by our College Data Analytics TeamCosmetology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 158 schools to find the best for cosmetology students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall cosmetology education in Texas.
Our analysis ranked Lee College the best school in the country for a degree in cosmetology. Lee College is a large public school located in the city of Baytown. About 100 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Lee College in the most recent year. Cosmetology graduates of Lee College earn a median of $14,727 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete this degree. See the full cosmetology program report for Lee College
Wharton County Junior College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best cosmetology schools. Set in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 55 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Wharton County Junior College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Wharton County Junior College generally make around $19,087. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree. See the full cosmetology program report for Wharton County Junior College
Lone Star College System is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in cosmetology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. Lone Star College System awarded about 113 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Lone Star College System generally make around $18,887. Lone Star College System graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Read more about the cosmetology program at Lone Star College System
A rank of #4 makes San Jacinto Community College one of the top schools for cosmetology. This very large public university is located in the city of Pasadena. About 297 cosmetology degrees were awarded at San Jacinto Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $15,655 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,791. Read more about the cosmetology program at San Jacinto Community College
Students looking for a strong cosmetology program will find one at Mclennan Community College, which ranked #5. Mclennan Community College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. There were roughly 68 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Mclennan Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $16,879 in their early career. Mclennan Community College graduates carry a median of $5,776 in student loans. Read more about the cosmetology program at Mclennan Community College
Texarkana College placed #6 among the best cosmetology schools. Texarkana College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Texarkana. Texarkana College awarded about 38 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Texarkana College earn around $33,707 in the first couple years of their career. Texarkana College graduates carry a median of $5,450 in student loans. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Texarkana College
College Of The Mainland earned the #7 position for cosmetology this year. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. College Of The Mainland awarded about 113 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $18,495 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,711. More information about a degree in cosmetology from College Of The Mainland
Howard College came in at #8 for cosmetology this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Big Spring. About 51 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Howard College in the most recent year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $13,529 in their early career. Howard College graduates carry a median of $14,242 in student loans. Read more about the cosmetology program at Howard College
Grayson College landed the #9 spot for cosmetology this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Denison. Grayson College awarded about 84 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Grayson College generally make around $18,598. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Grayson College
Navarro College came in at #10 for cosmetology this year. Located in the town of Corsicana, Navarro College is a moderately-sized public university. About 60 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Navarro College in the most recent year. Cosmetology graduates of Navarro College earn a median of $20,857 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree. See the full cosmetology program report for Navarro College
Lamar Institute Of Technology landed the #11 spot for cosmetology this year. Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Beaumont. Lamar Institute Of Technology awarded about 29 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Lamar Institute Of Technology generally make around $50,068. Students borrow a median of $14,278 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Lamar Institute Of Technology
Midland College placed #12 among the best cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public institution. Midland College awarded about 34 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Midland College generally make around $43,454. Midland College graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. See the full cosmetology program report for Midland College
Odessa College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public institution. Odessa College awarded about 90 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Odessa College generally make around $47,856. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Odessa College
North Central Texas College came in at #14 for cosmetology this year. Set in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public institution. About 50 cosmetology degrees were awarded at North Central Texas College in the most recent year. Cosmetology graduates of North Central Texas College earn a median of $10,963 early in their careers. North Central Texas College graduates carry a median of $6,812 in student loans. See the full cosmetology program report for North Central Texas College
Vernon College earned the #15 position for cosmetology this year. Located in the town of Vernon, Vernon College is a mid-sized public university. About 36 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Vernon College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Vernon College generally make around $45,097. Students borrow a median of $12,513 to complete this degree. Get the full cosmetology details for Vernon College
Weatherford College came in at #16 for cosmetology this year. Located in the town of Weatherford, Weatherford College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 68 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Weatherford College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $48,208 in their early career. Weatherford College graduates carry a median of $14,099 in student loans. Get the full cosmetology details for Weatherford College
South Plains College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best cosmetology schools. Set in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public institution. South Plains College awarded about 86 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from South Plains College earn around $11,557 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in cosmetology from South Plains College
Kilgore College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best cosmetology schools. Located in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 132 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Kilgore College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Kilgore College generally make around $15,957. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500. Read more about the cosmetology program at Kilgore College
Palo Alto College earned the #19 position for cosmetology this year. Palo Alto College is a large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Palo Alto College awarded about 87 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Palo Alto College earn around $29,062 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,430. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Palo Alto College
Galveston College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Galveston, Galveston College is a mid-sized public institution. Galveston College awarded about 26 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $51,165 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,183. See the full cosmetology program report for Galveston College
Lamar State College Orange placed #21 among the best cosmetology schools. Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orange. About 33 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Lamar State College Orange in the most recent year. Cosmetology graduates of Lamar State College Orange earn a median of $45,299 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,506. Read more about the cosmetology program at Lamar State College Orange
Houston Community College came in at #22 for cosmetology this year. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Houston Community College awarded about 142 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $16,075. Houston Community College graduates carry a median of $23,061 in student loans. Get the full cosmetology details for Houston Community College
Panola College landed the #23 spot for cosmetology this year. Set in the town of Carthage, Panola College is a mid-sized public institution. About 45 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Panola College in the most recent year. Read more about the cosmetology program at Panola College
Trinity Valley Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best cosmetology schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Athens. There were roughly 135 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Trinity Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $11,544 in their early career. Trinity Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Get the full cosmetology details for Trinity Valley Community College
El Paso Community College landed the #25 spot for cosmetology this year. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 53 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at El Paso Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Typical student debt for the program is $8,542. Get the full cosmetology details for El Paso Community College
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s cosmetology ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 158 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.