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2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Leading the list is Moraine Valley Community College, our #1 best value for personal & culinary services in Illinois. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,822, compared with $9,846 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,149. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $43,844 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,149 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Lake Land College, which ranked #2. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,163 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Lake Land College generally make around $14,239. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Carl Sandburg College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Galesburg, Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,390, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,604 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Carl Sandburg College earn a median of $48,534 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Triton College earned it the #4 place for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,070, with out-of-state students paying around $15,330. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,994. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Triton College earn a median of $43,278 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,994 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Richland Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Decatur, Richland Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,680, with out-of-state students paying around $17,070. Students borrow a median of $9,562 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Richland Community College earn a median of $46,233 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,562 median debt.
ADBLOCK #101
Elgin Community College placed #6 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage landed the #7 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $26,952 early in their careers. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Joliet Junior College placed #8 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Students borrow a median of $16,375 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $28,252. Set against $16,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lincoln Land Community College landed the #9 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Lincoln Land Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $3,744, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,272 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $43,834. That is a strong return on a $11,272 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College landed the #10 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,272. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College earn a median of $38,982 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,272 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College placed #11 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,986 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College generally make around $19,447. Set against $7,986 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Lake County landed the #12 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,788 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,400 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. 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.
Highland Community College Freeport earned the #13 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the rural area of Freeport, Highland Community College Freeport is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,936, while out-of-state students pay about $7,360. Students borrow a median of $13,783 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $46,384. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College came in at #14 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Students borrow a median of $11,458 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College earn a median of $27,158 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,458 median debt.
Kaskaskia College came in at #15 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,570 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,875 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Kaskaskia College earn a median of $45,658 early in their careers. Set against $7,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pivot Point Academy placed #21 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Bloomingdale, Pivot Point Academy is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,833. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Pivot Point Academy generally make around $19,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Capri Beauty College Oak Forest placed #22 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Oak Forest, Capri Beauty College Oak Forest is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Capri Beauty College Oak Forest earn a median of $15,737 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oehrlein School Of Cosmetology earned the #23 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of East Peoria, Oehrlein School Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,833. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Oehrlein School Of Cosmetology generally make around $14,763. That is a strong return on a $9,833 median debt.
Debutantes School Of Cosmetology And Nail Technology came in at #24 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Debutantes School Of Cosmetology And Nail Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,958. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $16,046.
Educators Of Beauty College Of Cosmetology La Salle placed #25 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the town of PERU, Educators Of Beauty College Of Cosmetology La Salle is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $9,646 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Educators Of Beauty College Of Cosmetology La Salle generally make around $22,967. Set against $9,646 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s personal & culinary services value ranking:
[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.
