2026 Best Value General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist Schools in Kansas
[General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/cosmetology-cosmetologist-general/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general cosmetology/cosmetologist students.
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2026 Best Value General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist Schools in Kansas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general cosmetology/cosmetologist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist Schools
Hutchinson Community College earned the #1 spot for value among general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools in Kansas. Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hutchinson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $4,770. Students borrow a median of $18,148 to complete the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program here. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Hutchinson Community College generally make around $17,437. That is a strong return on a $18,148 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general cosmetology/cosmetologist will find it at Fort Scott Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,390, compared with $3,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Fort Scott Community College generally make around $20,691. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Dodge City Community College earned it the #3 place for general cosmetology/cosmetologist. Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Dodge City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,650, with out-of-state students paying around $5,850. Median earnings reach $45,427 ten years out.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Seward County Community College And Area Technical School earned it the #4 place for general cosmetology/cosmetologist. Set in the town of Liberal, Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,032, while out-of-state students pay about $5,408. Typical student debt for general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates is $9,175. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Seward County Community College And Area Technical School earn a median of $53,375 early in their careers. Set against $9,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Garden City Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general cosmetology/cosmetologist, landing the #5 spot this year. Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Garden City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,690, while out-of-state students pay about $4,320. Typical student debt for general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates is $5,500. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Garden City Community College earn a median of $18,724 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cowley County Community College came in at #6 for value in general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Located in the town of Arkansas City, Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $6,600. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates carry a median of $9,312 in student loans. Early-career general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates make about $34,099. Set against $9,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Kansas Technical College placed #7 among the best values for general cosmetology/cosmetologist. Northwest Kansas Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Goodland. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Northwest Kansas Technical College earn a median of $41,638 early in their careers.
Washburn Institute Of Technology placed #8 among the best values for general cosmetology/cosmetologist. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,880. Typical student debt for general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates is $9,000. Early-career general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates make about $22,547. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnson County Community College placed #9 among the best values for general cosmetology/cosmetologist. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $5,688. Students borrow a median of $5,424 to complete the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program here. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $21,250 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mitsu Sato Hair Academy landed the #10 spot for general cosmetology/cosmetologist value this year. Mitsu Sato Hair Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Overland Park. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program here. Early-career general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates make about $17,143.
Eric Fisher Academy came in at #11 for value in general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Eric Fisher Academy is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $9,339 to complete the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program here. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Eric Fisher Academy earn a median of $20,465 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,339 median debt.
Kansas City Kansas Community College came in at #12 for value in general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,996, compared with $6,482 for out-of-state students. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates carry a median of $8,235 in student loans. Early-career general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates make about $21,091. Set against $8,235 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hays Academy Of Hair Design Salina landed the #13 spot for general cosmetology/cosmetologist value this year. Located in the town of Salina, Hays Academy Of Hair Design Salina is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates is $9,833. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Hays Academy Of Hair Design Salina generally make around $17,620. That is a strong return on a $9,833 median debt.
Hays Academy Of Hair Design Hays came in at #14 for value in general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Set in the town of Hays, Hays Academy Of Hair Design Hays is a small private for-profit institution. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Hays Academy Of Hair Design Hays earn a median of $17,620 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Z Hair Academy ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools. Z Hair Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Overland Park. Typical student debt for general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates is $15,333. Early-career general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates make about $21,750. That is a strong return on a $15,333 median debt. Z Hair Academy admits about 100% of applicants.
Crave Beauty Academy earned the #16 position for value in general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Located in the city of Wichita, Crave Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit university. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates carry a median of $10,667 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Crave Beauty Academy generally make around $21,067. Set against $10,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Paul Mitchell The School Wichita came in at #17 for value in general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Located in the city of Wichita, Paul Mitchell The School Wichita is a small private for-profit university. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates carry a median of $12,583 in student loans. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Wichita earn a median of $17,049 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,583 median debt.
Paul Mitchell The School Overland Park placed #18 among the best values for general cosmetology/cosmetologist. Set in the city of Overland Park, Paul Mitchell The School Overland Park is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates is $13,341. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Overland Park generally make around $22,440.
Bellus Academy came in at #19 for value in general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Bellus Academy is a small private for-profit institution. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Early-career general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates make about $17,745. Set against $9,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
