2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Texas
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 174 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for personal & culinary services students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
El Centro College tops our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools in Texas. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,218 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $31,127 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Mainland earned it the #2 place for personal & culinary services. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,140. Students borrow a median of $5,711 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,495. That is a strong return on a $5,711 median debt.
Wharton County Junior College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,192, while out-of-state students pay about $5,904. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Wharton County Junior College generally make around $19,087. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Alvin Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,906, while out-of-state students pay about $4,402. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,600 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $55,057. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Austin Community College District, which ranked #5. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,519 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $44,895. That is a strong return on a $14,519 median debt.
Grayson College placed #6 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,000, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,627 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,598. Set against $11,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Students borrow a median of $6,868 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $24,084 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
Mclennan Community College landed the #8 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Mclennan Community College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, compared with $5,910 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,776 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Mclennan Community College earn a median of $16,879 early in their careers. Set against $5,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar State College Orange ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,832, with out-of-state students paying around $13,824. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $18,506 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $45,299. That is a strong return on a $18,506 median debt.
Trinity Valley Community College landed the #10 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $2,640, with out-of-state students paying around $5,970. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,500. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Trinity Valley Community College earn a median of $11,544 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Philips College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. St Philips College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,653 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $45,185. That is a strong return on a $15,653 median debt.
Lee College placed #12 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,520, with out-of-state students paying around $5,045. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Lee College earn a median of $14,727 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,941 median debt.
Midland College placed #13 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,180. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Midland College generally make around $43,454. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palo Alto College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Palo Alto College is a large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $9,430 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Palo Alto College generally make around $29,062. Set against $9,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tarrant County College District placed #15 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $15,148. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $45,158 early in their careers. Set against $15,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texarkana College came in at #16 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Texarkana, Texarkana College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,476, with out-of-state students paying around $5,332. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,450. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Texarkana College earn a median of $19,284 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,450 median debt.
Del Mar College earned the #17 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. In-state tuition and fees average $3,500, with out-of-state students paying around $6,050. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,476. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $13,099. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Paso Community College placed #18 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $29,086. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar State College Port Arthur came in at #19 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Lamar State College Port Arthur is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Port Arthur. Students from in state pay about $1,770 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,070. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $33,385. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $78,580. Set against $33,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Jacinto Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,791 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,655. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Coastal Bend College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the town of Beeville, Coastal Bend College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,916, compared with $5,226 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,609 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Median earnings reach $35,086 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vernon College came in at #22 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Vernon, Vernon College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,720 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,513 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Vernon College earn a median of $45,097 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,513 median debt.
San Antonio College came in at #23 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $11,839 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of San Antonio College earn a median of $37,855 early in their careers. Set against $11,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kilgore College landed the #24 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kilgore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,160, with out-of-state students paying around $5,256. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,500. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Kilgore College earn a median of $15,957 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central Texas College came in at #25 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $5,739. Students borrow a median of $6,812 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of North Central Texas College earn a median of $10,963 early in their careers. Set against $6,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s personal & culinary services value ranking:
More Personal & Culinary Services Rankings
View All Personal & Culinary Services Rankings >
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 · 174 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
