2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Missouri
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 36 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value personal & culinary services schools.
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2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Missouri
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
For return on investment in personal & culinary services, no school beat Saint Louis Community College this year. Set in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,424 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Saint Louis Community College earn a median of $26,458 early in their careers. Set against $11,424 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ozarks Technical Community College earned it the #2 place for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,256, with out-of-state students paying around $7,040. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,501 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $25,879. Set against $10,501 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Warrensburg Area Career Center came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the town of Warrensburg, Warrensburg Area Career Center is a small public institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,614 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $23,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
East Central College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the town of Union, East Central College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,272, with out-of-state students paying around $7,680. Students borrow a median of $12,062 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from East Central College generally make around $37,925. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Salem College Of Hairstyling is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #5 spot this year. Salem College Of Hairstyling is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Rolla. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Salem College Of Hairstyling earn a median of $20,888 early in their careers.
City Pointe Beauty Academy earned the #6 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Webb City, City Pointe Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,701 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from City Pointe Beauty Academy generally make around $18,699.
Grabber School Of Hair Design came in at #7 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Grabber School Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $12,465 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $22,626. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The Salon Professional Academy St Charles placed #8 among the best values for personal & culinary services. The Salon Professional Academy St Charles is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Charles. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from The Salon Professional Academy St Charles generally make around $23,204. That is a strong return on a $9,833 median debt.
Trend Setters School came in at #9 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Cape Girardeau, Trend Setters School is a small private for-profit university. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $23,185.
Central College Of Cosmetology landed the #10 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Central College Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Saint Robert. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $22,821.
New Dimensions School Of Hair Design came in at #11 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Joplin, New Dimensions School Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $28,050 ten years after entry.
Skin Institute placed #12 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Skin Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,947 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Skin Institute earn a median of $19,963 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Academy Of Salon Professionals ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the town of Sedalia, Academy Of Salon Professionals is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,833. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Academy Of Salon Professionals earn a median of $14,910 early in their careers.
Paul Mitchell The School Missouri Columbia earned the #14 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Columbia, Paul Mitchell The School Missouri Columbia 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 Paul Mitchell The School Missouri Columbia generally make around $22,267. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Neosho Beauty College earned the #15 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Neosho, Neosho Beauty College is a small private for-profit institution. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $18,280.
Paul Mitchell The School Springfield ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Paul Mitchell The School Springfield is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,833. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Springfield generally make around $20,368. That is a strong return on a $9,833 median debt.
Academy Of Hair Design Springfield came in at #17 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Academy Of Hair Design Springfield is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,667 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Academy Of Hair Design Springfield earn a median of $21,574 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Merrell University Of Beauty Arts And Science landed the #18 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Jefferson City, Merrell University Of Beauty Arts And Science is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $9,793 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Merrell University Of Beauty Arts And Science earn a median of $19,818 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,793 median debt.
Paul Mitchell The School St Louis landed the #19 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of St. Louis, Paul Mitchell The School St Louis 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 Paul Mitchell The School St Louis generally make around $22,147. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cosmetology College Of Franklin County ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Cosmetology College Of Franklin County is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Washing.
Independence College Of Cosmetology came in at #21 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Independence College Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Independence. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,981 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Independence College Of Cosmetology generally make around $27,878. That is a strong return on a $11,981 median debt.
House Of Heavilin Beauty College Kansas City landed the #22 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, House Of Heavilin Beauty College Kansas City is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from House Of Heavilin Beauty College Kansas City generally make around $18,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
House Of Heavilin Beauty College Blue Springs came in at #23 for value in personal & culinary services this year. House Of Heavilin Beauty College Blue Springs is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Blue Springs. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,049 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $23,309. That is a strong return on a $8,049 median debt.
Midwest Technical Institute Springfield Mo landed the #24 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Midwest Technical Institute Springfield Mo is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,038 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Midwest Technical Institute Springfield Mo earn a median of $15,576 early in their careers. Set against $13,038 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
House Of Heavilin Beauty College Raymore landed the #25 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the suburb of Raymore, House Of Heavilin Beauty College Raymore is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,962 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from House Of Heavilin Beauty College Raymore generally make around $18,729. That is a strong return on a $9,962 median debt.
Rest of the Top 26 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), 2026 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 · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
