2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Arizona
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 39 schools to find the best return on investment for personal & culinary services students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Arizona
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the personal & culinary services degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Our analysis ranked Pima Community College the best value for a degree in personal & culinary services in Arizona. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,655. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $40,977. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Yavapai College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,486. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,087 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $52,087. That is a strong return on a $14,087 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Arizona College earned it the #3 place for personal & culinary services. Located in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,250, while out-of-state students pay about $4,500. Students borrow a median of $11,635 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $48,826. That is a strong return on a $11,635 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Gateway Community College Central City one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Phoenix, Gateway Community College Central City is a small public institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,037 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $45,781. That is a strong return on a $15,037 median debt.
Cochise College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Cochise College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sierra Vista. In-state tuition and fees average $2,280, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,013 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $40,712. That is a strong return on a $12,013 median debt.
Northland Pioneer College placed #6 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the rural area of Holbrook, Northland Pioneer College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,232, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,680 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Northland Pioneer College generally make around $44,117. Set against $8,680 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arizona Western College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,060, while out-of-state students pay about $9,870. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $44,895.
Mohave Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the rural area of Kingman, Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,208, while out-of-state students pay about $7,968. Students borrow a median of $14,766 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Mohave Community College earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Estrella Mountain Community College landed the #9 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $21,752. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Estrella Mountain Community College earn a median of $78,359 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Arizona College came in at #10 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Thatcher. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,352, compared with $9,552 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,781 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Eastern Arizona College earn a median of $40,304 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chandler Gilbert Community College came in at #11 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public school located in the city of Chandler. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,682 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Chandler Gilbert Community College generally make around $39,549. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mesa Community College came in at #12 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,750. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Community College Phoenix earned the #13 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Gateway Community College Phoenix is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Students borrow a median of $15,736 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $50,350. Set against $15,736 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Scottsdale Community College landed the #14 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Scottsdale Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Scottsdale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Scottsdale Community College earn a median of $48,039 early in their careers. Set against $13,084 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Charles Of Italy Beauty College came in at #15 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Lake Havasu City, Charles Of Italy Beauty College is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Charles Of Italy Beauty College earn a median of $12,179 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Turning Point Beauty College earned the #16 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Turning Point Beauty College is a small private for-profit school located in the rural area of Chandler. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,282 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Turning Point Beauty College generally make around $14,374. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Empire Beauty School Avondale landed the #17 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Avondale, Empire Beauty School Avondale is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,849. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Avondale earn a median of $18,639 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,849 median debt.
Avalon School Of Cosmetology Phoenix ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, Avalon School Of Cosmetology Phoenix is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $8,081. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $21,496. Set against $8,081 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tucson College Of Beauty came in at #19 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Tucson, Tucson College Of Beauty is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,763 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,651. That is a strong return on a $8,763 median debt.
Empire Beauty School Tucson landed the #20 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Empire Beauty School Tucson is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Tucson. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,583. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Tucson earn a median of $16,429 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Avalon School Of Cosmetology Mesa ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Avalon School Of Cosmetology Mesa is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Mesa. Students borrow a median of $8,081 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Avalon School Of Cosmetology Mesa generally make around $21,496. Set against $8,081 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Empire Beauty School Chandler ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Empire Beauty School Chandler is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Chandler. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,583 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Empire Beauty School Chandler generally make around $15,679. That is a strong return on a $13,583 median debt.
East Valley Institute Of Technology landed the #23 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Mesa, East Valley Institute Of Technology is a small public institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $14,076. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from East Valley Institute Of Technology generally make around $18,159. Set against $14,076 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Studio Academy Of Beauty placed #24 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Chandler, Studio Academy Of Beauty is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $6,333. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $22,434. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Paul Mitchell The School Phoenix earned the #25 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Paul Mitchell The School Phoenix is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $17,667 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Phoenix generally make around $21,139. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 34 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for personal & culinary services this year:
More Personal & Culinary Services Rankings
View All Personal & Culinary Services Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
