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Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region

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2023 Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region

130 Colleges
$17,992 Avg Salary
$11,878 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Personal & Culinary Services School for You

Personal & Culinary Services is the #31 most popular major in the country with 130,328 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

The Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 130 schools in the Southwest Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Personal & Culinary Services Colleges.

Top 15% Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools

#1

Arizona Culinary Institute

Scottsdale, AZ

Our analysis found Arizona Culinary Institute to be the best school for personal and culinary services students who want to pursue a degree in the Southwest Region . Located in the medium-sized city of Scottsdale, Arizona Culinary Institute is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

The average amount in student loans that personal and culinary services majors at Arizona Culinary Institute take out is $9,500. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $165, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Arizona Culinary Institute Report

#2

Avenue Five Institute

Austin, TX

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Avenue Five Institute. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the city of Austin, Avenue Five Institute is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

On average, personal and culinary services graduates from Avenue Five Institute take out $8,348 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $77.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Avenue Five Institute Report

The excellent programs at Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best personal and culinary services schools in the Southwest Region . Located in the city of Austin, Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, personal and culinary services graduates from Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus carry an average student debtload of $8,348. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $77.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus

#4

Penrose Academy

Scottsdale, AZ

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Penrose Academy. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region list. Penrose Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Scottsdale.

While working on their degree, personal and culinary services majors at Penrose Academy accumulate an average of around $8,898 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $98.

Read More…

#5

Studio Academy of Beauty

Chandler, AZ

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Studio Academy of Beauty. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region list. Studio Academy of Beauty is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Chandler.

On average, personal and culinary services graduates from Studio Academy of Beauty take out $7,943 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $43.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Studio Academy of Beauty

Paul Mitchell the School Austin did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for personal and culinary services students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the large city of Austin, Paul Mitchell the School Austin is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Personal & Culinary Services majors at Paul Mitchell the School Austin take out an average of $11,873 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $71.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Paul Mitchell the School Austin Report

Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Irving came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the city of Irving, Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Irving is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

On average, personal and culinary services graduates from Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Irving take out $7,600 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $65.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Irving

Aveda Institute - Tucson landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best personal and culinary services programs. Aveda Institute - Tucson is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Tucson.

Personal & Culinary Services majors at Aveda Institute - Tucson take out an average of $10,555 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $80, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Aveda Institute - Tucson Report

Aveda Institute - Phoenix ranked #9 on this year’s Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region list. Aveda Institute - Phoenix is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Tempe.

On average, personal and culinary services graduates from Aveda Institute - Phoenix take out $10,555 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $80, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#10

Pure Aesthetics

Tucson, AZ

Pure Aesthetics ranked #10 on this year’s Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the large city of Tucson, Pure Aesthetics is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

On average, personal and culinary services graduates from Pure Aesthetics take out $6,333 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Pure Aesthetics

The Salon Professional Academy - Lewisville did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for personal and culinary services students. It came in at #11 on the list. TSPA - Lewisville is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Lewisville.

After completing their degree, personal and culinary services graduates from TSPA - Lewisville carry an average student debtload of $9,833.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at The Salon Professional Academy - Lewisville Report

#12

Metro Technology Centers

Oklahoma City, OK

Metro Technology Centers came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the large city of Oklahoma City, Metro Technology Centers is a public college with a small student population.

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With a ranking of #13, DuVall’s School of Cosmetology did quite well on this year’s best schools for personal and culinary services students. DuVall's School of Cosmetology is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Bedford.

Personal & Culinary Services majors at DuVall's School of Cosmetology take out an average of $9,833 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

Texas College of Cosmetology-Lubbock ranked #14 on this year’s Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region list. Texas College of Cosmetology-Lubbock is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Lubbock.

While working on their degree, personal and culinary services majors at Texas College of Cosmetology-Lubbock accumulate an average of around $7,000 in student debt.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Texas College of Cosmetology-Lubbock Report

Empire Beauty School-Avondale did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for personal and culinary services students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the midsize suburb of Avondale, Empire Beauty School-Avondale is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

On average, personal and culinary services graduates from Empire Beauty School-Avondale take out $14,194 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $80, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Empire Beauty School-Avondale Report

#16

El Centro College

Dallas, TX

El Centro College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, personal and culinary services majors at El Centro College accumulate an average of around $12,971 in student debt.

Read More…

Paul Mitchell the School Arlington came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the large city of Arlington, Paul Mitchell the School Arlington is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

While working on their degree, personal and culinary services majors at Paul Mitchell the School Arlington accumulate an average of around $9,833 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $75.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Paul Mitchell the School Arlington Report

Diamonds Cosmetology College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Diamonds Cosmetology College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Sherman.

The average amount in student loans that personal and culinary services majors at Diamonds Cosmetology College take out is $16,500.

Read More…

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Austin landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best personal and culinary services programs. Located in the large city of Austin, Escoffier - Austin is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

The average amount in student loans that personal and culinary services majors at Escoffier - Austin take out is $14,346. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $133.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Austin

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Personal & Culinary Services students in the Southwest Region that almost earned our Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southwest Region award.

Rank College Location
20 Exposito School of Hair Design Amarillo, TX
21 Aveda Institute - San Antonio San Antonio, TX
22 Total Transformation Institute of Cosmetology San Marcos, TX
23 Paul Mitchell the School Phoenix Phoenix, AZ
24 International Beauty College Garland, TX
25 Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Albuquerque Albuquerque, NM
26 Empire Beauty School-Tucson Tucson, AZ

Best Personal & Culinary Services Colleges by State

Explore the best personal and culinary services colleges for a specific state in the Southwest region.

State Degrees Awarded
Arizona 132
Texas 1,155
New Mexico 76
Oklahoma 45

Personal & Culinary Services Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Cosmetology 107,895
Culinary Arts 19,806
Funeral & Mortuary Science 2,354
Casino Operations and Services 192
Other Personal & Culinary Services 81

Related Major Annual Graduates
Mechanic & Repair Technologies 96,336
Precision Production 52,913
Construction Trades 35,794
Transportation & Materials Moving 29,084

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to U.S. Army Europe Images.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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