2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Arkansas
[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 38 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 Arkansas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
For return on investment in personal & culinary services, no school beat Northwest Arkansas Community College this year. Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bentonville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,342, with out-of-state students paying around $5,238. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,500. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $26,011. Set against $12,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Ozarka College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the rural area of Melbourne, Ozarka College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,820, while out-of-state students pay about $6,820. Students borrow a median of $11,778 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $48,116. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rich Mountain Community College earned it the #3 place for personal & culinary services. Rich Mountain Community College is a small public school located in the town of Mena. Students from in state pay about $3,696 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,272. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $9,998.
Cossatot Community College Of The University Of Arkansas came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Cossatot Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a small public school located in the town of De Queen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,320, compared with $5,190 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,018 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Cossatot Community College Of The University Of Arkansas earn a median of $35,035 early in their careers. Set against $7,018 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Southern Arkansas University Tech, which ranked #5. Set in the rural area of Camden, Southern Arkansas University Tech is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $6,480. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,488 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $34,302. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Ouachitas placed #6 among the best values for personal & culinary services. College Of The Ouachitas is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Malvern. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,788, with out-of-state students paying around $4,388. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,374.
East Arkansas Community College came in at #7 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Forrest City, East Arkansas Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $3,300 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,380. Students borrow a median of $8,110 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $42,134. That is a strong return on a $8,110 median debt.
University Of Arkansas Community College Hope earned the #8 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Hope, University Of Arkansas Community College Hope is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,885, with out-of-state students paying around $5,565. Median earnings reach $34,162 ten years out.
University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville earned the #9 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville is a small public school located in the town of Batesville. In-state tuition and fees average $3,630, compared with $4,662 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,265. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville generally make around $64,187. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arkansas State University Newport landed the #10 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the rural area of Newport, Arkansas State University Newport is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,312, while out-of-state students pay about $4,752. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,250. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Arkansas State University Newport earn a median of $15,140 early in their careers. Set against $7,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arkansas Tech University placed #11 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,674, with out-of-state students paying around $14,668. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $23,257. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $45,115. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Hot Springs Beauty College placed #12 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Hot Springs, Hot Springs Beauty College is a small private for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $21,563 ten years after entry.
Arthurs Beauty College Inc Jacksonville placed #13 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Jacksonville, Arthurs Beauty College Inc Jacksonville is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $14,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The Salon Professional Academy North Little Rock ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the rural area of Sherwood, The Salon Professional Academy North Little Rock is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,091.
Career Academy Of Hair Design landed the #15 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Career Academy Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Springdale. Students borrow a median of $9,855 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Career Academy Of Hair Design earn a median of $16,574 early in their careers. Set against $9,855 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arkansas Beauty College landed the #16 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Beauty College is a small private for-profit institution. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $16,857.
Pulaski Technical College placed #17 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of North Little Rock, Pulaski Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,300, compared with $9,450 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $19,250 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $25,597. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Academy Of Salon And Spa placed #18 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Fort Smith, Academy Of Salon And Spa is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,900 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $19,443. Set against $7,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arthurs Beauty School Inc Conway landed the #19 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Arthurs Beauty School Inc Conway is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Conway. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Arthurs Beauty School Inc Conway earn a median of $14,388 early in their careers. Set against $9,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Professional Cosmetology Education Center ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the town of El Dorado, Professional Cosmetology Education Center is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $10,912 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $11,050. That is a strong return on a $10,912 median debt.
Arthurs Beauty College Jonesboro came in at #21 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arthurs Beauty College Jonesboro is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $12,841 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Arthurs Beauty College Jonesboro generally make around $14,085. That is a strong return on a $12,841 median debt.
Imagine Paul Mitchell Partner School placed #22 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of North Little Rock, Imagine Paul Mitchell Partner School is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $15,471. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $14,898. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Paul Mitchell The School Arkansas earned the #23 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Paul Mitchell The School Arkansas is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Fayetteville. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $14,040. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
New Tyler Barber College Inc placed #24 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of North Little Rock, New Tyler Barber College Inc is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,000. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $14,513. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Designer Barber And Stylist School Fort Smith placed #25 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Fort Smith, Designer Barber And Stylist School Fort Smith is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $16,500. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Designer Barber And Stylist School Fort Smith earn a median of $17,460 early in their careers.
Rest of the Top 30 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for personal & culinary services this year:
More Personal & Culinary Services Rankings
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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 · 38 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.
