2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in South Carolina
[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 33 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 South Carolina
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 Trident Technical College the best value for a degree in personal & culinary services in South Carolina. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,546, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $50,166 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Technical College Of The Lowcountry earned it the #2 place for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Beaufort, Technical College Of The Lowcountry is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,156, while out-of-state students pay about $11,916. Students borrow a median of $17,110 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $44,556. Set against $17,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Horry Georgetown Technical College earned it the #3 place for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,518, while out-of-state students pay about $10,978. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $19,500. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $24,466. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Greenville Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Greenville, Greenville Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,495 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,775 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $19,434. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Greenville Technical College generally make around $20,169. That is a strong return on a $19,434 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Florence Darlington Technical College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the rural area of Florence, Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,636, with out-of-state students paying around $6,772. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,230 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Florence Darlington Technical College generally make around $34,948. That is a strong return on a $7,230 median debt.
Williamsburg Technical College landed the #6 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Williamsburg Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Kingstree. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,488, compared with $8,592 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $29,935 ten years after entry.
Piedmont Technical College came in at #7 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,775, while out-of-state students pay about $6,923. Students borrow a median of $17,652 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $35,693. Set against $17,652 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Rock Hill landed the #8 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Rock Hill, Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Rock Hill is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $10,429 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Rock Hill earn a median of $18,693 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Paul Mitchell The School Columbia came in at #9 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of West Columbia, Paul Mitchell The School Columbia is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,833. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Columbia generally make around $19,583. Set against $13,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Spartanburg came in at #10 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Spartanburg is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Spartanburg. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,069 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Spartanburg earn a median of $18,956 early in their careers. Set against $11,069 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Strand College Of Hair Design placed #11 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Myrtle Beach, Strand College Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit university. Median earnings reach $21,301 ten years out.
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Columbia came in at #12 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Columbia, Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Columbia is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,069 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Columbia generally make around $18,956. Set against $11,069 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Paul Mitchell The School Charleston came in at #13 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of North Charleston, Paul Mitchell The School Charleston is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $13,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $19,583. Set against $13,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Legrand Institute Of Cosmetology Inc placed #14 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the town of Camden, Legrand Institute Of Cosmetology Inc is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $12,478. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Goose Creek placed #15 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Goose Creek, Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Goose Creek is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,069 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Goose Creek generally make around $18,956. Set against $11,069 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeastern Esthetics Institute earned the #16 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Southeastern Esthetics Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $7,029 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Southeastern Esthetics Institute earn a median of $21,547 early in their careers.
Charleston Cosmetology Institute earned the #17 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Charleston Cosmetology Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Charleston. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,052. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Charleston Cosmetology Institute earn a median of $18,084 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,052 median debt.
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology And Nails Columbia placed #18 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology And Nails Columbia is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Columbia. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,069 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology And Nails Columbia generally make around $18,956. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology North Augusta came in at #19 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of North Augusta, Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology North Augusta is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,274 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology North Augusta generally make around $16,226. That is a strong return on a $12,274 median debt.
Paul Mitchell The School Greenville earned the #20 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Greenville, Paul Mitchell The School Greenville is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Greenville generally make around $19,583. Set against $13,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Florence came in at #21 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the rural area of Florence, Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Florence is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,274 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Florence generally make around $16,226. Set against $12,274 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Greenville landed the #22 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Greenville is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Greenville. Students borrow a median of $10,429 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Kenneth Shuler School Of Cosmetology Greenville generally make around $18,693. That is a strong return on a $10,429 median debt.
More Personal & Culinary Services Rankings
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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 · 33 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.
