2027 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Texas
[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.
College Factual analyzed 144 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value personal & culinary services schools.
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2027 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
El Centro College tops our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools in Texas. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,218 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $31,127 early in their careers. 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. Located in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,140. Students borrow a median of $5,711 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of College Of The Mainland earn a median of $18,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,711 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Wharton County Junior College, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,192, compared with $5,904 for out-of-state students. 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. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Tarrant County College District, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $15,148. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $45,158 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,148 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Lamar State College Orange one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,832, while out-of-state students pay about $13,824. Students borrow a median of $18,506 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Lamar State College Orange generally make around $45,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Austin Community College District ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $44,895. Set against $14,519 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas College placed #7 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $6,868. 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 came in at #8 for value in personal & culinary services this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $6,180. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $43,454. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mclennan Community College landed the #9 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Mclennan Community College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $5,910. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,776. 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.
Lamar State College Port Arthur landed the #10 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Lamar State College Port Arthur is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Port Arthur. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,770, with out-of-state students paying around $8,070. Students borrow a median of $33,385 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Lamar State College Port Arthur generally make around $78,580. That is a strong return on a $33,385 median debt.
St Philips College landed the #11 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. St Philips College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,653 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $45,185. Set against $15,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lee College placed #12 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,520, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,941. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $14,727. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Del Mar College placed #13 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,500, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,476 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $13,099. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trinity Valley Community College earned the #14 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Athens, Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,640, with out-of-state students paying around $5,970. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $11,544. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grayson College earned the #15 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,000 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Grayson College generally make around $18,598. Set against $11,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Howard College placed #16 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, while out-of-state students pay about $6,716. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,242 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Howard College generally make around $13,529. Set against $14,242 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Palo Alto College came in at #17 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto 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. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,430 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Palo Alto College earn a median of $29,062 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Paso Community College landed the #18 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $29,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kilgore College placed #19 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kilgore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,160, while out-of-state students pay about $5,256. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Kilgore College earn a median of $15,957 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Central Texas College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. North Central Texas College is a large public school located in the town of Gainesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $5,739. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $6,812 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $10,963. That is a strong return on a $6,812 median debt.
Houston Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Students borrow a median of $24,639 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $20,706. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Odessa College came in at #22 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Odessa College is a large public school located in the city of Odessa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,688, while out-of-state students pay about $4,926. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,087. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $47,856. Set against $9,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alvin Community College earned the #23 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Alvin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,906, while out-of-state students pay about $4,402. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,600 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Alvin Community College generally make around $55,057. Set against $8,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Antonio College placed #24 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Students borrow a median of $11,839 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of San Antonio College earn a median of $37,855 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texarkana College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Texarkana College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texarkana. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,476, while out-of-state students pay about $5,332. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,450. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Texarkana College earn a median of $19,284 early in their careers. Set against $5,450 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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:
More Personal & Culinary Services Rankings
View All Personal & Culinary Services Rankings >
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 · 144 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 144 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.
