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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the New England Region

3 Colleges in the United States
$12,091 Avg Student Debt
$36,180 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Badge [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.

College Factual analyzed 69 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 the New England Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools

1

Our analysis ranked Holyoke Community College the best value for a degree in personal & culinary services in the New England Region. Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Holyoke. Students from in state pay about $5,988 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,932. Students borrow a median of $9,763 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Holyoke Community College generally make around $43,423. Set against $9,763 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

2

Bunker Hill Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Bunker Hill Community College is a large public school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,168, compared with $11,112 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,893 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Bunker Hill Community College generally make around $51,782. That is a strong return on a $11,893 median debt.

3

Capital Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $43,086. That is a strong return on a $12,059 median debt.

4

Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at North Shore Community College, which ranked #4. North Shore Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Danvers. Students from in state pay about $5,352 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,920. Students borrow a median of $14,145 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from North Shore Community College generally make around $51,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

5

A rank of #5 makes Massasoit Community College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Brockton, Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,376, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Students borrow a median of $10,894 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Massasoit Community College earn a median of $42,938 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

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6

Eastern Maine Community College placed #6 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Bangor, Eastern Maine Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $17,741. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $52,263. That is a strong return on a $17,741 median debt.

7
Cape Cod Community College crest
Cape Cod Community College
West Barnstable, MA

Cape Cod Community College placed #7 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of West Barnstable, Cape Cod Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,000, with out-of-state students paying around $10,944. Students borrow a median of $14,669 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Cape Cod Community College earn a median of $47,939 early in their careers. Set against $14,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

8

Empire Beauty School Laconia landed the #8 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Empire Beauty School Laconia is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Laconia. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $24,089. That is a strong return on a $9,833 median debt.

9

Empire Beauty School Hooksett came in at #9 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Hooksett, Empire Beauty School Hooksett is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Empire Beauty School Hooksett generally make around $24,089. That is a strong return on a $9,833 median debt.

10

Southeastern Technical Institute placed #10 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of South Easton, Southeastern Technical Institute is a small public university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $49,476. Southeastern Technical Institute admits about 71% of applicants.

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11

Empire Beauty School Somersworth ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Somersworth, Empire Beauty School Somersworth is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Empire Beauty School Somersworth generally make around $20,596.

12

Branford Academy Of Hair And Cosmetology came in at #12 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Branford, Branford Academy Of Hair And Cosmetology is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $13,918 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Branford Academy Of Hair And Cosmetology generally make around $15,931.

13

Paul Mitchell The School North Haven came in at #13 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Paul Mitchell The School North Haven is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of North Haven. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $19,288. That is a strong return on a $9,833 median debt.

14

Jupiter Beauty Academy landed the #14 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Boston, Jupiter Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,740 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,780.

15

Charles H Mccann Technical School earned the #15 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Charles H Mccann Technical School is a small public school located in the rural area of North Adams. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Charles H Mccann Technical School generally make around $54,802.

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16

Academy Di Capelli School Of Cosmetology ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Wallingford, Academy Di Capelli School Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $10,666 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $19,955.

17

Oxford Academy Of Hair Design Inc placed #17 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Oxford Academy Of Hair Design Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Seymour. Students borrow a median of $10,851 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Oxford Academy Of Hair Design Inc generally make around $16,963.

18

Riccis Academy Of Cosmetology came in at #18 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Riccis Academy Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Newtown. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Riccis Academy Of Cosmetology generally make around $21,621.

19

International Institute Of Cosmetology came in at #19 for value in personal & culinary services this year. International Institute Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Wethersfield. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,946 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of International Institute Of Cosmetology earn a median of $20,111 early in their careers.

20

Spa Tech Institute Westbrook landed the #20 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Westbrook, Spa Tech Institute Westbrook is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $7,117 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Spa Tech Institute Westbrook earn a median of $21,124 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

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21

Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute placed #21 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Lowell, Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $7,944 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute generally make around $17,058.

22

Spa Tech Institute Westboro placed #22 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Westborough, Spa Tech Institute Westboro is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,117. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $21,124. That is a strong return on a $7,117 median debt.

23

Keene Beauty Academy came in at #23 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Keene, Keene Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,966 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Keene Beauty Academy generally make around $17,164.

24

Catherine Hinds Institute Of Esthetics landed the #24 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Woburn, Catherine Hinds Institute Of Esthetics is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,667. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $26,234.

25
Dolce Llc The Academy crest
Dolce Llc The Academy
Waterbury, CT

Dolce Llc The Academy came in at #25 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Waterbury, Dolce Llc The Academy is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans.

Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools

These schools also delivered strong value for personal & culinary services this year:

26
27
Digrigoli School Of Cosmetology crest
Digrigoli School Of Cosmetology
West Springfield, MA
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
Goodwin College crest
Goodwin College
East Hartford, CT
45
46
47
48
Alexander Academy crest
Alexander Academy
Lunenburg, MA
49
50

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 69 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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