2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Massachusetts
[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 32 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 Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Holyoke Community College earned the #1 spot for value among personal & culinary services schools in Massachusetts. Located in the rural area of Holyoke, Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,988, with out-of-state students paying around $10,932. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,763 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Holyoke Community College earn a median of $43,423 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,763 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bunker Hill Community College earned it the #2 place for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,168 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,112 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,893 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Bunker Hill Community College earn a median of $51,782 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,893 median debt.
North Shore Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Danvers, North Shore Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,352, compared with $10,920 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,145 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $51,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Massasoit Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brockton. Students from in state pay about $5,376 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,894 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Massasoit Community College earn a median of $42,938 early in their careers. Set against $10,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cape Cod Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Cape Cod Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of West Barnstable. Students from in state pay about $6,000 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,944 for out-of-state students. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeastern Technical Institute landed the #6 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the suburb of South Easton, Southeastern Technical Institute is a small public institution. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Southeastern Technical Institute generally make around $49,476. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Jupiter Beauty Academy came in at #7 for value in personal & culinary services 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. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Jupiter Beauty Academy earn a median of $15,780 early in their careers.
Charles H Mccann Technical School placed #8 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the rural area of North Adams, Charles H Mccann Technical School is a small public university. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $54,802.
Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute landed the #9 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lowell. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,944. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,058.
Spa Tech Institute Westboro landed the #10 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Spa Tech Institute Westboro is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Westborough. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,117 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $21,124. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Catherine Hinds Institute Of Esthetics placed #11 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Woburn, Catherine Hinds Institute Of Esthetics is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,667 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Catherine Hinds Institute Of Esthetics earn a median of $26,234 early in their careers.
Digrigoli School Of Cosmetology landed the #12 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Digrigoli School Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of West Springfield. Students borrow a median of $7,735 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Digrigoli School Of Cosmetology earn a median of $15,096 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Empire Beauty School Malden placed #13 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Malden, Empire Beauty School Malden is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $13,583 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Malden earn a median of $15,679 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Massachusetts School Of Barbering earned the #14 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Quincy, Massachusetts School Of Barbering is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,833.
Spa Tech Institute Plymouth landed the #15 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Plymouth, Spa Tech Institute Plymouth is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $7,117 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $21,124. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
New England Hair Academy landed the #16 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Malden, New England Hair Academy is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $8,083 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of New England Hair Academy earn a median of $17,390 early in their careers.
Rob Roy Academy Taunton landed the #17 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Taunton, Rob Roy Academy Taunton is a small private for-profit university.
Rob Roy Academy Worcester placed #18 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Worcester, Rob Roy Academy Worcester is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,500. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,208. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Boston University earned the #19 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Tri County Regional Vocational Technical High School placed #20 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Franklin, Tri County Regional Vocational Technical High School is a small public institution. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Tri County Regional Vocational Technical High School generally make around $53,693.
Mildred Elley Pittsfield Campus came in at #21 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Mildred Elley Pittsfield Campus is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Pittsfield. Students from in state pay about $16,052 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,230 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Mildred Elley Pittsfield Campus earn a median of $45,688 early in their careers. Set against $22,230 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alexander Academy ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Lunenburg, Alexander Academy is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Alexander Academy generally make around $15,615.
Spa Tech Institute North Andover came in at #23 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of North Andover, Spa Tech Institute North Andover is a small private for-profit university. Graduates go on to earn a median of $27,803 ten years after entry.
Rob Roy Academy Fall River came in at #24 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Fall River, Rob Roy Academy Fall River is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Rob Roy Academy Fall River generally make around $18,364. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Worcester came in at #25 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Worcester, Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Worcester is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,667 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Worcester earn a median of $20,720 early in their careers.
Rest of the Top 26 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
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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
