2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong personal & culinary services education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 143 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 the The Plains States Region
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
Metropolitan Community College Area earned the #1 spot for value among personal & culinary services schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,375, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,799 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $45,583. Set against $12,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Hutchinson Community College, which ranked #2. Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hutchinson. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,770. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $18,148. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Hutchinson Community College earn a median of $17,437 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Central Community College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Grand Island. In-state tuition and fees average $3,360, while out-of-state students pay about $4,800. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,277 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Central Community College generally make around $43,218. That is a strong return on a $10,277 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Louis Community College earned it the #4 place for personal & culinary services. Saint Louis Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Bridgeton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,424. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Saint Louis Community College earn a median of $26,458 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,424 median debt.
Fort Scott Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the town of Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,390, compared with $3,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,500. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Fort Scott Community College earn a median of $20,691 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Community College Area placed #6 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,444, compared with $4,032 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,146 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Southeast Community College Area generally make around $31,590. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School placed #7 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the town of Liberal, Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,032 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,408. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,175 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Seward County Community College And Area Technical School generally make around $53,375. That is a strong return on a $9,175 median debt.
Dodge City Community College earned the #8 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Dodge City, Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,650, while out-of-state students pay about $5,850. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,427 ten years after entry.
Garden City Community College earned the #9 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,690, with out-of-state students paying around $4,320. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,724. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kirkwood Community College landed the #10 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,176, while out-of-state students pay about $8,220. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,375 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $21,391. Set against $15,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ozarks Technical Community College placed #11 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, compared with $7,040 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,501 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Ozarks Technical Community College generally make around $25,879. That is a strong return on a $10,501 median debt.
Riverland Community College earned the #12 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,297. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $15,732. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Riverland Community College generally make around $49,194. That is a strong return on a $15,732 median debt.
Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,186 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,530 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $24,061. Set against $12,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cowley County Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Arkansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, compared with $6,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,312. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $34,099. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Century College came in at #15 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,214. Students borrow a median of $21,332 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $47,502. That is a strong return on a $21,332 median debt.
Hennepin Technical College earned the #16 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,940 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,887 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $52,059 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,887 median debt.
Ridgewater College came in at #17 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,121. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,750. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Ridgewater College earn a median of $21,574 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Iowa Community College District placed #18 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,456 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,995 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $41,510. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Iowa Western Community College earned the #19 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,930, compared with $7,080 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,153 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $43,444. That is a strong return on a $15,153 median debt.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,908 in tuition and fees. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,169 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $24,367. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Des Moines Area Community College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,790, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,363 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $32,059 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,363 median debt.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College landed the #22 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,326. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College generally make around $32,912. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College landed the #23 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Granite Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,491. Students borrow a median of $8,730 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Minnesota West Community And Technical College generally make around $17,767. That is a strong return on a $8,730 median debt.
Northwest Kansas Technical College landed the #24 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the town of Goodland, Northwest Kansas Technical College is a small public university. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Northwest Kansas Technical College generally make around $41,638.
Warrensburg Area Career Center earned the #25 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Warrensburg, Warrensburg Area Career Center is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $12,614 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Warrensburg Area Career Center earn a median of $23,749 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,614 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in personal & culinary services:
Narrow Personal & Culinary Services Schools by State
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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 · 143 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.
