2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Pennsylvania
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 89 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for personal & culinary services students.
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2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Pennsylvania
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 Westmoreland County Community College, our #1 best value for personal & culinary services in Pennsylvania. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $14,728. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,439 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Montgomery County Community College earned it the #2 place for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,690, while out-of-state students pay about $17,250. Students borrow a median of $15,417 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. 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 came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,956, compared with $12,583 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,263 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Community College Of Allegheny County generally make around $47,420. Set against $15,263 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northampton County Area Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Northampton County Area Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Bethlehem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,550, while out-of-state students pay about $15,270. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $18,500. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Northampton County Area Community College generally make around $39,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Hills Beauty Academy Inc came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the suburb of Pittsburgh, South Hills Beauty Academy Inc is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,662 in student loans. 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.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earned the #6 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,380, while out-of-state students pay about $16,297. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn a median of $29,155 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Susquehanna County Career And Technology Center ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Susquehanna County Career And Technology Center is a small public school located in the rural area of Springville. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,500. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Susquehanna County Career And Technology Center earn a median of $42,238 early in their careers.
Lancaster School Of Cosmetology And Therapeutic Bodywork earned the #8 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Lancaster, Lancaster School Of Cosmetology And Therapeutic Bodywork is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,208. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $19,624. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Laurel Technical Institute ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the rural area of Hermitage, Laurel Technical Institute is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,431. Students borrow a median of $13,600 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,251. Set against $13,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
York County School Of Technology Adult And Continuing Education earned the #10 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of York, York County School Of Technology Adult And Continuing Education is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $14,894 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from York County School Of Technology Adult And Continuing Education generally make around $47,870. That is a strong return on a $14,894 median debt.
Butler Beauty Academy New Castle Beauty Academy earned the #11 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Butler Beauty Academy New Castle Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the town of New Castle. Students borrow a median of $8,028 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Butler Beauty Academy New Castle Beauty Academy generally make around $13,502. That is a strong return on a $8,028 median debt.
Butler Beauty Academy landed the #12 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the town of Butler, Butler Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $8,028 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $13,502. That is a strong return on a $8,028 median debt.
Butler Beauty Academy Kittanning Beauty Academy landed the #13 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the town of Kittanning, Butler Beauty Academy Kittanning Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $8,028 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $13,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Divine Crown Academy Of Cosmetology came in at #14 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Divine Crown Academy Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Harrisburg. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,588. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Divine Crown Academy Of Cosmetology generally make around $14,803.
Laurel Business Institute came in at #15 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Laurel Business Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Uniontown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,713. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,000. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Laurel Business Institute earn a median of $15,447 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Laurel Business Institute admits about 77% of applicants.
Bella Capelli Academy earned the #16 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Bella Capelli Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Monroeville. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,400 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Bella Capelli Academy earn a median of $16,192 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The Beauty Institute Allentown ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Whitehall, The Beauty Institute Allentown is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $11,234 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,063. That is a strong return on a $11,234 median debt.
Lansdale School Of Cosmetology Inc came in at #18 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Lansdale School Of Cosmetology Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lansdale. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Lansdale School Of Cosmetology Inc generally make around $17,234.
Commonwealth Technical Institute earned the #19 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Johnstown, Commonwealth Technical Institute is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,714. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $20,049.
Penn Commercial Business Technical School landed the #20 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Washington, Penn Commercial Business Technical School is a small private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,654. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,318 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Penn Commercial Business Technical School earn a median of $20,871 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Jna Institute Of Culinary Arts came in at #21 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Jna Institute Of Culinary Arts is a small private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,575. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,250 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Jna Institute Of Culinary Arts earn a median of $18,774 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,250 median debt.
The Beauty Institute Ambler ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Ambler, The Beauty Institute Ambler is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,705. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from The Beauty Institute Ambler generally make around $15,977. Set against $11,705 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Empire Beauty School Lancaster placed #23 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Lancaster, Empire Beauty School Lancaster is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,583. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $16,429. That is a strong return on a $13,583 median debt.
Empire Beauty School Hanover ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Empire Beauty School Hanover is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Hanover. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Hanover earn a median of $17,113 early in their careers. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Empire Beauty School Monroeville placed #25 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Monroeville, Empire Beauty School Monroeville is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,583. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Monroeville earn a median of $16,429 early in their careers. Set against $13,583 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for personal & culinary services this year:
More Personal & Culinary Services Rankings
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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 · 89 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
