2027 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region
[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 222 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 the Southwest 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
El Centro College tops our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Students borrow a median of $9,218 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $31,127. That is a strong return on a $9,218 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Mainland earned it the #2 place for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,140. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,711. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from College Of The Mainland generally make around $18,495. That is a strong return on a $5,711 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Pima Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,442 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. Students borrow a median of $10,655 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $40,977 early in their careers. Set against $10,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Wharton County Junior College, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,192, while out-of-state students pay about $5,904. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Wharton County Junior College earn a median of $19,087 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lamar State College Orange earned it the #5 place for personal & culinary services. Set in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,832, compared with $13,824 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $18,506 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $45,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District came in at #6 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. Students from in state pay about $1,863 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,148 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $45,158 early in their careers. Set against $15,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $24,084 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midland College placed #8 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,180 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,000. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Midland College generally make around $43,454. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Austin Community College District placed #9 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,519 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,519 median debt.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #10 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $20,087. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar State College Port Arthur earned the #11 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Port Arthur, Lamar State College Port Arthur is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,770, while out-of-state students pay about $8,070. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $33,385. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Lamar State College Port Arthur earn a median of $78,580 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mclennan Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $5,910. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,776 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Mclennan Community College earn a median of $16,879 early in their careers. Set against $5,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Philips College came in at #13 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $15,653 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $45,185. That is a strong return on a $15,653 median debt.
Del Mar College earned the #14 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, with out-of-state students paying around $6,050. Students borrow a median of $7,476 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $13,099. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the town of Roswell, Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,256 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,616. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,110. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $21,129. That is a strong return on a $11,110 median debt.
Lee College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,520, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,941 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Lee College earn a median of $14,727 early in their careers. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trinity Valley Community College came in at #17 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Athens, Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,640, while out-of-state students pay about $5,970. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Trinity Valley Community College generally make around $11,544. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Palo Alto College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Palo Alto College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $9,430 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $29,062. Set against $9,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Arizona College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,250 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,635 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $48,826. That is a strong return on a $11,635 median debt.
El Paso Community College landed the #20 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $8,542. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grayson College earned the #21 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,000, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,627 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,598. Set against $11,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Howard College placed #22 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Howard College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Big Spring. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,766, with out-of-state students paying around $6,716. Students borrow a median of $14,242 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $13,529. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clovis Community College landed the #23 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the town of Clovis, Clovis Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,592, with out-of-state students paying around $3,344. Students borrow a median of $11,082 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Clovis Community College earn a median of $44,390 early in their careers. Set against $11,082 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kilgore College placed #24 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,160, compared with $5,256 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,500. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Kilgore College generally make around $15,957. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
North Central Texas College came in at #25 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, compared with $5,739 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $6,812 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $10,963. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s personal & culinary services value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 222 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 222 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.
