by our College Data Analytics Team
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong personal & culinary services education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 141 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for personal & culinary services students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the personal & culinary services degrees they offer, see the list below.
Pensacola State College tops our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools in Florida. Located in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,361, while out-of-state students pay about $9,463. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,500. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $23,911. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State College At Jacksonville came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,577. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $29,668. That is a strong return on a $13,577 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indian River State College earned it the #3 place for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,764, with out-of-state students paying around $10,201. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,540. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $18,411 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,540 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Miami Dade College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,882 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $31,101. That is a strong return on a $10,882 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Gulf Coast State College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,370, while out-of-state students pay about $8,635. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,286 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Gulf Coast State College generally make around $49,086. That is a strong return on a $8,286 median debt.
Florida Gateway College earned the #6 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Lake City, Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,747. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $6,400 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Florida Gateway College generally make around $16,195. That is a strong return on a $6,400 median debt.
Hillsborough Community College landed the #7 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,491, while out-of-state students pay about $9,088. Students borrow a median of $19,657 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $29,451. Set against $19,657 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Daytona State College came in at #8 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,106, while out-of-state students pay about $11,994. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,182. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Daytona State College generally make around $20,212. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chipola College landed the #9 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Chipola College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marianna. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, compared with $8,950 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,097. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Chipola College earn a median of $43,599 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Petersburg College landed the #10 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Students borrow a median of $22,898 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $48,929 early in their careers. Set against $22,898 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Florida State College came in at #11 for value in personal & culinary services this year. South Florida State College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Avon Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,165, compared with $11,859 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,204 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from South Florida State College generally make around $42,415. Set against $8,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Florida State College earned the #12 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Niceville, Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,583, with out-of-state students paying around $10,612. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,566. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Northwest Florida State College earn a median of $48,463 early in their careers. Set against $11,566 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Florida State College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Eastern Florida State College is a large public school located in the city of Melbourne. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,791, with out-of-state students paying around $10,976. Students borrow a median of $18,123 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Eastern Florida State College earn a median of $44,690 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,123 median debt.
Palm Beach State College placed #14 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,050, with out-of-state students paying around $10,910. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Palm Beach State College generally make around $24,361. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Valencia College earned the #15 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Valencia College is a very large public school located in the city of Orlando. Students from in state pay about $2,664 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,576. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $17,468. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $25,227. Set against $17,468 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Manatee Technical College placed #16 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Bradenton, Manatee Technical College is a small public institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,242. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $22,248. That is a strong return on a $7,242 median debt.
Marion Technical College Ocala landed the #17 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Ocala, Marion Technical College Ocala is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Marion Technical College Ocala generally make around $18,663. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Salon Professional Academy Elevate Salon Institute placed #18 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Miami Beach, Salon Professional Academy Elevate Salon Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,250. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,275. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Immokalee Technical College landed the #19 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the town of Immokalee, Immokalee Technical College is a small public university. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $40,949.
Fred K Marchman Technical College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Fred K Marchman Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of New Port Richey. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $16,707.
South Dade Technical College South Dade Skills Center Campus earned the #21 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. South Dade Technical College South Dade Skills Center Campus is a small public school located in the suburb of HOMESTEAD. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of South Dade Technical College South Dade Skills Center Campus earn a median of $28,785 early in their careers.
Lively Technical Center came in at #22 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Lively Technical Center is a small public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,520. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Lively Technical Center earn a median of $14,031 early in their careers. Set against $5,520 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tom P Haney Technical Center landed the #23 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the suburb of Panama City, Tom P Haney Technical Center is a small public institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Tom P Haney Technical Center earn a median of $22,028 early in their careers.
Technical Education Center Osceola earned the #24 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Kissimmee, Technical Education Center Osceola is a small public institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,812. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $29,420. Set against $10,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Parisian Spa Institute landed the #25 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Parisian Spa Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $7,917 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Parisian Spa Institute earn a median of $16,072 early in their careers.
These schools also delivered strong value for personal & culinary services this year:
This list is compiled 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 · 141 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.