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2026 Best Value Personal And Culinary Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Personal And Culinary Services bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 2008 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Trade College evaluated schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Personal And Culinary Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Universidad Del Este earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Based in Carolina, PR, Universidad Del Este is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,750. Students borrow a median of $10,988 to complete their Personal And Culinary Services program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $24,328. That is a strong return on a $10,988 median debt. See the full Universidad Del Este profile
You'll get strong value at National Louis University, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Chicago, IL, National Louis University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,245. National Louis University Personal And Culinary Services students take on a median of $17,500 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,799 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants. Get the full National Louis University report
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #3 on this year's best-value Personal And Culinary Services ranking in the United States. Based in Minneapolis, MN, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. The median Personal And Culinary Services program debt is $24,875. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities alumni report median earnings of $69,020 a decade after entry. Set against $24,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities has an acceptance rate of 80%. See the full University Of Minnesota Twin Cities profile
Culinary Institute Of America came in at #4 on this year's best-value Personal And Culinary Services ranking in the United States. Based in Hyde Park, NY, Culinary Institute Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,670 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete their Personal And Culinary Services program here. Median earnings reach $47,475 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Culinary Institute Of America admits about 91% of applicants. Read the full report on Culinary Institute Of America
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mid America College Of Funeral Service earned it the #5 place in the United States. Set in Jeffersonville, IN, Mid America College Of Funeral Service is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $19,000 in tuition and fees. Typical Personal And Culinary Services student debt is $22,320. Median earnings reach $44,505 ten years out. Set against $22,320 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Mid America College Of Funeral Service
Nicholls State University came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Located in Thibodaux, LA, Nicholls State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,149, with out-of-state students paying around $9,242. Typical Personal And Culinary Services student debt is $26,063. Median earnings reach $45,454 ten years out. Set against $26,063 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%. Read the full report on Nicholls State University
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools. Set in Delhi, NY, Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,762. Typical Personal And Culinary Services student debt is $20,303. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $51,629. That is a strong return on a $20,303 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%. See the full Suny College Of Technology At Delhi profile
University Of Central Oklahoma landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in Edmond, OK. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,818, compared with $19,704 for out-of-state students. The median Personal And Culinary Services program debt is $27,143. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $48,351. That is a strong return on a $27,143 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%. Read the full report on University Of Central Oklahoma
Cincinnati College Of Mortuary Science placed #9 among the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cincinnati, OH. Students from in state pay about $24,815 in tuition and fees. Cincinnati College Of Mortuary Science Personal And Culinary Services students take on a median of $25,956 in debt. Cincinnati College Of Mortuary Science alumni report median earnings of $55,695 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,956 median debt. Get the full Cincinnati College Of Mortuary Science report
The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Based in Philadelphia, PA, The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,499. The median Personal And Culinary Services program debt is $19,500. Median earnings reach $36,689 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College admits about 43% of applicants. Get the full The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College report
Wayne State University placed #13 among the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools in the United States. Based in Detroit, MI, Wayne State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Students borrow a median of $23,648 to complete their Personal And Culinary Services program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $53,493. That is a strong return on a $23,648 median debt. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants. More on Wayne State University
Pennsylvania College Of Technology landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Williamsport, PA, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,940, compared with $25,680 for out-of-state students. The median Personal And Culinary Services program debt is $16,000. Median earnings reach $52,567 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $16,000 median debt. More on Pennsylvania College Of Technology
Point Park University landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Pittsburgh, PA. In-state tuition and fees run about $39,570. Graduates carry a median of $28,323 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $45,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Point Park University has an acceptance rate of 97%. Read more about Point Park University
Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Paul Smiths, NY. In-state tuition and fees run about $33,009. The median Personal And Culinary Services program debt is $27,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $46,145. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%. More on Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science
Johnson And Wales University Providence ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools. Located in Providence, RI, Johnson And Wales University Providence is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,982. Johnson And Wales University Providence Personal And Culinary Services students take on a median of $20,873 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,418. Set against $20,873 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 88% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Johnson And Wales University Providence
Bob Jones University placed #16 among the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools in the United States. See the full Bob Jones University profile
Bonnie Joseph Academy Of Cosmetology And Barbering placed #17 among the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools in the United States. Read more about Bonnie Joseph Academy Of Cosmetology And Barbering
Brittany Beauty Academy Levittown offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Get the full Brittany Beauty Academy Levittown report
Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus placed #19 among the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools in the United States. Read the full report on Eastern New Mexico University Ruidoso Campus
Elite Academy Of Hair Design placed #20 among the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools in the United States. Read the full report on Elite Academy Of Hair Design
Empire Beauty School Green Bay came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. See the full Empire Beauty School Green Bay profile
Johnson And Wales University Online placed #22 among the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools in the United States. Read more about Johnson And Wales University Online
L Makeup Institute ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools. Get the full L Makeup Institute report
Mercyhurst College landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Mercyhurst College report
Modern Male Barber Academy placed #25 among the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools in the United States. Get the full Modern Male Barber Academy report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Personal And Culinary Services Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
New Concept Massage And Beauty School came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on New Concept Massage And Beauty School
Savannah Technical College placed #27 among the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools in the United States. More on Savannah Technical College
Sharps Academy Of Hair Styling placed #28 among the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools in the United States. Read more about Sharps Academy Of Hair Styling
Southwestern College Chula Vista landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Southwestern College Chula Vista
Tricoci University Of Beauty Cuture Llc Bloomington came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Tricoci University Of Beauty Cuture Llc Bloomington
Autry Technology Center ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools. Read the full report on Autry Technology Center
Christina And Company Education Center offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Read the full report on Christina And Company Education Center
Cosumnes River College came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. More on Cosumnes River College
Indian River State College offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. See the full Indian River State College profile
Lackawanna College placed #35 among the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools in the United States. See the full Lackawanna College profile
Legends Barber College came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. More on Legends Barber College
Paul Mitchell The School Houston came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. More on Paul Mitchell The School Houston
Quinsigamond Community College placed #38 among the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools in the United States. More on Quinsigamond Community College
Red River Technology Center placed #39 among the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools in the United States. See the full Red River Technology Center profile
Southern Arkansas University Tech landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Southern Arkansas University Tech
State College Of Beauty Culture Inc ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools. Read the full report on State College Of Beauty Culture Inc
The Academy Of Hair Design Six offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Read more about The Academy Of Hair Design Six
The Salon Professional Academy Kenosha placed #43 among the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools in the United States. Read more about The Salon Professional Academy Kenosha
Vogue College Of Cosmetology came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Vogue College Of Cosmetology
Aveda Institute Portland landed the #45 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Aveda Institute Portland
Aveda Institute Tallahassee ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools. More on Aveda Institute Tallahassee
Chandler Gilbert Community College came in at #47 in this year's value ranking. See the full Chandler Gilbert Community College profile
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Personal And Culinary Services schools. Read more about Fox Valley Technical College
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Spartanburg landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Spartanburg
Massachusetts School Of Barbering came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Massachusetts School Of Barbering report
Related Personal And Culinary Services Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Personal And Culinary Services Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Personal And Culinary Services Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Personal And Culinary Services Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Personal And Culinary Services Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Personal And Culinary Services Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Personal And Culinary Services Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Personal And Culinary Services Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 2008 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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