2026 Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in North Carolina
Personal & Culinary Services is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 75 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for personal & culinary services students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Personal & Culinary Services in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall personal & culinary services education in North Carolina.
Top Schools in Personal & Culinary Services
Leading the list is Johnson And Wales University Charlotte, our #1 school for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Charlotte, Johnson And Wales University Charlotte is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 166 personal & culinary services degrees were awarded at Johnson And Wales University Charlotte in the most recent year. Students who receive their personal & culinary services degree from Johnson And Wales University Charlotte earn around $30,145 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,745.
Read more about the personal & culinary services program at Johnson And Wales University Charlotte
A rank of #2 makes Central Piedmont Community College one of the top schools for personal & culinary services. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. About 387 personal & culinary services degrees were awarded at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $27,127. Central Piedmont Community College graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans.
See the full personal & culinary services program report for Central Piedmont Community College
Students looking for a strong personal & culinary services program will find one at Mitchell Community College, which ranked #3. Mitchell Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Statesville. About 93 personal & culinary services degrees were awarded at Mitchell Community College in the most recent year. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Mitchell Community College earn a median of $40,450 early in their careers. Mitchell Community College graduates carry a median of $6,313 in student loans.
Get the full personal & culinary services details for Mitchell Community College
Students looking for a strong personal & culinary services program will find one at Fayetteville Technical Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 379 personal & culinary services students who graduated with this degree at Fayetteville Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $48,022. Fayetteville Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $6,987 in student loans.
Read more about the personal & culinary services program at Fayetteville Technical Community College
Cape Fear Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public institution. Cape Fear Community College awarded about 164 personal & culinary services degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Cape Fear Community College generally make around $42,889. Cape Fear Community College graduates carry a median of $12,388 in student loans.
See the full personal & culinary services program report for Cape Fear Community College
Catawba Valley Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Catawba Valley Community College awarded about 17 personal & culinary services degrees in the most recent data year. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Catawba Valley Community College earn a median of $16,506 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,842.
Read more about the personal & culinary services program at Catawba Valley Community College
Wake Technical Community College came in at #7 for personal & culinary services this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Raleigh. About 124 personal & culinary services degrees were awarded at Wake Technical Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the personal & culinary services program make about $23,286 in their early career. Wake Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $10,460 in student loans.
See the full personal & culinary services program report for Wake Technical Community College
Gaston College earned the #8 position for personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 44 personal & culinary services students who graduated with this degree at Gaston College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their personal & culinary services degree from Gaston College earn around $27,008 in the first couple years of their career. Gaston College graduates carry a median of $10,915 in student loans.
Read more about the personal & culinary services program at Gaston College
Wilkes Community College landed the #9 spot for personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 57 personal & culinary services students who graduated with this degree at Wilkes Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Wilkes Community College generally make around $36,341. Students borrow a median of $9,125 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in personal & culinary services from Wilkes Community College
Central Carolina Community College placed #10 among the best personal & culinary services schools. Located in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 96 personal & culinary services degrees were awarded at Central Carolina Community College in the most recent year. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Central Carolina Community College earn a median of $24,101 early in their careers. Central Carolina Community College graduates carry a median of $12,167 in student loans.
More information about a degree in personal & culinary services from Central Carolina Community College
Guilford Technical Community College earned the #11 position for personal & culinary services this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Jamestown. About 106 personal & culinary services degrees were awarded at Guilford Technical Community College in the most recent year. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Guilford Technical Community College earn a median of $15,307 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,085.
More information about a degree in personal & culinary services from Guilford Technical Community College
Rowan Cabarrus Community College earned the #12 position for personal & culinary services this year. Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salisbury. Rowan Cabarrus Community College awarded about 137 personal & culinary services degrees in the most recent data year. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Rowan Cabarrus Community College earn a median of $22,578 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full personal & culinary services details for Rowan Cabarrus Community College
Durham Technical Community College placed #13 among the best personal & culinary services schools. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. About 22 personal & culinary services degrees were awarded at Durham Technical Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the personal & culinary services program make about $46,293 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,408 to complete this degree.
See the full personal & culinary services program report for Durham Technical Community College
Lenoir Community College landed the #14 spot for personal & culinary services this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Kinston. About 47 personal & culinary services degrees were awarded at Lenoir Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Lenoir Community College generally make around $14,172. Students borrow a median of $9,984 to complete this degree.
Get the full personal & culinary services details for Lenoir Community College
Stanly Community College earned the #15 position for personal & culinary services this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Albemarle. Stanly Community College awarded about 38 personal & culinary services degrees in the most recent data year. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Stanly Community College earn a median of $41,920 early in their careers.
See the full personal & culinary services program report for Stanly Community College
Cleveland Community College earned the #16 position for personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 58 personal & culinary services students who graduated with this degree at Cleveland Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Cleveland Community College generally make around $13,347. Typical student debt for the program is $7,131.
See the full personal & culinary services program report for Cleveland Community College
Robeson Community College landed the #17 spot for personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Lumberton, Robeson Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 34 personal & culinary services degrees were awarded at Robeson Community College in the most recent year. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Robeson Community College earn a median of $52,951 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,949.
Get the full personal & culinary services details for Robeson Community College
Randolph Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best personal & culinary services schools. Located in the town of Asheboro, Randolph Community College is a mid-sized public university. Randolph Community College awarded about 89 personal & culinary services degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their personal & culinary services degree from Randolph Community College earn around $32,198 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in personal & culinary services from Randolph Community College
Alamance Community College earned the #19 position for personal & culinary services this year. Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Graham. There were roughly 102 personal & culinary services students who graduated with this degree at Alamance Community College in the most recent data year. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Alamance Community College earn a median of $37,585 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete this degree.
Get the full personal & culinary services details for Alamance Community College
Coastal Carolina Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best personal & culinary services schools. Coastal Carolina Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Jacksonville. About 72 personal & culinary services degrees were awarded at Coastal Carolina Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Coastal Carolina Community College generally make around $14,444. Typical student debt for the program is $7,125.
Read more about the personal & culinary services program at Coastal Carolina Community College
Isothermal Community College placed #21 among the best personal & culinary services schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Spindale. There were roughly 56 personal & culinary services students who graduated with this degree at Isothermal Community College in the most recent data year. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Isothermal Community College earn a median of $47,389 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in personal & culinary services from Isothermal Community College
Sampson Community College landed the #22 spot for personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Clinton, Sampson Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Sampson Community College awarded about 24 personal & culinary services degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the personal & culinary services program make about $45,929 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,596.
More information about a degree in personal & culinary services from Sampson Community College
Johnston Community College landed the #23 spot for personal & culinary services this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Smithfield. Johnston Community College awarded about 32 personal & culinary services degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their personal & culinary services degree from Johnston Community College earn around $37,472 in the first couple years of their career. Johnston Community College graduates carry a median of $9,490 in student loans.
Get the full personal & culinary services details for Johnston Community College
Davidson County Community College came in at #24 for personal & culinary services this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Thomasville. There were roughly 56 personal & culinary services students who graduated with this degree at Davidson County Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the personal & culinary services program make about $19,024 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,693 to complete this degree.
Read more about the personal & culinary services program at Davidson County Community College
Nash Community College landed the #25 spot for personal & culinary services this year. Nash Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rocky Mount. About 54 personal & culinary services degrees were awarded at Nash Community College in the most recent year. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Nash Community College earn a median of $45,512 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,969 to complete this degree.
See the full personal & culinary services program report for Nash Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong personal & culinary services education:
More Personal & Culinary Services Rankings
View All Personal & Culinary Services Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 75 schools evaluated.
- 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.
