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Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California

2023 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

81 Colleges
$1,259 Avg Tuition & Fees*

Finding the Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate School for You

Out of the majors we analyze each year, personal & culinary services was ranked 2nd in California. In fact, 11,805 were awarded in the state in 2021-2022.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience.

The Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 81 schools in California to see which ones offered the best value basic certificate programs for personal & culinary services students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California

The following schools top our list of the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Colleges.

Top 25 Best California Schools for Affordable Quality for an Award Taking Less Than 1 Year in Personal & Culinary Services

#1

Cerritos College

Norwalk, CA

Our 2023 rankings named Cerritos College the best value school in California for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Cerritos College is a large public school located in the large suburb of Norwalk.

Cerritos College undergraduate students pay an average of $1,364 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

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#2

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA

The excellent basic certificate programs at Riverside City College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value personal & culinary services schools in California. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a public school with a large student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Riverside City College are $1,420 per year.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Riverside City College

#3

Citrus College

Glendora, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Citrus College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California list. Citrus College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Glendora.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Citrus College are $1,198 a year.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Citrus College

#4

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Golden West College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a public college with a large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Golden West College are $1,190 a year.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Golden West College Report

#5

San Diego City College

San Diego, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend San Diego City College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California list. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego City College is a public college with a large student population.

San Diego City College undergraduate students pay an average of $1,144 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at San Diego City College Report

Los Angeles Trade Technical College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Los Angeles Trade Technical College are $1,238 per year.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Los Angeles Trade Technical College Report

#7

Coba Academy

Anaheim, CA

Coba Academy came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California ranking. Located in the large city of Anaheim, Coba Academy is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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#7

Lancaster Beauty School

Lancaster, CA

With a ranking of #7, Lancaster Beauty School did quite well on this year’s best value schools for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Lancaster Beauty School is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lancaster.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Lancaster Beauty School Report

#7

Career Academy of Beauty

Garden Grove, CA

Career Academy of Beauty did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for personal & culinary services students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Garden Grove, Career Academy of Beauty is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Career Academy of Beauty Report

#7

Diamond Beauty College

South El Monte, CA

With a ranking of #7, Diamond Beauty College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Located in the large suburb of South El Monte, Diamond Beauty College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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International College of Beauty Arts & Sciences ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California list. International College of Beauty Arts & Sciences is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at International College of Beauty Arts & Sciences

Academy of Esthetics and Cosmetology came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California ranking. Located in the suburb of San Fernando, Academy of Esthetics and Cosmetology is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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Salon Success Academy - Corona ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California list. Located in the midsize city of Corona, Salon Success Academy - Corona is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Salon Success Academy - Corona Report

#7

ZMS The Academy

Los Angeles, CA

ZMS The Academy came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of Los Angeles, ZMS The Academy is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at ZMS The Academy Report

Palomar Institute of Cosmetology landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate personal & culinary services programs. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar Institute of Cosmetology is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Palomar Institute of Cosmetology Report

California Hair Design Academy came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California ranking. California Hair Design Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of La Mesa.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at California Hair Design Academy

San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California list. Located in the city of San Francisco, SFIEC is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc Report

Sierra College of Beauty came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California ranking. Sierra Beauty College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Merced.

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With a ranking of #7, Paul Mitchell the School Costa Mesa did quite well on this year’s best value schools for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Paul Mitchell the School Costa Mesa is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Costa Mesa.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Paul Mitchell the School Costa Mesa Report

With a ranking of #7, Academy for Salon Professionals did quite well on this year’s best value schools for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Academy for Salon Professionals is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Northridge.

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Salon Success Academy - West Covina landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate personal & culinary services programs. Salon Success Academy - West Covina is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of West Covina.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Salon Success Academy - West Covina Report

#7

Advance Beauty Techs Academy

San Jacinto, CA

Advance Beauty Techs Academy did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for personal & culinary services students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. ABT ACADEMY is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of San Jacinto.

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#7

Advance Beauty College

Garden Grove, CA

Advance Beauty College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for personal & culinary services students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Garden Grove, Advance Beauty College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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Paul Mitchell the School Pasadena landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate personal & culinary services programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Pasadena, Paul Mitchell the School Pasadena is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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Milan Institute-Clovis ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Clovis, Milan Institute-Clovis is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Alaska 33
Hawaii 395
Washington 2,405
Oregon 1,160
Nevada 1,649

Personal & Culinary Services Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Cosmetology 124,611
Culinary Arts 22,075
Funeral & Mortuary Science 2,186
Casino Operations and Services 385
Other Personal & Culinary Services 95

Related Major Annual Graduates
Mechanic & Repair Technologies 105,741
Precision Production 55,411
Construction Trades 40,802
Transportation & Materials Moving 33,306

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 81 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to U.S. Army Europe Images.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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