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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value personal & culinary services schools.
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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.
Our analysis ranked Dodge City Community College the best value for a degree in personal & culinary services in Kansas. Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Dodge City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,650, compared with $5,850 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,427.
Fort Scott Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the town of Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,390, with out-of-state students paying around $3,840. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $20,691. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hutchinson Community College earned it the #3 place for personal & culinary services. Located in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, while out-of-state students pay about $4,770. Students borrow a median of $18,148 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,437. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the town of Liberal, Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,032 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,408. Students borrow a median of $9,175 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $53,375. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Independence Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Independence, Independence Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,302 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Independence Community College earn a median of $23,620 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,302 median debt.
Garden City Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Garden City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,690, while out-of-state students pay about $4,320. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Garden City Community College generally make around $18,724. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washburn Institute Of Technology earned the #7 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,880. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Washburn Institute Of Technology generally make around $22,547. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wichita Area Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,237. Students borrow a median of $11,828 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $35,358. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cowley County Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Arkansas City. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,600 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,312 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $34,099. That is a strong return on a $9,312 median debt.
Johnson County Community College earned the #10 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,424. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Johnson County Community College generally make around $35,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Kansas Technical College earned the #11 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Goodland, Northwest Kansas Technical College is a small public university. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Northwest Kansas Technical College generally make around $41,638.
Mitsu Sato Hair Academy landed the #12 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Overland Park, Mitsu Sato Hair Academy is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Mitsu Sato Hair Academy generally make around $17,143.
Eric Fisher Academy earned the #13 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Eric Fisher Academy is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,339 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Eric Fisher Academy earn a median of $20,465 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hays Academy Of Hair Design Salina came in at #14 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Hays Academy Of Hair Design Salina is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Salina. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Hays Academy Of Hair Design Salina generally make around $17,620. Set against $9,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hays Academy Of Hair Design Hays came in at #15 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Hays, Hays Academy Of Hair Design Hays is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Hays Academy Of Hair Design Hays earn a median of $17,620 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,833 median debt.
Kansas City Kansas Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,996, with out-of-state students paying around $6,482. Students borrow a median of $8,235 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $21,091. Set against $8,235 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Old Town Barber College Wichita ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Wichita, Old Town Barber College Wichita is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $14,125 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $10,703. Set against $14,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Paul Mitchell The School Wichita ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Wichita, Paul Mitchell The School Wichita is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,583 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Wichita earn a median of $17,049 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,583 median debt.
Paul Mitchell The School Overland Park came in at #19 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Overland Park, Paul Mitchell The School Overland Park is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,341 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $22,440.
Z Hair Academy came in at #20 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Overland Park, Z Hair Academy is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $15,333 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $21,750. Set against $15,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Crave Beauty Academy placed #21 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Wichita, Crave Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,667. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Crave Beauty Academy generally make around $21,067. Set against $10,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bellus Academy came in at #22 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Bellus Academy is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Bellus Academy generally make around $17,745. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.