2027 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Pennsylvania
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 56 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for personal & culinary services students.
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2027 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Westmoreland County Community College earned the #1 spot for value among personal & culinary services schools in Pennsylvania. Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Youngwood. In-state tuition and fees average $6,306, compared with $14,728 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,000. Median earnings reach $37,439 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Montgomery County Community College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Montgomery County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Bell. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,690, with out-of-state students paying around $17,250. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $15,417. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Montgomery County Community College generally make around $30,324. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northampton County Area Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #3 spot this year. Northampton County Area Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Bethlehem. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $15,270. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Northampton County Area Community College generally make around $39,949. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt.
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #4 spot this year. Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisburg. In-state tuition and fees average $6,975, compared with $12,472 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,867 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg earn a median of $41,382 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,867 median debt.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #5 spot this year. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Indiana. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,380, with out-of-state students paying around $16,297. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn a median of $29,155 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Community College Of Allegheny County came in at #6 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $4,956, while out-of-state students pay about $12,583. Students borrow a median of $15,263 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $47,420. Set against $15,263 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lancaster School Of Cosmetology And Therapeutic Bodywork landed the #7 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the suburb of Lancaster, Lancaster School Of Cosmetology And Therapeutic Bodywork is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,208. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Lancaster School Of Cosmetology And Therapeutic Bodywork earn a median of $19,624 early in their careers. Set against $7,208 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Susquehanna County Career And Technology Center earned the #8 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Susquehanna County Career And Technology Center is a small public school located in the rural area of Springville. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,500. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Susquehanna County Career And Technology Center generally make around $42,238.
Laurel Technical Institute placed #9 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the rural area of Hermitage, Laurel Technical Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $13,431 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,600. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Laurel Technical Institute earn a median of $17,251 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,600 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Laurel Business Institute came in at #10 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Laurel Business Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Uniontown. Students from in state pay about $13,713 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,447. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Butler Beauty Academy earned the #11 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Butler, Butler Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,028 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $13,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
York County School Of Technology Adult And Continuing Education placed #12 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of York, York County School Of Technology Adult And Continuing Education is a small public university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,894 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of York County School Of Technology Adult And Continuing Education earn a median of $47,870 early in their careers. Set against $14,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Butler Beauty Academy New Castle Beauty Academy earned the #13 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Butler Beauty Academy New Castle Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the town of New Castle. Students borrow a median of $8,028 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Butler Beauty Academy New Castle Beauty Academy generally make around $13,502. Set against $8,028 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Butler Beauty Academy Kittanning Beauty Academy landed the #14 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the town of Kittanning, Butler Beauty Academy Kittanning Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $8,028 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Butler Beauty Academy Kittanning Beauty Academy generally make around $13,502. Set against $8,028 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The Salon Professional Academy Altoona ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Altoona, The Salon Professional Academy Altoona is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,936 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $19,048. Set against $9,936 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Commonwealth Technical Institute came in at #16 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Commonwealth Technical Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Johnstown. In-state tuition and fees average $7,714. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Commonwealth Technical Institute generally make around $20,049.
The Beauty Institute Allentown ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Whitehall, The Beauty Institute Allentown is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $11,234 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of The Beauty Institute Allentown earn a median of $15,063 early in their careers. Set against $11,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Divine Crown Academy Of Cosmetology earned the #18 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Harrisburg, Divine Crown Academy Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,588. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $14,803.
Lansdale School Of Cosmetology Inc ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Lansdale, Lansdale School Of Cosmetology Inc is a small private for-profit university. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,234.
Venus Beauty Academy earned the #20 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Venus Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Aston. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,777. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Venus Beauty Academy generally make around $8,464. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Empire Beauty School Monroeville earned the #21 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Monroeville, Empire Beauty School Monroeville is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,583 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $16,429. That is a strong return on a $13,583 median debt.
Empire Beauty School Springfield ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the suburb of Springfield, Empire Beauty School Springfield is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,583. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Springfield earn a median of $16,429 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,583 median debt.
Empire Beauty School Hanover came in at #23 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Hanover, Empire Beauty School Hanover is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Hanover earn a median of $17,113 early in their careers. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Empire Beauty School Lancaster earned the #24 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Lancaster, Empire Beauty School Lancaster is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,583 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Lancaster earn a median of $16,429 early in their careers. Set against $13,583 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The Beauty Institute Ambler came in at #25 for value in personal & culinary services this year. The Beauty Institute Ambler is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Ambler. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,705 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from The Beauty Institute Ambler generally make around $15,977. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 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 list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 56 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 56 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.
