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Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region

2023 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

189 Colleges
$6,362 Avg Tuition & Fees*

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

With 149,352 degrees and certificates handed out in 2021-2022, personal & culinary services is the #2 most popular major in the United States.

Today's trade school students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 189 schools in the Southeast Region 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.

When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

2023 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region

The colleges and universities below are the best value schools for personal & culinary services majors pursuing a basic certificate.

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

Our analysis found Athens Technical College to be the best value school for personal & culinary services students who want to pursue a basic certificate in the Southeast Region . Athens Technical College is a small public school located in the medium-sized city of Athens.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Athens Technical College are $5,462 per year.

Athens Technical College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list.

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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a great value for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the small city of Rome.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Georgia Northwestern Technical College are $5,512 per year.

In addition to its great value ranking, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list.

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#3

Gwinnett Technical College

Lawrenceville, GA

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Gwinnett Technical College is a great value for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Located in the large suburb of Lawrenceville, GTC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at GTC are $5,686 per year.

In addition to its great value ranking, GTC is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list.

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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a great value for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Valdosta.

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,562 in tuition and fees each year.

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend West Georgia Technical College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. West Georgia Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the rural area of Waco.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at West Georgia Technical College are $5,522 a year.

West Georgia Technical College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at West Georgia Technical College Report

Oconee Fall Line Technical 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 #6 on the list. Located in the rural area of Sandersville, OFTC is a public college with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at OFTC are $5,472 per year.

OFTC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Oconee Fall Line Technical College

#7

Piedmont Technical College

Greenwood, SC

Piedmont Technical College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate personal & culinary services programs. Piedmont Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Greenwood.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Piedmont Technical College are $6,593 per year.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Piedmont Technical College

Central Georgia Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. CGTC is a moderately-sized public school located in the small city of Warner Robins.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at CGTC are $5,482 a year.

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With a ranking of #9, Arkansas State University - Newport did quite well on this year’s best value schools for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Located in the rural area of Newport, ASUN is a public school with a small student population.

ASUN undergraduate students pay an average of $4,416 in tuition and fees each year.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, ASUN also is in the top 20% of our Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Arkansas State University - Newport

#10

Savannah Technical College

Savannah, GA

Savannah Technical 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 #10 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Savannah, Savannah Tech is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Savannah Tech are $5,442 a year.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Savannah Technical College Report

Jefferson State Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the medium-sized city of Birmingham, Jeff State is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Jeff State undergraduate students pay an average of $8,910 in tuition and fees each year.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Jefferson State Community College Report

Southern Crescent Technical College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate personal & culinary services programs. Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of Griffin.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southern Crescent Technical College are $5,526 per year.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Southern Crescent Technical College

#13

Ogeechee Technical College

Statesboro, GA

Ogeechee Technical College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. Ogeechee Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Statesboro.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ogeechee Technical College are $5,540 per year.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Ogeechee Technical College

Georgia Piedmont Technical College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Clarkston.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Georgia Piedmont Technical College are $5,558 per year.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Georgia Piedmont Technical College

Augusta Technical College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate personal & culinary services programs. Augusta Technical College is a small public school located in the medium-sized city of Augusta.

Augusta Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,662 in tuition and fees each year.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Augusta Technical College Report

#16

Lanier Technical College

Gainesville, GA

Lanier Technical College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate personal & culinary services programs. Lanier Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the rural area of Gainesville.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Lanier Technical College are $6,666 per year.

Lanier Technical College also claimed a spot on our Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Lanier Technical College Report

#17

Delgado Community College

New Orleans, LA

Delgado Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the large city of New Orleans, Delgado Community College is a public college with a large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Delgado Community College are $4,679 a year.

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With a ranking of #18, Wake Technical Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Wake Technical Community College are $8,912 per year.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Wake Technical Community College Report

#19

Columbus Technical College

Columbus, GA

Columbus Technical College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. Columbus Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Columbus.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Columbus Technical College are $5,442 a year.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Columbus Technical College

Atlanta Technical College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate personal & culinary services programs. Atlanta Area Tech is a small public school located in the large city of Atlanta.

Atlanta Area Tech undergraduate students pay an average of $5,564 in tuition and fees each year.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Atlanta Technical College

Lurleen B Wallace Community 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 #21 on the list. Located in the rural area of Andalusia, Lurleen B. Wallace Community College is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College are $8,670 per year.

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Central Carolina Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate personal & culinary services programs. Central Carolina Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Sanford.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Carolina Community College are $8,698 per year.

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#23

Miami Dade College

Miami, FL

With a ranking of #23, Miami Dade College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Located in the city of Miami, MDC is a public school with a very large student population.

MDC undergraduate students pay an average of $9,661 in tuition and fees each year.

MDC also claimed a spot on our Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.

Read More…

#24

North Georgia Technical College

Clarkesville, GA

With a ranking of #24, North Georgia Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. North Georgia Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Clarkesville.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Georgia Technical College are $5,472 a year.

Read More…

Central Piedmont Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a public school with a large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Central Piedmont Community College are $8,936 a year.

Central Piedmont Community College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Central Piedmont Community College Report

Rest of the Top Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region

#26

Palm Beach State College

Lake Worth, FL
#27

Valencia College

Orlando, FL

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great value schools for Personal & Culinary Services students in the Southeast Region seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region award.

Rank College Location
29 St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FL
30 Southeastern Technical College Vidalia, GA
31 Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville, NC
32 Pensacola State College Pensacola, FL
33 Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL
34 Cleveland Community College Shelby, NC
35 Florida Gateway College Lake City, FL
36 Southwestern Community College Sylva, NC
37 Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NC

Best Personal & Culinary Services Colleges by State

Explore the best personal & culinary services colleges for a specific state in the Southeast region.

State Degrees Awarded
North Carolina 3,501
West Virginia 436
Alabama 996
Kentucky 1,362
Georgia 5,282
Tennessee 2,432
Louisiana 4,310
Mississippi 1,210
South Carolina 1,802
Florida 12,205
Virginia 1,482
Arkansas 1,538

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

Majors Similar to Personal & Culinary Services

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 25 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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