2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in New York
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 75 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 New York
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
Leading the list is Suffolk County Community College, our #1 best value for personal & culinary services in New York. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Students borrow a median of $11,246 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. Set against $11,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,252, while out-of-state students pay about $8,132. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,858 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $35,562. Set against $7,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Nassau Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,330, with out-of-state students paying around $12,130. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,942 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Nassau Community College generally make around $44,695. Set against $11,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Schenectady County Community College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Schenectady County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Schenectady. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,190, with out-of-state students paying around $8,974. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,902 ten years after entry.
Niagara County Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Sanborn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,894, compared with $12,030 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $26,514. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hudson Valley Community College landed the #6 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Hudson Valley Community College is a large public school located in the city of Troy. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,796, compared with $11,852 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,868 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Hudson Valley Community College generally make around $43,989. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Monroe Community College placed #7 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Monroe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rochester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,006, while out-of-state students pay about $11,056. 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.
Erie Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $6,439. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Erie Community College generally make around $15,565. That is a strong return on a $6,439 median debt.
Monroe College Main Campus earned the #9 position 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. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Adirondack Community College earned the #10 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Queensbury, Adirondack Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,844 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,616 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,358 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Adirondack Community College earn a median of $31,590 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred came in at #11 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Alfred. Students from in state pay about $8,892 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,837. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,000. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $26,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Eastern Suffolk Boces Riverhead came in at #12 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Riverhead, Eastern Suffolk Boces Riverhead is a small public university. Median earnings reach $63,394 ten years out.
Finger Lakes Community College came in at #13 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the rural area of Canandaigua, Finger Lakes Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,258, with out-of-state students paying around $8,442. Students borrow a median of $16,736 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Finger Lakes Community College generally make around $40,467. That is a strong return on a $16,736 median debt.
Suny College Of Technology At Canton came in at #14 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Suny College Of Technology At Canton is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Canton. Students from in state pay about $8,742 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,769. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $23,640 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $46,515. That is a strong return on a $23,640 median debt. Suny College Of Technology At Canton admits about 92% of applicants.
Career School Of Ny came in at #15 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Career School Of Ny is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Staten Island. Median earnings reach $35,778 ten years out.
Aesthetic Science Institute came in at #16 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Latham, Aesthetic Science Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $6,333 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Aesthetic Science Institute generally make around $22,638.
Eastern Suffolk Boces Oakdale earned the #17 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Oakdale, Eastern Suffolk Boces Oakdale is a small public university. Median earnings reach $63,394 ten years out.
Lia Schorr Institute Of Cosmetic Skin Care Training ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of New York, Lia Schorr Institute Of Cosmetic Skin Care Training is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $6,333. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,926.
Erie 1 Boces placed #19 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of West Seneca, Erie 1 Boces is a small public institution. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Erie 1 Boces earn a median of $15,359 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Atelier Esthetique Institute Of Esthetics landed the #20 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Atelier Esthetique Institute Of Esthetics is a small private for-profit school located in the city of New York. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $6,333. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Atelier Esthetique Institute Of Esthetics generally make around $21,516. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Long Island Nail And Skin Care Institute earned the #21 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Bethpage, Long Island Nail And Skin Care Institute is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $6,333 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,644. That is a strong return on a $6,333 median debt.
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi came in at #22 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the rural area of Delhi, Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,772, compared with $12,762 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $20,303. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Suny College Of Technology At Delhi earn a median of $20,213 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,303 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Christine Valmy International School For Esthetics Skin Care And Makeup ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Christine Valmy International School For Esthetics Skin Care And Makeup is a small private for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students borrow a median of $6,197 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Christine Valmy International School For Esthetics Skin Care And Makeup earn a median of $19,396 early in their careers.
American Beauty School earned the #24 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Bronx, American Beauty School is a small private for-profit university. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $21,111.
Continental School Of Beauty Culture Mattydale landed the #25 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Mattydale, Continental School Of Beauty Culture Mattydale is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,617 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Continental School Of Beauty Culture Mattydale earn a median of $18,208 early in their careers. Set against $9,617 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in personal & culinary services:
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 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 · 75 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
