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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 Southeast Region

36 Colleges in the United States
$11,556 Avg Student Debt
$29,777 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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong personal & culinary services education at a price that pays off.

College Factual analyzed 595 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value personal & culinary services schools.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region

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

1

Leading the list is South Georgia Technical College, our #1 best value for personal & culinary services in the Southeast Region. South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Americus. Students from in state pay about $3,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,202. Students borrow a median of $10,423 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from South Georgia Technical College generally make around $20,501. That is a strong return on a $10,423 median debt.

2

Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Pensacola State College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,361, compared with $9,463 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Pensacola State College earn a median of $23,911 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.

3

Wilkes Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #3 spot this year. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. Students from in state pay about $2,572 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,716. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,125 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $36,341. That is a strong return on a $9,125 median debt.

4

Florida State College At Jacksonville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,577. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $29,668. That is a strong return on a $13,577 median debt.

5

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College earned it the #5 place for personal & culinary services. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Valdosta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,480, while out-of-state students pay about $6,048. Students borrow a median of $10,864 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College earn a median of $19,659 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,864 median debt.

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6

Southern Regional Technical College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,007, with out-of-state students paying around $5,575. Students borrow a median of $9,086 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

7

Central Carolina Community College earned the #7 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,711, with out-of-state students paying around $8,855. Students borrow a median of $12,167 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Central Carolina Community College earn a median of $24,101 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

8

Georgia Northwestern Technical College placed #8 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rome. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $5,868. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $8,492. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $41,229. Set against $8,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

9

Trident Technical College earned the #9 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $50,166 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.

10

Central Piedmont Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,861. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $27,127. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

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11

Fayetteville Technical Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $6,987. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $48,022. That is a strong return on a $6,987 median debt.

12

Southern Crescent Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Griffin. Students from in state pay about $3,516 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,084 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $17,619. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Southern Crescent Technical College earn a median of $45,062 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,619 median debt.

13

Durham Technical Community College earned the #13 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. Students from in state pay about $2,240 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,531 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,408 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $46,293. That is a strong return on a $20,408 median debt.

14

Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins placed #14 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a large public school located in the city of Warner Robins. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,448, with out-of-state students paying around $6,016. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,217 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $39,765. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

15

West Georgia Technical College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,410, compared with $5,978 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $8,500. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of West Georgia Technical College earn a median of $11,925 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,500 median debt.

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16

Florida Gateway College earned the #16 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Lake City, Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,747. Students borrow a median of $6,400 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Florida Gateway College earn a median of $16,195 early in their careers. Set against $6,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

17

Cleveland Community College earned the #17 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Shelby. In-state tuition and fees average $2,602, while out-of-state students pay about $8,746. Students borrow a median of $7,131 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $13,347. That is a strong return on a $7,131 median debt.

18
Gulf Coast State College crest
Gulf Coast State College
Panama City, FL

Gulf Coast State College earned the #18 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Panama City, Gulf Coast State College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,370, compared with $8,635 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,286 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $49,086. Set against $8,286 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

19

Coastal Pines Technical College came in at #19 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Waycross, Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,268, compared with $5,836 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,812 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Coastal Pines Technical College generally make around $39,090. Set against $5,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

20

Oconee Fall Line Technical College came in at #20 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Oconee Fall Line Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Sandersville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,380, compared with $5,948 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,718 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Oconee Fall Line Technical College earn a median of $47,076 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

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21

Gadsden State Community College placed #21 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Gadsden, Gadsden State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,272, while out-of-state students pay about $7,368. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,312. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Gadsden State Community College earn a median of $19,107 early in their careers. Set against $9,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

22

George C Wallace State Community College Dothan earned the #22 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,980 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,850. Students borrow a median of $9,942 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of George C Wallace State Community College Dothan earn a median of $19,828 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

23

Ogeechee Technical College landed the #23 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the town of Statesboro, Ogeechee Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,388 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,956. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,894. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,660. That is a strong return on a $11,894 median debt.

24

Northeast Alabama Community College placed #24 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rainsville. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,910 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,459 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Northeast Alabama Community College generally make around $35,119. That is a strong return on a $7,459 median debt.

25

Indian River State College landed the #25 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,764, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,540 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $18,411. Set against $9,540 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:

26
27
28
29
Chipola College crest
Chipola College
Marianna, FL
30
31
32
33
34
35
St Petersburg College crest
St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL
36
37
38
39
40
41
Lanier Technical College crest
Lanier Technical College
Gainesville, GA
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 595 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 36 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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