2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 296 schools to find the best return on investment for personal & culinary services students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Our analysis ranked Lake Land College the best value for a degree in personal & culinary services in the Great Lakes Region. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,415, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Students borrow a median of $5,163 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $14,239. That is a strong return on a $5,163 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Cuyahoga Community College District, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $14,636. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $39,394. That is a strong return on a $14,636 median debt.
Moraine Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #3 spot this year. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $43,844. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,144, compared with $9,094 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,382 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Kalamazoo Valley Community College earn a median of $26,843 early in their careers. Set against $14,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Richland Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Richland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Decatur. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,680, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,562 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $46,233. Set against $9,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elgin Community College came in at #6 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,727. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $43,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage placed #7 among the best values for personal & culinary services. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $26,952. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Carl Sandburg College placed #8 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Galesburg. Students from in state pay about $5,390 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $8,604. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Carl Sandburg College earn a median of $48,534 early in their careers. Set against $8,604 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Triton College came in at #9 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,070, while out-of-state students pay about $15,330. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,994. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Triton College generally make around $43,278. That is a strong return on a $12,994 median debt.
Northwestern Michigan College placed #10 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Traverse City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,860, with out-of-state students paying around $13,476. Students borrow a median of $14,199 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Northwestern Michigan College earn a median of $26,586 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Joliet Junior College placed #11 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $16,375. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $28,252. That is a strong return on a $16,375 median debt.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earned the #12 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,517, with out-of-state students paying around $10,044. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,145 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College generally make around $36,330. Set against $12,145 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Schoolcraft College placed #13 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Schoolcraft College is a large public school located in the city of Livonia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,799, compared with $6,501 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Schoolcraft College generally make around $27,248. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt.
Henry Ford Community College placed #14 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, with out-of-state students paying around $7,816. Students borrow a median of $19,144 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $36,247. Set against $19,144 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #15 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,744, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,272 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $43,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sinclair Community College placed #16 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,834 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $28,037 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Lake County landed the #17 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,788, compared with $14,400 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland Community College landed the #18 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,120, while out-of-state students pay about $5,560. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,865 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $43,205 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College placed #19 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $4,926, compared with $7,169 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $18,294. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,219. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $37,506. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Technical College landed the #21 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,956, while out-of-state students pay about $7,199. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,958 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Gateway Technical College generally make around $42,410. That is a strong return on a $7,958 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College earned the #22 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,272. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College generally make around $38,982. Set against $12,272 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Moraine Park Technical College earned the #23 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fond du Lac. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,819, compared with $7,084 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,471 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $39,552. Set against $11,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lakeshore Technical College landed the #24 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,582. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $41,252. Set against $11,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Waukesha County Technical College landed the #25 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,803, with out-of-state students paying around $7,046. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $27,049 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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
More Personal & Culinary Services Rankings
View All Personal & Culinary Services Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 296 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.
