2026 Best Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor Schools in the Southwest Region

Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 85 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor Schools in the Southwest Region

Best Schools for Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor in the Southwest Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor

1

Paul Mitchell The School San Antonio
San Antonio, TX

Non-Degree Highest Degree Type

12 Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor Degrees Awarded

$20,500 Median Starting Salary

Paul Mitchell The School San Antonio is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor. Paul Mitchell The School San Antonio is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. There were roughly 12 cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor students who graduated with this degree at Paul Mitchell The School San Antonio in the most recent data year. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates of Paul Mitchell The School San Antonio earn a median of $20,500 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete this degree. See the full cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor program report for Paul Mitchell The School San Antonio

2

Academy Of Hair Design Lufkin
Lufkin, TX

Non-Degree Highest Degree Type

10 Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor Degrees Awarded

$14,039 Median Starting Salary

Academy Of Hair Design Lufkin is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor, ranking #2. Academy Of Hair Design Lufkin is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Lufkin. There were roughly 10 cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor students who graduated with this degree at Academy Of Hair Design Lufkin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor program make about $14,039 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500. More information about a degree in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor from Academy Of Hair Design Lufkin

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 85 schools evaluated.

• 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.