by our College Data Analytics Team
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2027 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.
For return on investment in personal & culinary services, no school beat Coahoma Community College this year. Coahoma Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Clarksdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,490. Students borrow a median of $11,745 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $13,154. Set against $11,745 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
East Central Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. East Central Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Decatur. Students from in state pay about $3,990 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,090 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of East Central Community College earn a median of $32,981 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southwest Mississippi Community College earned it the #3 place for personal & culinary services. Located in the rural area of Summit, Southwest Mississippi Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,080, with out-of-state students paying around $6,780. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $21,057 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $50,292. Set against $21,057 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Copiah Lincoln Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the rural area of Wesson, Copiah Lincoln Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, with out-of-state students paying around $5,200. Median earnings reach $31,241 ten years out.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at East Mississippi Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the rural area of Scooba, East Mississippi Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,095 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,445. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from East Mississippi Community College generally make around $12,128. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hinds Community College came in at #6 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the rural area of Raymond, Hinds Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,250, while out-of-state students pay about $7,300. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,975 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Hinds Community College earn a median of $17,704 early in their careers. Set against $10,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Holmes Community College came in at #7 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the rural area of Goodman, Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,710, with out-of-state students paying around $6,610. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,191. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Holmes Community College generally make around $13,865. That is a strong return on a $13,191 median debt.
Jones County Junior College landed the #8 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the town of Ellisville, Jones County Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,700, compared with $5,700 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,559 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Jones County Junior College earn a median of $10,046 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,559 median debt.
Meridian Community College placed #9 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the town of Meridian, Meridian Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,078, while out-of-state students pay about $6,478. Students borrow a median of $10,368 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Meridian Community College generally make around $17,559. That is a strong return on a $10,368 median debt.
Northwest Mississippi Community College earned the #10 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Senatobia, Northwest Mississippi Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,740. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,500. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Northwest Mississippi Community College earn a median of $17,660 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pearl River Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the rural area of Poplarville, Pearl River Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,700 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,100. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,482 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Pearl River Community College generally make around $7,580. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College landed the #12 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,653 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College generally make around $34,214. That is a strong return on a $11,653 median debt.
Northeast Mississippi Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the town of Booneville, Northeast Mississippi Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,470, compared with $7,750 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,566 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Northeast Mississippi Community College earn a median of $41,228 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mississippi Institute Of Aesthetics Nails And Cosmetology came in at #14 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Clinton, Mississippi Institute Of Aesthetics Nails And Cosmetology is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,616 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,875. That is a strong return on a $5,616 median debt.
Blue Cliff College Gulfport came in at #15 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Blue Cliff College Gulfport is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Gulfport. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $16,535. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,719. Set against $16,535 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kcs School Of Hair Design ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the rural area of Pontotoc, Kcs School Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Kcs School Of Hair Design earn a median of $13,206 early in their careers.
Academy Of Hair Design Pearl placed #17 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Academy Of Hair Design Pearl is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Pearl. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,800 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Academy Of Hair Design Pearl generally make around $15,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The Academy Of Hair Design Six came in at #18 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, The Academy Of Hair Design Six is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $13,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Traxlers School Of Hair earned the #19 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Jackson, Traxlers School Of Hair is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,250. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Traxlers School Of Hair earn a median of $9,525 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delta Technical College earned the #20 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Delta Technical College is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of Horn Lake. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,038. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,576. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Academy Of Hair Design Jackson came in at #21 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Jackson, Academy Of Hair Design Jackson is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,005 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Academy Of Hair Design Jackson earn a median of $13,348 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,005 median debt.
Fosters Cosmetology College landed the #22 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Fosters Cosmetology College is a small private for-profit school located in the rural area of Ripley.
Academy Of Hair Design Grenada earned the #23 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the rural area of Grenada, Academy Of Hair Design Grenada is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,005 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Academy Of Hair Design Grenada generally make around $13,348. Set against $10,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chris Beauty College placed #24 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Chris Beauty College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Gulfport. Students borrow a median of $8,225 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $14,801. That is a strong return on a $8,225 median debt.
Corinth Academy Of Cosmetology landed the #25 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Corinth Academy Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Corinth. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Corinth Academy Of Cosmetology earn a median of $14,608 early in their careers. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in personal & culinary services:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.