2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 287 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 the Southwest Region
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
El Centro College tops our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,218 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $31,127. Set against $9,218 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Mainland earned it the #2 place for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,711 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of College Of The Mainland earn a median of $18,495 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pima Community College earned it the #3 place for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $10,655 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $40,977. Set against $10,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,112. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $20,292. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Alvin Community College earned it the #5 place for personal & culinary services. Located in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,906, while out-of-state students pay about $4,402. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,600 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $55,057. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wharton County Junior College earned the #6 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,192, while out-of-state students pay about $5,904. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $19,087. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District earned the #7 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $44,895. Set against $14,519 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas College earned the #8 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $24,084 early in their careers. Set against $6,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar State College Orange came in at #9 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,832, with out-of-state students paying around $13,824. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $18,506. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Lamar State College Orange generally make around $45,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grayson College earned the #10 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,000, while out-of-state students pay about $6,300. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,627 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Grayson College generally make around $18,598. That is a strong return on a $11,627 median debt.
Mclennan Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Mclennan Community College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $5,910. Students borrow a median of $5,776 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $16,879. That is a strong return on a $5,776 median debt.
Clovis Community College came in at #12 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Clovis Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Clovis. In-state tuition and fees average $1,592, with out-of-state students paying around $3,344. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,082 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Clovis Community College generally make around $44,390. That is a strong return on a $11,082 median debt.
Trinity Valley Community College landed the #13 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,640, with out-of-state students paying around $5,970. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,500. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $11,544. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Arizona College came in at #14 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,250, while out-of-state students pay about $4,500. Students borrow a median of $11,635 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $48,826. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Juan College landed the #15 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Located in the rural area of Farmington, San Juan College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,910, while out-of-state students pay about $5,393. Students borrow a median of $16,150 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $41,697. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palo Alto College earned the #16 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, while out-of-state students pay about $9,952. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,430. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $29,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Philips College earned the #17 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. St Philips College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,653 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from St Philips College generally make around $45,185. Set against $15,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lee College landed the #18 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,520, with out-of-state students paying around $5,045. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $10,941. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Lee College earn a median of $14,727 early in their careers. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College placed #19 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midland College landed the #20 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Set in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,180 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $43,454. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Gateway Community College Central City ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Gateway Community College Central City is a small public school located in the city of Phoenix. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $15,037 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $45,781. That is a strong return on a $15,037 median debt.
Tarrant County College District came in at #22 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Students borrow a median of $15,148 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $45,158 early in their careers. Set against $15,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Del Mar College came in at #23 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. Students from in state pay about $3,500 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Students borrow a median of $7,476 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $13,099. That is a strong return on a $7,476 median debt.
Yavapai College earned the #24 position for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,948, with out-of-state students paying around $9,486. Students borrow a median of $14,087 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Yavapai College generally make around $52,087. That is a strong return on a $14,087 median debt.
Texarkana College placed #25 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Set in the city of Texarkana, Texarkana College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,476 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,332. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,450 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Texarkana College generally make around $19,284. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s personal & culinary services value ranking:
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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 · 287 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
