by our College Data Analytics Team
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong personal & culinary services education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for personal & culinary services students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Riverland Community College earned the #1 spot for value among personal & culinary services schools in Minnesota. Located in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,297 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $15,732. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $49,194. That is a strong return on a $15,732 median debt.
Ridgewater College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #2 spot this year. Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Willmar. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,121. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. 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.
A rank of #3 makes Hennepin Technical College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,940. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $17,887. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $52,059. 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 Century College, which ranked #4. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. Students from in state pay about $6,214 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,332 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Century College generally make around $47,502. Set against $21,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the rural area of Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,491. Students borrow a median of $8,730 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,767. That is a strong return on a $8,730 median debt.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College came in at #6 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,326. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $15,875. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College generally make around $32,897. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Avalon School Of Cosmetology came in at #7 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Worthington, Avalon School Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit university. Graduates go on to earn a median of $28,336 ten years after entry.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College landed the #8 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,908. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,169. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Minnesota State Community And Technical College generally make around $24,367. That is a strong return on a $10,169 median debt.
Model College Of Hair Design placed #9 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Model College Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $8,778 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Model College Of Hair Design generally make around $25,814. Set against $8,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #10 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $24,875. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $60,367. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the town of Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,432. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $22,522 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Minnesota State College Southeast Technical earn a median of $50,290 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hastings Beauty School ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the town of Hastings, Hastings Beauty School is a small private for-profit university. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $23,396.
Aveda Institute Minneapolis earned the #13 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Aveda Institute Minneapolis is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,941 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Aveda Institute Minneapolis generally make around $24,230. Set against $9,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Empire Beauty School Spring Lake Park came in at #14 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Spring Lake Park, Empire Beauty School Spring Lake Park is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,765 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Spring Lake Park earn a median of $18,408 early in their careers. Set against $15,765 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Empire Beauty School Bloomington came in at #15 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Empire Beauty School Bloomington is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $13,849 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Bloomington earn a median of $18,639 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,849 median debt.
Pci Academy Plymouth landed the #16 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Plymouth, Pci Academy Plymouth is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,570. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Pci Academy Plymouth generally make around $24,178. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Nova Academy Of Cosmetology placed #17 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Nova Academy Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,999 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Nova Academy Of Cosmetology earn a median of $25,754 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.