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2026 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in personal & culinary services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools
El Centro College tops our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools in Texas. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $9,218 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $31,127 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Mainland earned it the #2 place for personal & culinary services. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,140. Students borrow a median of $5,711 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,495. That is a strong return on a $5,711 median debt.
Wharton County Junior 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 Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Wharton County Junior College generally make around $19,087. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Alvin Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in personal & culinary services, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. 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.
Students looking for strong value in personal & culinary services will find it at Austin Community College District, which ranked #5. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $14,519 in student loans. Soon after graduation, personal & culinary services degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $44,895. That is a strong return on a $14,519 median debt.
ADBLOCK #101
Grayson College placed #6 among the best values for personal & culinary services. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,000, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $11,627 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $18,598. Set against $11,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Students borrow a median of $6,868 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $24,084 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
Mclennan Community College landed the #8 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Mclennan Community College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, compared with $5,910 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $5,776 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Mclennan Community College earn a median of $16,879 early in their careers. Set against $5,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar State College Orange ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Located in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,832, with out-of-state students paying around $13,824. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $18,506 in student loans. Early-career personal & culinary services graduates make about $45,299. That is a strong return on a $18,506 median debt.
Trinity Valley Community College landed the #10 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $2,640, with out-of-state students paying around $5,970. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $5,500. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Trinity Valley Community College earn a median of $11,544 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coastal Bend College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value personal & culinary services schools. Set in the town of Beeville, Coastal Bend College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,916, compared with $5,226 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,609 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Median earnings reach $35,086 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vernon College came in at #22 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Located in the town of Vernon, Vernon College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,720 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Personal & Culinary Services graduates carry a median of $12,513 in student loans. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Vernon College earn a median of $45,097 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,513 median debt.
San Antonio College came in at #23 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $11,839 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of San Antonio College earn a median of $37,855 early in their careers. Set against $11,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kilgore College landed the #24 spot for personal & culinary services value this year. Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kilgore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,160, with out-of-state students paying around $5,256. Typical student debt for personal & culinary services graduates is $9,500. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of Kilgore College earn a median of $15,957 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central Texas College came in at #25 for value in personal & culinary services this year. Set in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $5,739. Students borrow a median of $6,812 to complete the personal & culinary services program here. Personal & Culinary Services graduates of North Central Texas College earn a median of $10,963 early in their careers. Set against $6,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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:
[Personal & Culinary Services](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
