2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in New Jersey
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong personal & culinary services education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 39 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value personal & culinary services schools.
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2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in New Jersey
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
For return on investment in personal & culinary services, no school beat Hudson County Community College this year. Hudson County Community College is a large public school located in the city of Jersey City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,384, with out-of-state students paying around $9,248. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,900. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Hudson County Community College generally make around $26,170. That is a strong return on a $12,900 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Middlesex County College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,764, while out-of-state students pay about $7,356. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,514 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Middlesex County College generally make around $37,975. Set against $9,514 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Mercer County Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of West Windsor, Mercer County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,310 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,174 for out-of-state students. 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.
Burlington County College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Mount Laurel, Burlington County College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,990, while out-of-state students pay about $9,495. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,488 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Burlington County College generally make around $52,240. That is a strong return on a $12,488 median debt.
Atlantic Cape Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the rural area of Mays Landing, Atlantic Cape Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,594, compared with $8,350 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,000. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $31,639. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brookdale Community College landed the #6 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,270, compared with $10,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,651. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Brookdale Community College generally make around $37,374. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Passaic County Community College earned the #7 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Paterson, Passaic County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,300, while out-of-state students pay about $10,560. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,581. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Passaic County Community College earn a median of $28,957 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Union County Vocational Technical School earned the #8 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Union County Vocational Technical School is a small public school located in the suburb of Scotch Plains. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,590 ten years after entry.
Ocean County Vocational Technical School ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Ocean County Vocational Technical School is a small public school located in the suburb of Toms River. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Ocean County Vocational Technical School generally make around $15,306.
Rizzieri Aveda School For Beauty And Wellness landed the #10 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Rizzieri Aveda School For Beauty And Wellness is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Voorhees. Students borrow a median of $6,333 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $16,954. Set against $6,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Robert Fiance Beauty Schools North Plainfield earned the #11 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of North Plainfield, Robert Fiance Beauty Schools North Plainfield is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $8,248 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Robert Fiance Beauty Schools North Plainfield generally make around $22,676. Set against $8,248 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Total Image Beauty Academy landed the #12 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Total Image Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Union City. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $8,500. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Total Image Beauty Academy earn a median of $12,507 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,500 median debt.
Christine Valmy International School Of Esthetics And Cosmetology earned the #13 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Wayne, Christine Valmy International School Of Esthetics And Cosmetology is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $6,211 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Christine Valmy International School Of Esthetics And Cosmetology generally make around $18,519.
Empire Beauty School Bloomfield landed the #14 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Bloomfield, Empire Beauty School Bloomfield is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $15,765 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Empire Beauty School Bloomfield generally make around $18,408. That is a strong return on a $15,765 median debt.
Parisian Beauty School ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Hackensack, Parisian Beauty School is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,083. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Parisian Beauty School earn a median of $15,517 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Empire Beauty School Union earned the #16 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Union, Empire Beauty School Union is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $15,765. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Union earn a median of $18,408 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Empire Beauty School Cherry Hill placed #17 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Empire Beauty School Cherry Hill is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Cherry Hill. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,492 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $16,251. Set against $14,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Atlantic Beauty And Spa Academy Llc landed the #18 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic Beauty And Spa Academy Llc is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,500. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,284. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
P B Cosmetology Education Center placed #19 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Gloucester, P B Cosmetology Education Center is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $7,667 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from P B Cosmetology Education Center generally make around $16,387. Set against $7,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Artistic Academy Of Hair Design came in at #20 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Morris Plains, Artistic Academy Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Artistic Academy Of Hair Design generally make around $17,274. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Monmouth County Vocational School District placed #21 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Freehold, Monmouth County Vocational School District is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $10,168 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $11,531. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Innovate Salon Academy Ewing landed the #22 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Ewing, Innovate Salon Academy Ewing is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $7,667 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Innovate Salon Academy Ewing earn a median of $16,420 early in their careers.
Cutting Edge Academy placed #23 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Succasunna, Cutting Edge 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 Cutting Edge Academy generally make around $19,411.
Eastwick College Hackensack earned the #24 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Hackensack, Eastwick College Hackensack is a small private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,075. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $22,522 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Eastwick College Hackensack earn a median of $37,108 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Innovate Salon Academy came in at #25 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Innovate Salon Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of South Plainfield. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,667. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Innovate Salon Academy generally make around $16,420.
More Personal & Culinary Services Rankings
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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 · 39 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
