2027 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Iowa
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value personal & culinary services schools.
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2027 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Iowa
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
Western Iowa Tech Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools in Iowa. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. In-state tuition and fees average $5,186, with out-of-state students paying around $5,330. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,530 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $24,061 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,530 median debt.
Kirkwood Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,375 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $21,391 early in their careers. Set against $15,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,790, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,363 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $30,031. That is a strong return on a $12,363 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at La James College Of Hairstyling And Cosmetology, which ranked #4. La James College Of Hairstyling And Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Mason City. Students borrow a median of $8,582 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of La James College Of Hairstyling And Cosmetology earn a median of $23,313 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,582 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Faust Institute Of Cosmetology Spirit Lake one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the town of Spirit Lake, Faust Institute Of Cosmetology Spirit Lake is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Faust Institute Of Cosmetology Spirit Lake generally make around $20,098. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Iowa Western Community College placed #6 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,930, compared with $7,080 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $15,153. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $43,444. Set against $15,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Iowa Community College District placed #7 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public school located in the city of Davenport. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,848, compared with $6,456 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,995 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Eastern Iowa Community College District generally make around $41,510. That is a strong return on a $15,995 median debt.
Iowa School Of Beauty Des Moines placed #8 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Des Moines, Iowa School Of Beauty Des Moines is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $9,130 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Iowa School Of Beauty Des Moines earn a median of $20,355 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,130 median debt.
The Salon Professional Academy Cedar Falls landed the #9 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, The Salon Professional Academy Cedar Falls is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $14,120 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Median earnings reach $20,955 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
E Q School Of Hair Design earned the #10 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. E Q School Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Council Bluffs. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,294. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $16,234. That is a strong return on a $10,294 median debt.
American Hair Academy placed #11 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the town of Mt. Pleasant, American Hair Academy is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,205 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $10,853. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Capri College Dubuque landed the #12 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Dubuque, Capri College Dubuque is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,000. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Capri College Dubuque earn a median of $19,651 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
La James International College Ft Dodge landed the #13 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the town of Fort Dodge, La James International College Ft Dodge is a small private for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $26,679 ten years after entry.
La James International College Johnston landed the #14 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Johnston, La James International College Johnston is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,116. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from La James International College Johnston generally make around $17,464. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Capri College Cedar Rapids placed #15 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Capri College Cedar Rapids is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $11,681 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $23,586. Set against $11,681 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Capri College Davenport landed the #16 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Davenport, Capri College Davenport is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,019. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Capri College Davenport earn a median of $22,161 early in their careers. Set against $11,019 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Iowa School Of Beauty Sioux City landed the #17 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Sioux City, Iowa School Of Beauty Sioux City is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $16,811. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Iowa School Of Beauty Sioux City earn a median of $20,000 early in their careers. Set against $16,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
La James International College Davenport landed the #18 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. La James International College Davenport is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,751. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,120. Set against $12,751 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Aveda Institute Des Moines came in at #19 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Aveda Institute Des Moines is a small private for-profit school located in the city of West Des Moines. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Aveda Institute Des Moines generally make around $27,081. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
La James International College Cedar Falls earned the #20 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, La James International College Cedar Falls is a small private for-profit institution. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $25,575.
Pci Academy Ames landed the #21 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Ames, Pci Academy Ames is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,570 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $24,178. That is a strong return on a $10,570 median debt.
Pci Academy Iowa City ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Iowa City, Pci Academy Iowa City is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $10,570 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Pci Academy Iowa City generally make around $24,178. Set against $10,570 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
