2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Colorado
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 32 schools to find the best return on investment for personal & culinary services students.
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2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Colorado
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Leading the list is Colorado Mountain College, our #1 best value for personal & culinary services in Colorado. Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Glenwood Springs. Students from in state pay about $2,616 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,840. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,953 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $48,694. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Red Rocks Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,859, with out-of-state students paying around $17,459. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,471 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Red Rocks Community College generally make around $76,340. That is a strong return on a $14,471 median debt.
Pikes Peak Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Pikes Peak Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Colorado Springs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,510, compared with $17,110 for out-of-state students. 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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arapahoe Community College earned it the #4 place for personal & culinary services. Arapahoe Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Littleton. In-state tuition and fees average $4,434, while out-of-state students pay about $17,034. Students borrow a median of $22,675 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Arapahoe Community College earn a median of $50,953 early in their careers. Set against $22,675 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Trinidad State Junior College earned it the #5 place for personal & culinary services. 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. Students borrow a median of $10,502 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Trinidad State Junior College generally make around $53,086. Set against $10,502 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar Community College came in at #6 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Lamar, Lamar Community College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,550, with out-of-state students paying around $7,260. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,300. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $25,669. Set against $9,300 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delta Montrose Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the rural area of Delta, Delta Montrose Technical College is a small public institution. Students borrow a median of $6,850 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Delta Montrose Technical College earn a median of $17,125 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Emily Griffith Technical College earned the #8 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Emily Griffith Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Denver. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,730 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Emily Griffith Technical College earn a median of $20,303 early in their careers. Set against $9,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pueblo Community College placed #9 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,049, while out-of-state students pay about $17,649. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,106 in student loans. 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.
Pickens Technical College landed the #10 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $9,250. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Pickens Technical College generally make around $22,997. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Fort Collins placed #11 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Fort Collins is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Loveland. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,850 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Fort Collins earn a median of $20,746 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,850 median debt.
Otero Junior College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the town of La Junta, Otero Junior College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $7,270. Students borrow a median of $21,759 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Otero Junior College generally make around $66,338. That is a strong return on a $21,759 median debt.
Colorado Northwestern Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Colorado Northwestern Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Rangely. In-state tuition and fees average $4,594, while out-of-state students pay about $7,304. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $18,127 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Colorado Northwestern Community College earn a median of $56,978 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,127 median debt.
Northeastern Junior College landed the #14 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the town of Sterling, Northeastern Junior College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,730, while out-of-state students pay about $8,267. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,500 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $22,488. That is a strong return on a $8,500 median debt.
The Salon Professional Academy Colorado Springs ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. The Salon Professional Academy Colorado Springs is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,500. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from The Salon Professional Academy Colorado Springs generally make around $21,340. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Paul Mitchell The School Denver came in at #16 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Paul Mitchell The School Denver is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,833 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $24,952.
Mesa State College earned the #17 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, with out-of-state students paying around $25,124. Students borrow a median of $22,310 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $43,617. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Boulder placed #18 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Boulder, Auguste Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Boulder is a large private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $14,198 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $27,953. Set against $14,198 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
United Beauty College came in at #19 for value in personal & culinary services this year. United Beauty College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Denver. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of United Beauty College earn a median of $19,322 early in their careers.
Stacey James Institute ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Stacey James Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Parker. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $19,659.
Empire Beauty School Thornton placed #21 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Thornton, Empire Beauty School Thornton is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $14,492 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Thornton earn a median of $16,251 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,492 median debt.
Intellitec College Grand Junction placed #22 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Intellitec College Grand Junction is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $13,541 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,804. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Xenon International Academy Denver ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Aurora, Xenon International Academy Denver is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $8,885. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Xenon International Academy Denver earn a median of $19,903 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,885 median debt.
Paul Mitchell The School Colorado Springs came in at #24 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Paul Mitchell The School Colorado Springs is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Students borrow a median of $12,822 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Colorado Springs generally make around $20,417. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Empire Beauty School Littleton earned the #25 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Littleton, Empire Beauty School Littleton is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,667 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,322. That is a strong return on a $10,667 median debt.
Rest of the Top 30 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s personal & culinary services value ranking:
More Personal & Culinary Services Rankings
View All Personal & Culinary Services Rankings >
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 · 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.
