by our College Data Analytics Team
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong personal & culinary services education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 269 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value personal & culinary services schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Skyline College the best value for a degree in personal & culinary services in the Far Western Region. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,702.
A rank of #2 makes Golden West College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Golden West College is a large public school located in the suburb of Huntington Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $1,380, compared with $11,628 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Golden West College generally make around $82,984. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of San Mateo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,428 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,172 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grossmont College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $10,628. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,309 ten years after entry.
A rank of #5 makes College Of The Canyons one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clover Park Technical College landed the #6 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lakewood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,634. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,000. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Clover Park Technical College earn a median of $19,389 early in their careers. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Diego Mesa College came in at #7 for value in personal & culinary services this year. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,999 median debt.
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #8 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,318, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $80,047. Set against $14,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mt San Antonio College placed #9 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Sequoias came in at #10 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,288. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $37,749 early in their careers. Set against $10,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Monica College placed #11 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $10,708. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,193 ten years after entry.
Cerritos College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,306. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $13,133. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Kapiolani Community College came in at #13 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Honolulu. In-state tuition and fees average $3,284, while out-of-state students pay about $8,420. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,087 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $26,882. Set against $10,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Citrus College earned the #14 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Citrus College is a large public school located in the suburb of Glendora. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,204, compared with $10,636 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,065.
Santa Ana College placed #15 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
Sacramento City College landed the #16 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Sacramento City College is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,180 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Sacramento City College generally make around $18,184. Set against $13,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Orange Coast College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,392, compared with $11,640 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Orange Coast College generally make around $46,306. Set against $8,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Renton Technical College came in at #18 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Renton, Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,330, compared with $7,768 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $18,582. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $80,411. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santiago Canyon College placed #19 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Santiago Canyon College is a large public school located in the city of Orange. Students from in state pay about $1,164 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $34,100. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Pasadena City College landed the #20 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saddleback College earned the #21 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $11,257 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,707 median debt.
Butte College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Butte College is a large public school located in the rural area of Oroville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,356, compared with $9,276 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,302. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Butte College generally make around $67,048. Set against $13,302 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Riverside City College came in at #23 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,736. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Riverside City College generally make around $13,431. Set against $7,736 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bellingham Technical College landed the #24 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,431 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,809 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $49,748 ten years out.
Spokane Community College landed the #25 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,461 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,980. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Spokane Community College earn a median of $19,459 early in their careers. Set against $7,980 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s personal & culinary services value ranking:
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 · 269 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.