[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 1613 schools to find the best return on investment for cosmetology students.
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: No offers_data.offers found, showing generic ESYOH widget
Finding the Best Value Cosmetology School for You
The cosmetology program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built our Best Value Cosmetology Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Cosmetology Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
South Georgia Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among cosmetology schools in the United States. Set in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,992, compared with $7,202 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $10,423. Cosmetology graduates of South Georgia Technical College earn a median of $20,501 early in their careers. Set against $10,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pensacola State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in cosmetology, landing the #2 spot this year. Pensacola State College is a large public school located in the city of Pensacola. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,361, while out-of-state students pay about $9,463. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Pensacola State College generally make around $23,911. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in cosmetology will find it at Skyline College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
Lake Land College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,415, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Students borrow a median of $7,769 to complete the cosmetology program here. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Lake Land College generally make around $13,714. Set against $7,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida State College At Jacksonville earned it the #5 place for cosmetology. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $13,577. Cosmetology graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $29,668 early in their careers. Set against $13,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Golden West College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Golden West College is a large public school located in the suburb of Huntington Beach. Students from in state pay about $1,380 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,628 for out-of-state students. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Cosmetology graduates of Golden West College earn a median of $82,984 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fayetteville Technical Community College earned the #7 position for value in cosmetology this year. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the cosmetology program here. Cosmetology graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $40,584 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Piedmont Community College placed #8 among the best values for cosmetology. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the cosmetology program here. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $40,629. That is a strong return on a $11,861 median debt.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College placed #9 among the best values for cosmetology. Set in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,480, with out-of-state students paying around $6,048. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $10,864. Cosmetology graduates of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College earn a median of $19,659 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clover Park Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,634. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the cosmetology program here. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $19,389. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Southern Crescent Technical College landed the #11 spot for cosmetology value this year. Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Griffin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,516, with out-of-state students paying around $6,084. Students borrow a median of $17,619 to complete the cosmetology program here. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $45,062. That is a strong return on a $17,619 median debt.
College Of The Mainland placed #12 among the best values for cosmetology. Located in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,310, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Students borrow a median of $5,711 to complete the cosmetology program here. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $18,495. Set against $5,711 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of San Mateo came in at #13 for value in cosmetology this year. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, compared with $11,428 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $12,831. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,172 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central New Mexico Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $16,496. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College landed the #15 spot for cosmetology value this year. Set in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, compared with $5,868 for out-of-state students. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $8,492 in student loans. Cosmetology graduates of Georgia Northwestern Technical College earn a median of $41,229 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,492 median debt.
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins came in at #16 for value in cosmetology this year. Set in the city of Warner Robins, Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,448, compared with $6,016 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $7,217. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $39,765. That is a strong return on a $7,217 median debt.
Southern Regional Technical College landed the #17 spot for cosmetology value this year. Located in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,007 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,575. Students borrow a median of $9,086 to complete the cosmetology program here. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Southern Regional Technical College generally make around $15,168. Set against $9,086 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ogeechee Technical College earned the #18 position for value in cosmetology this year. Ogeechee Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Statesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $3,388, while out-of-state students pay about $5,956. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $11,894. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $17,660. That is a strong return on a $11,894 median debt.
Central Carolina Community College landed the #19 spot for cosmetology value this year. Located in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,711 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,855 for out-of-state students. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $12,167 in student loans. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $24,101. Set against $12,167 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Monica College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $10,708. Median earnings reach $42,193 ten years out.
Wharton County Junior College earned the #21 position for value in cosmetology this year. Set in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,192, with out-of-state students paying around $5,904. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $5,500. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $19,087. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trident Technical College earned the #22 position for value in cosmetology this year. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $18,116 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Citrus College earned the #23 position for value in cosmetology this year. Set in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,204, while out-of-state students pay about $10,636. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,065 ten years after entry.
Indian River State College earned the #24 position for value in cosmetology this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,764, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $9,540 in student loans. Cosmetology graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $18,411 early in their careers. Set against $9,540 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sacramento City College earned the #25 position for value in cosmetology this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $13,180. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Sacramento City College generally make around $18,184. Set against $13,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Cosmetology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s cosmetology value ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 1613 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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).
[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
