2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 243 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for personal & culinary services students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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
For return on investment in personal & culinary services, no school beat Suffolk County Community College this year. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,246. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $35,667. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny Kingsborough Community College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,252, compared with $8,132 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,858. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $35,562. 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 Nassau Community College, which ranked #3. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. In-state tuition and fees average $6,330, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,942 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $44,695 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,942 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Schenectady County Community College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Schenectady, Schenectady County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,190, while out-of-state students pay about $8,974. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,902.
Middlesex County College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #5 spot this year. Middlesex County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Edison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,764, while out-of-state students pay about $7,356. Students borrow a median of $9,514 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $37,975. Set against $9,514 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hudson County Community College placed #6 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Jersey City, Hudson County Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,384 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,248. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,900. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Hudson County Community College earn a median of $26,170 early in their careers. Set against $12,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delaware Technical Community College Terry placed #7 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public school located in the city of Dover. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,332, compared with $5,763 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,154 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $26,031. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Burlington County College landed the #8 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Mount Laurel, Burlington County College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,990, while out-of-state students pay about $9,495. Students borrow a median of $12,488 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $52,240. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Niagara County Community College came in at #9 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the rural area of Sanborn, Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,030 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Niagara County Community College earn a median of $26,514 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mercer County Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the rural area of West Windsor, Mercer County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,310, with out-of-state students paying around $9,174. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,250. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $45,389. That is a strong return on a $12,250 median debt.
Brookdale Community College came in at #11 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Brookdale Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lincroft. Students from in state pay about $6,270 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,140. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,651. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $37,374. Set against $12,651 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Atlantic Cape Community College came in at #12 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Atlantic Cape Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mays Landing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,594, compared with $8,350 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Atlantic Cape Community College generally make around $31,639. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Westmoreland County Community College placed #13 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Youngwood, Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,306, with out-of-state students paying around $14,728. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,000. Median earnings reach $37,439 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Monroe Community College landed the #14 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,006, compared with $11,056 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,921 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Monroe Community College earn a median of $38,757 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,921 median debt.
Hudson Valley Community College came in at #15 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,796 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,852. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,868 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $43,989. Set against $12,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Erie Community College came in at #16 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Erie Community College is a large public school located in the city of Buffalo. Students from in state pay about $6,100 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $6,439 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,565. Set against $6,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The Community College Of Baltimore County landed the #17 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,110 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,182 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $18,038 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of The Community College Of Baltimore County earn a median of $52,440 early in their careers. Set against $18,038 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Passaic County Community College placed #18 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Paterson, Passaic County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,300, with out-of-state students paying around $10,560. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,581. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Passaic County Community College generally make around $28,957. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Montgomery County Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,690, with out-of-state students paying around $17,250. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $15,417. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Montgomery County Community College generally make around $30,324. Set against $15,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Community College Of Allegheny County landed the #20 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,956, with out-of-state students paying around $12,583. Students borrow a median of $15,263 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Community College Of Allegheny County generally make around $47,420. That is a strong return on a $15,263 median debt.
Prince Georges Community College came in at #21 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Prince Georges Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Largo. Students from in state pay about $4,034 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,762 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,949. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Prince Georges Community College generally make around $56,960. Set against $13,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Monroe College Main Campus came in at #22 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,464. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,364 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,256. Set against $13,364 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Adirondack Community College landed the #23 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the suburb of Queensbury, Adirondack Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,844, with out-of-state students paying around $9,616. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,358 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $31,590. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Hills Beauty Academy Inc landed the #24 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. South Hills Beauty Academy Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Pittsburgh. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,662. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from South Hills Beauty Academy Inc generally make around $20,852. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northampton County Area Community College placed #25 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,550, compared with $15,270 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $39,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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:
Narrow Personal & Culinary Services Schools by State
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 243 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
