2027 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Tennessee
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 47 schools to find the best return on investment for personal & culinary services students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Tennessee
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
Pellissippi State Community College earned the #1 spot for value among personal & culinary services schools in Tennessee. Located in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,786, while out-of-state students pay about $17,770. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,951 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Pellissippi State Community College generally make around $43,816. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Nashville State Community College, which ranked #2. Nashville State Community College is a large public school located in the city of Nashville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,730, compared with $17,714 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $16,745. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Nashville State Community College earn a median of $41,456 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,745 median debt.
Walters State Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Morristown, Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,752, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,210 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Walters State Community College generally make around $35,866. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro is a small public institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,723 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro generally make around $22,176. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Austins Beauty College Inc came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Austins Beauty College Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Clarksville. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Austins Beauty College Inc earn a median of $20,977 early in their careers.
Tennessee School Of Beauty Of Knoxville Inc earned the #6 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Tennessee School Of Beauty Of Knoxville Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Knoxville. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,506.
Goulds Academy placed #7 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Goulds Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,149 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Goulds Academy earn a median of $20,194 early in their careers.
The Salon Professional Academy Nashville came in at #8 for value in personal & culinary services this year. The Salon Professional Academy Nashville is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,833. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $25,878.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Newbern landed the #9 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Newbern is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Newbern. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Newbern generally make around $12,140. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Love Beauty School Inc earned the #10 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Love Beauty School Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Manchester. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Love Beauty School Inc generally make around $11,442. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Career Beauty College came in at #11 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Lawrenceburg, Career Beauty College is a small private for-profit institution. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $25,089.
Jenny Lea Academy Of Cosmetology Johnson City landed the #12 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, Jenny Lea Academy Of Cosmetology Johnson City is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Jenny Lea Academy Of Cosmetology Johnson City generally make around $14,598. Set against $9,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Elizabethton placed #13 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Elizabethton, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Elizabethton is a mid-sized public university. Students borrow a median of $9,281 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Elizabethton earn a median of $29,309 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,281 median debt.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Paris placed #14 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the town of Paris, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Paris is a small public institution. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $14,797. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elite College Of Cosmetology landed the #15 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the town of Lexington, Elite College Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $6,500. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $13,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Harriman placed #16 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Harriman is a small public school located in the rural area of Harriman. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,601 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Harriman generally make around $19,479. That is a strong return on a $10,601 median debt.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Mcminnville ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Mcminnville is a small public school located in the town of McMinnville. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $40,469.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Crossville ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Crossville is a small public school located in the town of Crossville. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $6,398. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Crossville earn a median of $30,984 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald came in at #19 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the rural area of Hohenwald, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald is a mid-sized public university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $6,500. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,987. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Genesis Career College Cookeville ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the town of Cookeville, Genesis Career College Cookeville 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 Genesis Career College Cookeville generally make around $16,552. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Nashville ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Nashville is a small public institution. Students borrow a median of $9,300 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Nashville earn a median of $20,870 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,300 median debt.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson placed #22 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Dickson. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,000. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,956. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Empire Beauty School Nashville placed #23 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Brentwood, Empire Beauty School Nashville is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,583. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,679. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Memphis landed the #24 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Memphis is a mid-sized public university. Students borrow a median of $12,073 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Memphis earn a median of $18,312 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,073 median debt.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Livingston earned the #25 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the rural area of Livingston, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Livingston is a small public institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,704 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $22,330. Set against $5,704 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 47 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s personal & culinary services value ranking:
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. 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 · 47 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 47 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.
