2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 103 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 the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Our analysis ranked Eastern Wyoming College the best value for a degree in personal & culinary services in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the town of Torrington, Eastern Wyoming College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,290, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,690 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Eastern Wyoming College earn a median of $24,995 early in their careers. Set against $7,690 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Colorado Mountain College, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,616, with out-of-state students paying around $12,840. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,953. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Colorado Mountain College generally make around $48,694. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Salt Lake Community College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Salt Lake Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,426, while out-of-state students pay about $14,244. Students borrow a median of $10,855 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $31,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Utah Valley University earned it the #4 place for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, while out-of-state students pay about $18,489. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $16,478 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $27,056 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Snow College, which ranked #5. Snow College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Ephraim. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,338, with out-of-state students paying around $14,288. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,440 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $42,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Southern Idaho earned the #6 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,360 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,840. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,175. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from College Of Southern Idaho generally make around $39,099. Set against $11,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Red Rocks Community College earned the #7 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,859 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,459. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,471 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $76,340. That is a strong return on a $14,471 median debt.
Trinidad State Junior College landed the #8 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,608, while out-of-state students pay about $7,318. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,502. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Trinidad State Junior College generally make around $53,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pikes Peak Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,510, while out-of-state students pay about $17,110. Students borrow a median of $16,066 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $41,037. Set against $16,066 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arapahoe Community College earned the #10 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,434, compared with $17,034 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $22,675 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Arapahoe Community College earn a median of $50,953 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar Community College earned the #11 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Lamar, Lamar Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,550, with out-of-state students paying around $7,260. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,300. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Lamar Community College generally make around $25,669. That is a strong return on a $9,300 median debt.
Delta Montrose Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the rural area of Delta, Delta Montrose Technical College is a small public university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $6,850 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Delta Montrose Technical College earn a median of $17,125 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,850 median debt.
Utah State University came in at #13 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,560 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Students borrow a median of $16,191 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $50,348. Set against $16,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Emily Griffith Technical College landed the #14 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Denver, Emily Griffith Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,730. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $20,303. Set against $9,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pueblo Community College came in at #15 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,049, compared with $17,649 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $14,106. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Pueblo Community College generally make around $12,890. That is a strong return on a $14,106 median debt.
Otero Junior College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the town of La Junta, Otero Junior College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $7,270. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $21,759 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Otero Junior College earn a median of $66,338 early in their careers. Set against $21,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ogden Weber Technical College landed the #17 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Ogden Weber Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Ogden. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Ogden Weber Technical College generally make around $14,030. Set against $8,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bridgerland Technical College earned the #18 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Logan, Bridgerland Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Bridgerland Technical College generally make around $21,281. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pickens Technical College placed #19 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Aurora, Pickens Technical College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,140 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,250. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $22,997. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Colorado Northwestern Community College earned the #20 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the rural area of Rangely, Colorado Northwestern Community College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,594, compared with $7,304 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $18,127 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Colorado Northwestern Community College generally make around $56,978. Set against $18,127 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeastern Junior College earned the #21 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Northeastern Junior College is a small public school located in the town of Sterling. In-state tuition and fees average $5,730, compared with $8,267 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Northeastern Junior College earn a median of $22,488 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,500 median debt.
Davis Technical College came in at #22 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Davis Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kaysville. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Davis Technical College generally make around $18,745. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Fort Collins earned the #23 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Loveland, Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Fort Collins is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $7,850 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Fort Collins generally make around $20,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The Salon Professional Academy Colorado Springs came in at #24 for value in personal & culinary services this year. The Salon Professional Academy Colorado Springs is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $21,340. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Cheyenne landed the #25 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Cheyenne, Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Cheyenne is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,850 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Cheyenne earn a median of $20,746 early in their careers. Set against $7,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s personal & culinary services value ranking:
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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 · 103 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
