early in their careers. Set against $13,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bos Mans Barber College landed the #24 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Shreveport, Bos Mans Barber College is a small private for-profit university. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Blue Cliff College Alexandria placed #25 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Alexandria, Blue Cliff College Alexandria is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $16,535. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,719. That is a strong return on a $16,535 median debt.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s personal & culinary services value ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 39 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.