2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the New England Region
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 69 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value personal & culinary services schools.
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2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Our analysis ranked Holyoke Community College the best value for a degree in personal & culinary services in the New England Region. Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Holyoke. Students from in state pay about $5,988 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,932. Students borrow a median of $9,763 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Holyoke Community College generally make around $43,423. Set against $9,763 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bunker Hill Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Bunker Hill Community College is a large public school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,168, compared with $11,112 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,893 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Bunker Hill Community College generally make around $51,782. That is a strong return on a $11,893 median debt.
Capital Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $43,086. That is a strong return on a $12,059 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at North Shore Community College, which ranked #4. North Shore Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Danvers. Students from in state pay about $5,352 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,920. Students borrow a median of $14,145 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from North Shore Community College generally make around $51,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Massasoit Community College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Brockton, Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,376, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Students borrow a median of $10,894 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Massasoit Community College earn a median of $42,938 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Maine Community College placed #6 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Bangor, Eastern Maine Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $17,741. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $52,263. That is a strong return on a $17,741 median debt.
Cape Cod Community College placed #7 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of West Barnstable, Cape Cod Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,000, with out-of-state students paying around $10,944. Students borrow a median of $14,669 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Cape Cod Community College earn a median of $47,939 early in their careers. Set against $14,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Empire Beauty School Laconia landed the #8 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Empire Beauty School Laconia is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Laconia. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $24,089. That is a strong return on a $9,833 median debt.
Empire Beauty School Hooksett came in at #9 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Hooksett, Empire Beauty School Hooksett is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Empire Beauty School Hooksett generally make around $24,089. That is a strong return on a $9,833 median debt.
Southeastern Technical Institute placed #10 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of South Easton, Southeastern Technical Institute is a small public university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $49,476. Southeastern Technical Institute admits about 71% of applicants.
Empire Beauty School Somersworth ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Somersworth, Empire Beauty School Somersworth is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Empire Beauty School Somersworth generally make around $20,596.
Branford Academy Of Hair And Cosmetology came in at #12 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Branford, Branford Academy Of Hair And Cosmetology is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $13,918 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Branford Academy Of Hair And Cosmetology generally make around $15,931.
Paul Mitchell The School North Haven came in at #13 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Paul Mitchell The School North Haven is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of North Haven. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $19,288. That is a strong return on a $9,833 median debt.
Jupiter Beauty Academy landed the #14 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Boston, Jupiter Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,740 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,780.
Charles H Mccann Technical School earned the #15 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Charles H Mccann Technical School is a small public school located in the rural area of North Adams. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Charles H Mccann Technical School generally make around $54,802.
Academy Di Capelli School Of Cosmetology ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Wallingford, Academy Di Capelli School Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $10,666 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $19,955.
Oxford Academy Of Hair Design Inc placed #17 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Oxford Academy Of Hair Design Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Seymour. Students borrow a median of $10,851 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Oxford Academy Of Hair Design Inc generally make around $16,963.
Riccis Academy Of Cosmetology came in at #18 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Riccis Academy Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Newtown. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Riccis Academy Of Cosmetology generally make around $21,621.
International Institute Of Cosmetology came in at #19 for value in personal & culinary services this year. International Institute Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Wethersfield. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,946 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of International Institute Of Cosmetology earn a median of $20,111 early in their careers.
Spa Tech Institute Westbrook landed the #20 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Westbrook, Spa Tech Institute Westbrook is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $7,117 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Spa Tech Institute Westbrook earn a median of $21,124 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute placed #21 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Lowell, Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $7,944 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute generally make around $17,058.
Spa Tech Institute Westboro placed #22 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Westborough, Spa Tech Institute Westboro is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,117. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $21,124. That is a strong return on a $7,117 median debt.
Keene Beauty Academy came in at #23 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Keene, Keene Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,966 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Keene Beauty Academy generally make around $17,164.
Catherine Hinds Institute Of Esthetics landed the #24 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Woburn, Catherine Hinds Institute Of Esthetics is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,667. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $26,234.
Dolce Llc The Academy came in at #25 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Waterbury, Dolce Llc The Academy is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for personal & culinary services this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 · 69 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
