2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Kentucky
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 31 schools to find the best return on investment for personal & culinary services students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Kentucky
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 Hazard Community And Technical College, our #1 best value for personal & culinary services in Kentucky. Set in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,212. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Hazard Community And Technical College earn a median of $32,626 early in their careers. Set against $12,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Somerset Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,832 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Somerset Community College earn a median of $11,565 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,832 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ashland Community And Technical College earned it the #3 place for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,485. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Ashland Community And Technical College earn a median of $37,826 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,485 median debt.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,778 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of West Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $14,110 early in their careers. Set against $10,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,366 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Bluegrass Community And Technical College generally make around $44,431. Set against $13,366 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Maysville Community And Technical College earned the #6 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the rural area of Maysville, Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,031 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Maysville Community And Technical College earn a median of $37,769 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,031 median debt.
Jefferson Community And Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,917. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $44,346. That is a strong return on a $13,917 median debt.
Summit Salon Academy Lexington earned the #8 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Lexington, Summit Salon Academy Lexington is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,667 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Summit Salon Academy Lexington earn a median of $16,679 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,667 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Campbellsville University landed the #9 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Campbellsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,998. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,850 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Campbellsville University earn a median of $12,486 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,850 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Empire Beauty School Chenoweth placed #10 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Louisville, Empire Beauty School Chenoweth is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,583. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,679. Set against $13,583 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lindsey Institute Of Cosmetology earned the #11 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Lindsey Institute Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,679. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Lindsey Institute Of Cosmetology generally make around $12,627. That is a strong return on a $12,679 median debt.
Empire Beauty School Florence came in at #12 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Florence, Empire Beauty School Florence is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,765 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Florence earn a median of $18,408 early in their careers. Set against $15,765 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Empire Beauty School Dixie came in at #13 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Empire Beauty School Dixie is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. Students borrow a median of $14,492 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $16,251. That is a strong return on a $14,492 median debt.
Empire Beauty School Elizabethtown placed #14 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Empire Beauty School Elizabethtown is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Elizabethtown. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,667. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,322. That is a strong return on a $10,667 median debt.
Appalachian Beauty School placed #15 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the rural area of Belfry, Appalachian Beauty School is a small private for-profit university. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Appalachian Beauty School generally make around $5,973.
Jenny Lea Academy Of Cosmetology Whitesburg ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the rural area of Whitesburg, Jenny Lea Academy Of Cosmetology Whitesburg is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Jenny Lea Academy Of Cosmetology Whitesburg earn a median of $10,165 early in their careers.
Pjs College Of Cosmetology Bowling Green landed the #17 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Pjs College Of Cosmetology Bowling Green is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,667 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $21,439. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Employment Solutions College For Technical Education ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the city of Lexington, Employment Solutions College For Technical Education is a small private not-for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $15,413. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Employment Solutions College For Technical Education generally make around $13,117. That is a strong return on a $15,413 median debt.
Pjs College Of Cosmetology Glasgow placed #19 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Pjs College Of Cosmetology Glasgow is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Glasgow. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $10,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ideal Beauty Academy Louisville landed the #20 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Louisville, Ideal Beauty Academy Louisville is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,401 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Ideal Beauty Academy Louisville earn a median of $19,513 early in their careers. Set against $8,401 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sullivan University earned the #21 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Louisville, Sullivan University is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,265 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Sullivan University generally make around $24,292. Set against $15,265 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American College Of Barbering earned the #22 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Louisville, American College Of Barbering is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $14,115 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of American College Of Barbering earn a median of $15,279 early in their careers.
Paul Mitchell The School Lexington came in at #23 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Lexington, Paul Mitchell The School Lexington is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Lexington earn a median of $18,950 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,500 median debt.
Paul Mitchell The School Louisville landed the #24 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Louisville, Paul Mitchell The School Louisville is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $12,583 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $20,033. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
More Personal & Culinary Services Rankings
View All Personal & Culinary Services Rankings >
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 · 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.
