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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist Schools in Minnesota

1 Colleges in the United States
725 General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist Degrees Awarded
$28,581 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools to find the best for general cosmetology/cosmetologist students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist in Minnesota

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general cosmetology/cosmetologist education in Minnesota.

Top Schools in General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist

1

Our analysis ranked Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College the best school in the country for a degree in general cosmetology/cosmetologist. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Saint Paul. About 99 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College generally make around $32,987. Students borrow a median of $14,250 to complete this degree. Read more about the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program at Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College

2
Ridgewater College crest
Ridgewater College
Willmar, MN

A rank of #2 makes Ridgewater College one of the top schools for general cosmetology/cosmetologist. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Willmar. Ridgewater College awarded about 17 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program make about $21,574 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete this degree. Read more about the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program at Ridgewater College

3

Students looking for a strong general cosmetology/cosmetologist program will find one at Minnesota State Community And Technical College, which ranked #3. Located in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. About 18 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Minnesota State Community And Technical College in the most recent year. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn a median of $24,367 early in their careers. Minnesota State Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $10,169 in student loans. More information about a degree in general cosmetology/cosmetologist from Minnesota State Community And Technical College

4

Students looking for a strong general cosmetology/cosmetologist program will find one at Minnesota West Community And Technical College, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 14 general cosmetology/cosmetologist students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota West Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program make about $17,767 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,730 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general cosmetology/cosmetologist from Minnesota West Community And Technical College

5
Century College crest
Century College
White Bear Lake, MN

Century College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general cosmetology/cosmetologist, ranking #5. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. Century College awarded about 49 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees in the most recent data year. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Century College earn a median of $47,502 early in their careers. Century College graduates carry a median of $21,332 in student loans. Get the full general cosmetology/cosmetologist details for Century College

6

Riverland Community College landed the #6 spot for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Riverland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Austin. About 33 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Riverland Community College in the most recent year. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Riverland Community College earn a median of $49,194 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,732. Read more about the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program at Riverland Community College

7

Minnesota State College Southeast Technical came in at #7 for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Winona. About 12 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Minnesota State College Southeast Technical in the most recent year. Graduates of the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program make about $50,290 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,522 to complete this degree. Get the full general cosmetology/cosmetologist details for Minnesota State College Southeast Technical

8

Aveda Institute Minneapolis ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Aveda Institute Minneapolis is a small private for-profit university. About 179 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Aveda Institute Minneapolis in the most recent year. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Aveda Institute Minneapolis earn a median of $24,230 early in their careers. Aveda Institute Minneapolis graduates carry a median of $9,941 in student loans. Read more about the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program at Aveda Institute Minneapolis

9

Nova Academy Of Cosmetology landed the #9 spot for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Located in the city of Rochester, Nova Academy Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit university. Nova Academy Of Cosmetology awarded about 90 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees in the most recent data year. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Nova Academy Of Cosmetology earn a median of $25,754 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,999 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general cosmetology/cosmetologist from Nova Academy Of Cosmetology

10

Model College Of Hair Design came in at #10 for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Model College Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Saint Cloud. About 55 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Model College Of Hair Design in the most recent year. Graduates of the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program make about $25,814 in their early career. Model College Of Hair Design graduates carry a median of $8,778 in student loans. More information about a degree in general cosmetology/cosmetologist from Model College Of Hair Design

11
Pci Academy Plymouth crest
Pci Academy Plymouth
Plymouth, MN

Pci Academy Plymouth earned the #11 position for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Plymouth. There were roughly 32 general cosmetology/cosmetologist students who graduated with this degree at Pci Academy Plymouth in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Pci Academy Plymouth generally make around $24,178. Pci Academy Plymouth graduates carry a median of $10,570 in student loans. See the full general cosmetology/cosmetologist program report for Pci Academy Plymouth

12

Minnesota School Of Cosmetology Woodbury Campus came in at #12 for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Minnesota School Of Cosmetology Woodbury Campus is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of WOODBURY. There were roughly 34 general cosmetology/cosmetologist students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota School Of Cosmetology Woodbury Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree from Minnesota School Of Cosmetology Woodbury Campus earn around $24,617 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,194. See the full general cosmetology/cosmetologist program report for Minnesota School Of Cosmetology Woodbury Campus

13

Hastings Beauty School came in at #13 for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Set in the town of Hastings, Hastings Beauty School is a small private for-profit institution. About 10 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Hastings Beauty School in the most recent year. Students who receive their general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree from Hastings Beauty School earn around $23,396 in the first couple years of their career. Read more about the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program at Hastings Beauty School

14

Empire Beauty School Bloomington landed the #14 spot for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Empire Beauty School Bloomington is a small private for-profit university. There were roughly 54 general cosmetology/cosmetologist students who graduated with this degree at Empire Beauty School Bloomington in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Empire Beauty School Bloomington generally make around $18,639. Empire Beauty School Bloomington graduates carry a median of $13,849 in student loans. More information about a degree in general cosmetology/cosmetologist from Empire Beauty School Bloomington

15

Empire Beauty School Spring Lake Park placed #15 among the best general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools. Empire Beauty School Spring Lake Park is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Spring Lake Park. There were roughly 29 general cosmetology/cosmetologist students who graduated with this degree at Empire Beauty School Spring Lake Park in the most recent data year. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Empire Beauty School Spring Lake Park earn a median of $18,408 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,765 to complete this degree. Read more about the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program at Empire Beauty School Spring Lake Park

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 18 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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