2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Georgia
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 50 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 Georgia
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 South Georgia Technical College the best value for a degree in personal & culinary services in Georgia. 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, compared with $7,202 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,423. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $20,501. That is a strong return on a $10,423 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College earned it the #2 place for personal & culinary services. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Valdosta. Students from in state pay about $3,480 in tuition and fees, 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. Set against $10,864 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Regional Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #3 spot this year. 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. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Southern Regional Technical College generally make around $15,168. Set against $9,086 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Coastal Pines Technical College earned it the #4 place for personal & culinary services. Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Waycross. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,268, while out-of-state students pay about $5,836. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,812. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $39,090. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Atlanta Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #5 spot this year. Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Atlanta. Students from in state pay about $3,382 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,950. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $16,324 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Atlanta Technical College generally make around $17,157. That is a strong return on a $16,324 median debt.
Oconee Fall Line Technical College earned the #6 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the rural area of Sandersville, Oconee Fall Line Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,380 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,948 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,718 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $47,076. Set against $12,718 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College placed #7 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rome. Students from in state pay about $3,300 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,868. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $8,492. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $41,229. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Crescent Technical College came in at #8 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Griffin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,516, compared with $6,084 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,619 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Southern Crescent Technical College generally make around $45,062. That is a strong return on a $17,619 median debt.
Albany Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Albany Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Albany. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,364, while out-of-state students pay about $5,932. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $16,321. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Albany Technical College earn a median of $35,895 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,321 median debt.
West Georgia Technical College landed the #10 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waco. In-state tuition and fees average $3,410, while out-of-state students pay about $5,978. 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. Set against $8,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins placed #11 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Warner Robins, Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,448, while out-of-state students pay about $6,016. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,217. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $39,765. Set against $7,217 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattahoochee Technical College placed #12 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $6,108. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $16,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ogeechee Technical College landed the #13 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the town of Statesboro, Ogeechee Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,388 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,956. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,894. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,660. Set against $11,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Georgia Technical College earned the #14 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the rural area of Clarkesville, North Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,330, compared with $5,898 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,279 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of North Georgia Technical College earn a median of $14,296 early in their careers. Set against $12,279 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbus Technical College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,052 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,262. Students borrow a median of $15,845 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Columbus Technical College generally make around $19,094. That is a strong return on a $15,845 median debt.
Lanier Technical College came in at #16 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, Lanier Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,980 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,190. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,278 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Lanier Technical College earn a median of $22,686 early in their careers. Set against $12,278 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Athens Technical College came in at #17 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Athens Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,390, compared with $5,958 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Athens Technical College generally make around $16,178. That is a strong return on a $8,000 median debt.
Savannah Technical College came in at #18 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Savannah, Savannah Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,330 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,898. Students borrow a median of $19,989 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Savannah Technical College earn a median of $19,242 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeastern Technical College earned the #19 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Southeastern Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Vidalia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,400, while out-of-state students pay about $5,968. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,290 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Southeastern Technical College generally make around $12,444. That is a strong return on a $10,290 median debt.
Georgia Piedmont Technical College earned the #20 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Clarkston, Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,404 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,954. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,716 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Georgia Piedmont Technical College earn a median of $42,073 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,716 median debt.
Augusta Technical College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Augusta, Augusta Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,282 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,492 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $11,400. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Augusta Technical College generally make around $15,679. Set against $11,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gwinnett Technical College came in at #22 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,524, compared with $6,092 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $16,349. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,291. That is a strong return on a $16,349 median debt.
Mak Beauty Institute ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Cumming, Mak Beauty Institute is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $8,272. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Mak Beauty Institute earn a median of $18,519 early in their careers.
Dalton Institute Of Esthetics And Cosmetology landed the #24 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Dalton Institute Of Esthetics And Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Dalton. Students borrow a median of $8,375 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $16,539.
Keune Academy By 124 landed the #25 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Keune Academy By 124 is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Keune Academy By 124 generally make around $19,319. Set against $9,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 43 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. 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 · 50 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
