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Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region

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2023 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

307 Colleges
$6,089 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$17,064 Avg Salary

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.

There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. 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.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 307 schools in the Southeast Region to see which programs offered the best value experiences for personal and culinary services students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

2023 Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region

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

Top 25 Best Southeast Region Schools for Affordable Quality in Personal & Culinary Services

$5,462 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named Athens Technical College the best value school in the Southeast Region for personal and culinary services students. Athens Technical College is a small public school located in the midsize city of Athens.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Athens Technical College are $5,462 a year.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Athens Technical College Report

#2

Gwinnett Technical College

Lawrenceville, GA

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Gwinnett Technical College is a great value for personal and culinary services students. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, GTC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

GTC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,636 in tuition and fees each year.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Gwinnett Technical College Report

The excellent programs at Georgia Northwestern Technical College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best personal and culinary services schools in the Southeast Region . Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rome.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Georgia Northwestern Technical College are $5,462 per year. After completing their degree, personal and culinary services graduates from Georgia Northwestern Technical College carry an average student debtload of $3,020.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region list.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Georgia Northwestern Technical College Report

$4,320 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Arkansas State University - Newport is a great value for personal and culinary services students. Located in the rural area of Newport, ASUN is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ASUN are $4,320 per year.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Arkansas State University - Newport

$5,552 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a great value for personal and culinary services students. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Valdosta.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College are $5,552 a year.

Read More…

$5,452 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #6, West Georgia Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for personal and culinary services students. West Georgia Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the rural area of Waco.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at West Georgia Technical College are $5,452 per year. On average, personal and culinary services graduates from West Georgia Technical College take out $6,195 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at West Georgia Technical College

#7

Piedmont Technical College

Greenwood, SC
$6,593 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #7, Piedmont Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for personal and culinary services students. Located in the distant town of Greenwood, Piedmont Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

Piedmont Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,593 in tuition and fees each year. Personal & Culinary Services majors at Piedmont Technical College take out an average of $15,500 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Piedmont Technical College Report

$5,442 Average Tuition & Fees

Central Georgia Technical College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value personal and culinary services programs. CGTC is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Warner Robins.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CGTC are $5,442 per year.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Central Georgia Technical College Report

$5,472 Average Tuition & Fees

Oconee Fall Line Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the rural area of Sandersville, OFTC is a public college with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at OFTC are $5,472 per year.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Oconee Fall Line Technical College

#10

Ogeechee Technical College

Statesboro, GA
$5,540 Average Tuition & Fees

Ogeechee Technical College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Ogeechee Technical College is a small public school located in the distant town of Statesboro.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ogeechee Technical College are $5,540 a year.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Ogeechee Technical College

#11

Savannah Technical College

Savannah, GA
$5,442 Average Tuition & Fees

Savannah Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the midsize city of Savannah, Savannah Tech is a public college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Savannah Tech are $5,442 a year. While working on their degree, personal and culinary services majors at Savannah Tech accumulate an average of around $9,512 in student debt.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Savannah Technical College

$5,526 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #12, Southern Crescent Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for personal and culinary services students. Located in the large suburb of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

Southern Crescent Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,526 in tuition and fees each year.

Read More…

$8,610 Average Tuition & Fees

Jefferson State Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the city of Birmingham, Jeff State is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Jeff State are $8,610 per year.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Jefferson State Community College

$5,578 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #14, Georgia Piedmont Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for personal and culinary services students. Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Clarkston.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Georgia Piedmont Technical College are $5,578 per year. The average amount in student loans that personal and culinary services majors at Georgia Piedmont Technical College take out is $18,712.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Georgia Piedmont Technical College Report

$5,632 Average Tuition & Fees

Augusta Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for personal and culinary services students. It came in at #15 on the list. Augusta Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Augusta.

Augusta Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,632 in tuition and fees each year.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Augusta Technical College Report

$4,159 Average Tuition & Fees

Louisiana Delta Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the rural area of Monroe, LDCC is a public college with a small student population.

LDCC undergraduate students pay an average of $4,159 in tuition and fees each year.

Read More…

#17

Lanier Technical College

Oakwood, GA
$6,666 Average Tuition & Fees

Lanier Technical College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the rural area of Oakwood, Lanier Technical College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Lanier Technical College are $6,666 per year.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Lanier Technical College

#18

Meridian Community College

Meridian, MS
$5,428 Average Tuition & Fees

Meridian Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the remote town of Meridian, MCC is a public college with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MCC are $5,428 per year.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Meridian Community College Report

#19

John A Gupton College

Nashville, TN
$11,583 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #19, John A Gupton College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for personal and culinary services students. Located in the city of Nashville, John A Gupton College is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at John A Gupton College are $11,583 per year. After completing their degree, personal and culinary services graduates from John A Gupton College carry an average student debtload of $12,550.

Read More…

#20

Delgado Community College

New Orleans, LA
$4,079 Average Tuition & Fees

Delgado Community College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value personal and culinary services programs. Located in the city of New Orleans, Delgado Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Delgado Community College are $4,079 per year. While working on their degree, personal and culinary services majors at Delgado Community College accumulate an average of around $17,428 in student debt.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Delgado Community College

Wake Technical Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Wake Technical Community College are $8,912 per year. While working on their degree, personal and culinary services majors at Wake Technical Community College accumulate an average of around $15,818 in student debt.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Wake Technical Community College also is in the top 10% of our Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Wake Technical Community College

$5,830 Average Tuition & Fees

Northwest Mississippi Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value personal and culinary services programs. NWCC is a moderately-sized public school located in the distant town of Senatobia.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NWCC are $5,830 per year. On average, personal and culinary services graduates from NWCC take out $5,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Northwest Mississippi Community College

#23

Columbus Technical College

Columbus, GA
$5,442 Average Tuition & Fees

Columbus Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for personal and culinary services students. It came in at #23 on the list. Columbus Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Columbus.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Columbus Technical College are $5,442 per year. The average amount in student loans that personal and culinary services majors at Columbus Technical College take out is $10,125.

Read More…

$5,564 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #24, Atlanta Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for personal and culinary services students. Atlanta Area Tech is a small public school located in the large city of Atlanta.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Atlanta Area Tech are $5,564 a year. On average, personal and culinary services graduates from Atlanta Area Tech take out $15,887 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Atlanta Technical College Report

$8,850 Average Tuition & Fees

Lurleen B Wallace Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for personal and culinary services students. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in the rural area of Andalusia, Lurleen B. Wallace Community College is a public college with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College are $8,850 per year.

Read More…

Rest of the Top Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region

#29

Miami Dade College

Miami, FL
#30

North Georgia Technical College

Clarkesville, GA
#31

Pearl River Community College

Poplarville, MS
#32

Palm Beach State College

Lake Worth, FL
#33

Valencia College

Orlando, FL
#34

Holmes Community College

Goodman, MS
#35

St Petersburg College

Clearwater, FL
#41

Indian River State College

Fort Pierce, FL
#42

Pensacola State College

Pensacola, FL
#43

Sullivan University

Louisville, KY
#44

Daytona State College

Daytona Beach, FL
#45

Stratford University

Fairfax, VA

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Personal & Culinary Services Schools in the Southeast Region award.

Rank College Location
47 Florida Gateway College Lake City, FL
48 Nicholls State University Thibodaux, LA
49 Helms College Macon, GA
50 Remington College - Mobile Campus Mobile, AL
51 Arkansas State University - Mountain Home Mountain Home, AR
52 Southwestern Community College Sylva, NC
53 Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA
54 Remington College - Lafayette Campus Lafayette, LA
55 Eastern Florida State College Cocoa, FL
56 Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown, NC
57 Robeson Community College Lumberton, NC
58 Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Hudson, NC
59 AI Miami International University of Art and Design Miami, FL
60 Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway, SC
60 ECPI University Virginia Beach, VA

Best Personal & Culinary Services Colleges by State

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

State Degrees Awarded
North Carolina 668
West Virginia 33
South Carolina 92
Florida 371
Virginia 301
Arkansas 79
Mississippi 149
Louisiana 143
Alabama 194
Kentucky 109
Georgia 327
Tennessee 77

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.

  • 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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