2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Virginia
[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.
College Factual analyzed 41 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 Virginia
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 J Sargeant Reynolds Community College the best value for a degree in personal & culinary services in Virginia. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $11,718. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $36,965. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rappahannock Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Glenns, Rappahannock Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,102, while out-of-state students pay about $11,540. Students borrow a median of $8,997 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $43,398. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
John Tyler Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,082, compared with $11,520 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,262 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $49,205. That is a strong return on a $11,262 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Virginia Western Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,400, while out-of-state students pay about $11,838. Students borrow a median of $13,715 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Virginia Western Community College earn a median of $36,245 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southside Virginia Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Alberta, Southside Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,007, while out-of-state students pay about $11,445. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,467. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Southside Virginia Community College earn a median of $29,666 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,467 median debt.
Tidewater Community College earned the #6 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,858, compared with $12,296 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,671 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $24,136. Set against $19,671 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Dermal Science International Aesthetics And Nail Academy earned the #7 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the city of Reston, Dermal Science International Aesthetics And Nail Academy is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $8,517 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Dermal Science International Aesthetics And Nail Academy earn a median of $22,763 early in their careers.
Institute Of Advanced Medical Esthetics came in at #8 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Institute Of Advanced Medical Esthetics is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Ashland. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $6,944 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Institute Of Advanced Medical Esthetics generally make around $27,490. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbia College Fairfax earned the #9 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Vienna, Columbia College Fairfax is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $4,665. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,780. That is a strong return on a $4,665 median debt.
Staunton School Of Cosmetology earned the #10 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Staunton School Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Staunton. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Staunton School Of Cosmetology generally make around $19,581.
Avi Career Training earned the #11 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the suburb of Great Falls, Avi Career Training is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $6,333. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Avi Career Training generally make around $15,607. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Empire Beauty School Newport News earned the #12 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Newport News, Empire Beauty School Newport News is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,583 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Newport News earn a median of $15,679 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Another Level Barbering And Cosmetology School placed #13 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Another Level Barbering And Cosmetology School is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Petersburg. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Another Level Barbering And Cosmetology School generally make around $11,506.
Culpeper Cosmetology Training Center placed #14 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the town of Culpeper, Culpeper Cosmetology Training Center is a small public university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,666. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Culpeper Cosmetology Training Center generally make around $21,937.
Empire Beauty School Virginia Beach placed #15 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Empire Beauty School Virginia Beach is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $16,500. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Empire Beauty School Virginia Beach earn a median of $17,113 early in their careers. Set against $16,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Empire Beauty School Midlothian placed #16 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Midlothian, Empire Beauty School Midlothian is a small private for-profit university. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $13,583 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Empire Beauty School Midlothian generally make around $15,679. That is a strong return on a $13,583 median debt.
Paul Mitchell The School Roanoke ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Paul Mitchell The School Roanoke is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Roanoke. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $13,833. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Roanoke generally make around $20,761. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ecpi University placed #18 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Ecpi University is a large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,484. Students borrow a median of $13,744 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $21,480. Set against $13,744 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
The Chrysm Insitute Of Esthetics earned the #19 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, The Chrysm Insitute Of Esthetics is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $7,333. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $23,974.
Empire Beauty School Richmond landed the #20 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the suburb of Richmond, Empire Beauty School Richmond 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. That is a strong return on a $13,583 median debt.
Rudy And Kelly Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner School placed #21 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Rudy And Kelly Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner School is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $16,184. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Rudy And Kelly Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner School earn a median of $20,028 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,184 median debt.
The Esthetic Institute came in at #22 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the suburb of Vienna, The Esthetic Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,208 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $29,301.
Tomorrows Image Barber And Beauty Academy Of Virginia came in at #23 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Newport News, Tomorrows Image Barber And Beauty Academy Of Virginia is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $11,572.
Virginia School Of Hair Design landed the #24 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Virginia School Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hampton. Median earnings reach $18,710 ten years out.
Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,757 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy generally make around $15,812. That is a strong return on a $10,757 median debt.
Rest of the Top 29 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
This ranking is produced 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 · 41 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.
