by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Hair Styling/Stylist & Hair Design covers Hair Styling/stylist And Hair Design. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Shampoo, Cut, Style, Set, And Dress The Scalp Hair Of Women And/or Men, Braid Hair, Apply Hair Cosmetics And Wigs, And Prepare For Licensure As Professional Cosmetologists, Hairdressers, And Barbers At Various Levels. Includes Instruction In Hair Design Theory And Concepts, Hair Cleaning And Shampooing, Hair Coloring, Chemical Applications And Permanent Reconstructions, Hair Anatomy And Physiology, Scalp Diseases And Treatments, Wig And Hairpiece Fitting, Hair Braiding, Customer Service, Shop Management, Equipment Operation, Health And Safety, And Applicable Laws And Regulations. Examples: [Natural Hair Braider]. Read on to learn the essential details every hair styling/stylist & hair design major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering hair styling/stylist & hair design programs.
In the U.S., hair styling/stylist & hair design draws strong interest, with 1,386 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Hair Styling/Stylist & Hair Design Schools ranking analyzes these 90 schools to determine the best overall colleges for hair styling/stylist & hair design students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of hair styling/stylist & hair design programs later in this article.
Coursework for Hair Styling/Stylist & Hair Design emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations hair styling/stylist & hair design graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a hair styling/stylist & hair design program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a hair styling/stylist & hair design major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several hair styling/stylist & hair design degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,310 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 69 |
People currently working in careers related to hair styling/stylist & hair design tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate | 59.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 22.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 8.2% |
| Some college courses | 4.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 0.7% |
| Master’s degree | 0.5% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in hair styling/stylist & hair design careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying hair styling/stylist & hair design opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to hair styling/stylist & hair design.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to hair styling/stylist & hair design.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | 226,641 | -3.6% |
| Barbers | 168,368 | 10.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of hair styling/stylist & hair design graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $17,533 |
| 4 years | $20,210 |
| 5 years | $22,425 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for hair styling/stylist & hair design graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers hair styling/stylist & hair design grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Barbers | $47,321 |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $39,017 |
With 90 different hair styling/stylist & hair design programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased hair styling/stylist & hair design school rankings to help you.
Students interested in hair styling/stylist & hair design, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 55,875 |
| Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist | 42,738 |
| Nail Technician/Specialist and Manicurist | 14,442 |
| Barbering/Barber | 12,398 |
| Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist | 2,901 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other | 2,497 |
| Master Aesthetician/Esthetician | 1,882 |
| Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, and Nail Instructor | 1,436 |
| Salon/Beauty Salon Management/Manager | 514 |
| Make-Up Artist/Specialist | 426 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
