2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Louisiana

[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong personal & culinary services education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 47 schools to find the best return on investment for personal & culinary services students.
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2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Louisiana
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
Sowela Technical Community College earned the #1 spot for value among personal & culinary services schools in Louisiana. Sowela Technical Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lake Charles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,305. Students borrow a median of $7,391 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $45,827. Set against $7,391 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at South Louisiana Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Lafayette, South Louisiana Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,210. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $12,435. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $38,854. That is a strong return on a $12,435 median debt.
Bossier Parish Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Bossier City, Bossier Parish Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,268. Students borrow a median of $20,593 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Bossier Parish Community College earn a median of $43,661 early in their careers. Set against $20,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Northshore Technical Community College one of the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the rural area of Lacombe, Northshore Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,299 in tuition and fees. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,815 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Northshore Technical Community College generally make around $31,601. Set against $14,815 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Nunez Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Nunez Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Chalmette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,255. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Nunez Community College generally make around $40,200. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Baton Rouge Community College earned the #6 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Baton Rouge Community College is a large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. In-state tuition and fees average $4,321. Students borrow a median of $17,624 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Baton Rouge Community College generally make around $43,394. Set against $17,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
John Jay Beauty College Kenner placed #7 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Kenner, John Jay Beauty College Kenner is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,093 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from John Jay Beauty College Kenner generally make around $17,493. That is a strong return on a $8,093 median debt.
Nicholls State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Nicholls State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Thibodaux. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,149, compared with $9,242 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $26,063 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $23,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Nicholls State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Delgado Community College earned the #9 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Delgado Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,279. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $23,563. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Delgado Community College earn a median of $15,278 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,563 median debt.
Northwest Louisiana Technical College placed #10 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the rural area of Minden, Northwest Louisiana Technical College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,109 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $9,927 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Northwest Louisiana Technical College earn a median of $31,448 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cloyds Beauty School 3 Inc placed #11 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Monroe, Cloyds Beauty School 3 Inc is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Cloyds Beauty School 3 Inc earn a median of $15,184 early in their careers.
Cloyds Beauty School 1 Inc placed #12 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Cloyds Beauty School 1 Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of West Monroe. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $18,603.
South Louisiana Beauty College came in at #13 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Houma, South Louisiana Beauty College is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $7,720 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $15,617. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stevensons Academy Of Hair Design earned the #14 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Stevensons Academy Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $23,853 ten years after entry.
Omega Institute Of Cosmetology landed the #15 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the city of Houma, Omega Institute Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Omega Institute Of Cosmetology generally make around $12,524. That is a strong return on a $5,250 median debt.
Cosmetology Training Center landed the #16 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Cosmetology Training Center is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Lafayette. Students borrow a median of $7,402 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Cosmetology Training Center generally make around $14,052. That is a strong return on a $7,402 median debt.
Stage One The Hair School earned the #17 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Stage One The Hair School is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Lake Charles. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,395. That is a strong return on a $9,833 median debt.
Cloyds Barber School 2 Inc placed #18 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Monroe, Cloyds Barber School 2 Inc is a small private for-profit university. Median earnings reach $23,220 ten years out.
Denham Springs Beauty School earned the #19 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Denham Springs Beauty School is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Denham Springs. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Denham Springs Beauty School generally make around $11,471. Set against $9,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
My Les Beauty College Gretna ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the suburb of Gretna, My Les Beauty College Gretna is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,000. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $17,980. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Bos Mans Barber College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of Shreveport, Bos Mans Barber College is a small private for-profit university. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Pineville Beauty School ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the suburb of Pineville, Pineville Beauty School is a small private for-profit university. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Pineville Beauty School generally make around $18,093.
Vanguard College Of Cosmetology Baton Rouge placed #23 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Vanguard College Of Cosmetology Baton Rouge is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $16,375. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Vanguard College Of Cosmetology Baton Rouge generally make around $16,701. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Compass Career College earned the #24 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Compass Career College is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,458 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $12,318. Set against $12,458 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Celebrity Stylist Beauty School placed #25 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Celebrity Stylist Beauty School is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Monroe. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,833. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $14,178. That is a strong return on a $13,833 median debt.
Rest of the Top 38 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 ranking is produced 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 · 47 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.