2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Alabama
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong personal & culinary services education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 31 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 Alabama
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
Leading the list is Northeast Alabama Community College, our #1 best value for personal & culinary services in Alabama. Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rainsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, compared with $8,910 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,459 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $35,119. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,980, while out-of-state students pay about $8,850. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,942 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $19,828. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gadsden State Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Gadsden, Gadsden State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,272, while out-of-state students pay about $7,368. Students borrow a median of $9,312 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Gadsden State Community College generally make around $19,107. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lurleen B Wallace Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Andalusia, Lurleen B Wallace Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,190 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,060. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $20,912. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes George C Wallace State Community College Selma one of the best values for personal & culinary services. George C Wallace State Community College Selma is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Selma. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,740, compared with $8,610 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from George C Wallace State Community College Selma generally make around $39,534. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Shoals Community College came in at #6 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Northwest Shoals Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Muscle Shoals. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,131, compared with $9,001 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,312. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $33,842. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bishop State Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Mobile, Bishop State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,340, compared with $9,210 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,712 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Bishop State Community College generally make around $35,475. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
J F Drake State Community And Technical College earned the #8 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. J F Drake State Community And Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Huntsville. Students from in state pay about $5,190 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,060. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $28,281.
Bevill State Community College came in at #9 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Jasper, Bevill State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,734 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,346. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,040. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $19,013. That is a strong return on a $11,040 median debt.
H Councill Trenholm State Technical College landed the #10 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. H Councill Trenholm State Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Montgomery. In-state tuition and fees average $5,190, compared with $9,060 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $32,183 ten years out.
Jefferson State Community College came in at #11 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Birmingham, Jefferson State Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,100 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,970 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $15,083. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $49,566. That is a strong return on a $15,083 median debt.
Southern Union State Community College earned the #12 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Southern Union State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Wadley. Students from in state pay about $5,030 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,874. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,555. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Southern Union State Community College generally make around $44,385. That is a strong return on a $11,555 median debt.
Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus landed the #13 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Birmingham, Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, compared with $8,910 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,769. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $40,090. Set against $11,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
James H Faulkner State Community College placed #14 among the best values for personal & culinary services. James H Faulkner State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Bay Minette. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, compared with $8,910 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,326 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of James H Faulkner State Community College earn a median of $52,231 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Reid State Technical College placed #15 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Reid State Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Evergreen. Students from in state pay about $5,454 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,324. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $17,319. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $36,105. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Shelton State Community College placed #16 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, Shelton State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,127 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,997. Students borrow a median of $10,688 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $49,403. That is a strong return on a $10,688 median debt.
George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville came in at #17 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the rural area of Hanceville, George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $9,090. Students borrow a median of $13,146 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville generally make around $40,017. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Blue Cliff Career College earned the #18 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Mobile, Blue Cliff Career College is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Blue Cliff Career College generally make around $20,014. That is a strong return on a $9,833 median debt.
University Academy Of Hair Design landed the #19 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, University Academy Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans.
Central Alabama Community College earned the #20 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Central Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alexander City. Students from in state pay about $5,110 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,980. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,939 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Central Alabama Community College generally make around $42,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Winonahs International School Of Cosmetology earned the #21 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Hoover, Winonahs International School Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $7,783 to complete the personal & culinary services program here.
Paul Mitchell The School Birmingham placed #22 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Hoover, Paul Mitchell The School Birmingham is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $13,831 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,782. That is a strong return on a $13,831 median debt.
New Beginning College Of Cosmetology came in at #23 for value in personal & culinary services this year. New Beginning College Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Albertville.
The Salon Professional Academy Huntsville earned the #24 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. The Salon Professional Academy Huntsville is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Huntsville. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,951. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,804.
Alabama School Of Nail Technology And Cosmetology landed the #25 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Alabama School Of Nail Technology And Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the rural area of Jackson. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Alabama School Of Nail Technology And Cosmetology generally make around $16,328.
Rest of the Top 28 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 list is compiled 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 · 31 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.
