by our College Data Analytics Team
[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their cosmetology graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where cosmetology graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
The right cosmetology school can pay off in your paycheck for years to come. That is why we built our Highest Paid Cosmetology Graduates ranking. We rank each school on the early-career earnings of its cosmetology graduates to surface the highest-paying programs.
Read more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Cosmetology Graduates list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the 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.
Below are the schools whose cosmetology graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Stevensons Academy Of Hair Design, our #1 for cosmetology graduate salaries in the United States. Set in the city of New Orleans, Stevensons Academy Of Hair Design is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Stevensons Academy Of Hair Design make a median of around $33,650 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Tiffin Academy Of Hair Design earned it the #2 place for cosmetology. Set in the town of Tiffin, Tiffin Academy Of Hair Design is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $32,078.
Aveda Institute Des Moines came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of West Des Moines, Aveda Institute Des Moines is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,184.
A rank of #4 makes Trinidad State Junior College one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Trinidad State Junior College is a public school located in the town of Trinidad. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Trinidad State Junior College make a median of around $31,270 per year.
The Hair Academy came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Bismarck, The Hair Academy is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $32,560.
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The Salon Professional Academy Fargo placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Fargo, The Salon Professional Academy Fargo is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from The Salon Professional Academy Fargo typically earn about $33,458 annually.
The Salon Professional Academy Nashville earned the #7 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Nashville, The Salon Professional Academy Nashville is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of The Salon Professional Academy Nashville earn a median of about $35,780 a year early in their careers.
The Salon Professional Academy Battle Creek came in at #8 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. The Salon Professional Academy Battle Creek is a private for-profit school located in the city of Battle Creek. Cosmetology graduates of The Salon Professional Academy Battle Creek earn a median of about $29,685 a year early in their careers.
Aveda Institute Denver ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Denver, Aveda Institute Denver is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Aveda Institute Denver earn a median of about $33,463 a year early in their careers.
East Central Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the rural area of Decatur, East Central Community College is a public institution. Cosmetology graduates of East Central Community College earn a median of about $29,399 a year early in their careers.
Josefs School Of Hair Design Inc Grand Forks ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Josefs School Of Hair Design Inc Grand Forks is a private for-profit school located in the city of Grand Forks. Cosmetology graduates of Josefs School Of Hair Design Inc Grand Forks earn a median of about $30,881 a year early in their careers.
Josefs West Academy ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Fargo, Josefs West Academy is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $30,881.
Dermal Science International Aesthetics And Nail Academy landed the #13 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the city of Reston, Dermal Science International Aesthetics And Nail Academy is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,226.
The Esthetic Institute ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. The Esthetic Institute is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Vienna. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from The Esthetic Institute typically earn about $29,301 annually.
Paul Mitchell The School Austin placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Austin, Paul Mitchell The School Austin is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Austin earn a median of about $31,923 a year early in their careers.
Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Shoreline earned the #16 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Shoreline is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Shoreline. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Shoreline make a median of around $33,492 per year.
Palm Beach State College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Palm Beach State College typically earn about $35,090 annually.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College came in at #18 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College typically earn about $23,128 annually.
University Of Aesthetics And Cosmetology came in at #19 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Aesthetics And Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of University Of Aesthetics And Cosmetology earn a median of about $34,757 a year early in their careers.
La James International College Ft Dodge ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the town of Fort Dodge, La James International College Ft Dodge is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from La James International College Ft Dodge typically earn about $28,554 annually.
Paul Mitchell The School Portsmouth ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the suburb of Portsmouth, Paul Mitchell The School Portsmouth is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Portsmouth earn a median of about $35,706 a year early in their careers.
Medspa Academies placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of South Jordan, Medspa Academies is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Medspa Academies typically earn about $31,790 annually.
Medspa Academies National Institute Of Modern Aesthetics landed the #23 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Las Vegas, Medspa Academies National Institute Of Modern Aesthetics is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Medspa Academies National Institute Of Modern Aesthetics typically earn about $31,790 annually.
Aveda Institute Minneapolis placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Aveda Institute Minneapolis is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Aveda Institute Minneapolis earn a median of about $33,406 a year early in their careers.
Cozmo Beauty School ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Cozmo Beauty School is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Bonita Springs. Cosmetology graduates of Cozmo Beauty School earn a median of about $27,678 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid cosmetology ranking:
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The following schools rounded out the strongest cosmetology earnings:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their cosmetology graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.