2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in New Mexico
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for personal & culinary services students.
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2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in New Mexico
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Leading the list is Central New Mexico Community College, our #1 best value for personal & culinary services in New Mexico. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,112. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $20,292 early in their careers. Set against $10,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Clovis Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Clovis, Clovis Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,592, compared with $3,344 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,082 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Clovis Community College earn a median of $44,390 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,082 median debt.
San Juan College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Farmington, San Juan College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,910, with out-of-state students paying around $5,393. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $16,150. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $41,697. That is a strong return on a $16,150 median debt.
University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Gallup, University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,906, while out-of-state students pay about $5,682. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,986 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus earn a median of $35,132 early in their careers. Set against $10,986 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Mexico Junior College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Hobbs, New Mexico Junior College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,440 in tuition and fees, compared with $2,280 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,986 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of New Mexico Junior College earn a median of $50,220 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,986 median debt.
Luna Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the rural area of Las Vegas, Luna Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,474, while out-of-state students pay about $3,418. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Luna Community College earn a median of $32,091 early in their careers.
Glitz School Of Cosmetology earned the #7 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Las Cruces, Glitz School Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,766. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Glitz School Of Cosmetology generally make around $16,178.
Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Albuquerque placed #8 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Albuquerque is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,000. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Albuquerque earn a median of $16,872 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Avenue Academy A Cosmetology Institute came in at #9 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Avenue Academy A Cosmetology Institute is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $6,416. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Avenue Academy A Cosmetology Institute generally make around $16,841.
Aveda Institute New Mexico ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Aveda Institute New Mexico is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,842.
Olympian Academy Of Cosmetology Alamogordo earned the #11 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of LAS CRUCES, Olympian Academy Of Cosmetology Alamogordo is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Olympian Academy Of Cosmetology Alamogordo generally make around $16,558. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vogue College Of Cosmetology Santa Fe placed #12 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Santa Fe, Vogue College Of Cosmetology Santa Fe is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $16,854.
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 · 24 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.
