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2026 Best Cosmetology Schools in Minnesota

1 Colleges in the United States
1,358 Cosmetology Degrees Awarded
$28,581 Avg Early-Career Salary

Cosmetology 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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for cosmetology students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Cosmetology in Minnesota

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the cosmetology degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Cosmetology

1

Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in cosmetology. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 179 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $32,987 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,250 to complete this degree. See the full cosmetology program report for Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College

2
Ridgewater College crest
Ridgewater College
Willmar, MN

Ridgewater College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in cosmetology, ranking #2. Set in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 31 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Ridgewater College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $21,574 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete this degree. Get the full cosmetology details for Ridgewater College

3

Students looking for a strong cosmetology 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. There were roughly 43 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn around $24,367 in the first couple years of their career. Minnesota State Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $10,169 in student loans. Get the full cosmetology details for Minnesota State Community And Technical College

4

Students looking for a strong cosmetology program will find one at Minnesota West Community And Technical College, which ranked #4. Located in the rural area of Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. About 30 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Minnesota West Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Minnesota West Community And Technical College earn around $17,767 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,730. Get the full cosmetology details for Minnesota West Community And Technical College

5
Century College crest
Century College
White Bear Lake, MN

Century College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best cosmetology schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. About 67 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Century College in the most recent year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $47,502 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,332. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Century College

6

Riverland Community College landed the #6 spot for cosmetology this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Austin. Riverland Community College awarded about 42 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Riverland Community College generally make around $49,194. Riverland Community College graduates carry a median of $15,732 in student loans. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Riverland Community College

7

Minnesota State College Southeast Technical earned the #7 position for cosmetology this year. Set in the town of Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 42 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State College Southeast Technical in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Minnesota State College Southeast Technical earn around $50,290 in the first couple years of their career. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical graduates carry a median of $22,522 in student loans. See the full cosmetology program report for Minnesota State College Southeast Technical

8

Aveda Institute Minneapolis earned the #8 position for cosmetology this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Aveda Institute Minneapolis is a small private for-profit university. There were roughly 312 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Aveda Institute Minneapolis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $24,230 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,941. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Aveda Institute Minneapolis

9

Nova Academy Of Cosmetology ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Rochester, Nova Academy Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit university. Nova Academy Of Cosmetology awarded about 198 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Nova Academy Of Cosmetology earn around $25,754 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,999 to complete this degree. See the full cosmetology program report for Nova Academy Of Cosmetology

10

Model College Of Hair Design came in at #10 for cosmetology this year. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Model College Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit institution. About 99 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Model College Of Hair Design in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Model College Of Hair Design generally make around $25,814. Students borrow a median of $8,778 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Model College Of Hair Design

11
Pci Academy Plymouth crest
Pci Academy Plymouth
Plymouth, MN

Pci Academy Plymouth placed #11 among the best cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Plymouth, Pci Academy Plymouth is a small private for-profit university. About 87 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Pci Academy Plymouth in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Pci Academy Plymouth generally make around $24,178. Typical student debt for the program is $10,570. Get the full cosmetology details for Pci Academy Plymouth

12

Minnesota School Of Cosmetology Woodbury Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best cosmetology schools. Set in the suburb of WOODBURY, Minnesota School Of Cosmetology Woodbury Campus is a small private for-profit institution. Minnesota School Of Cosmetology Woodbury Campus awarded about 67 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Minnesota School Of Cosmetology Woodbury Campus earn a median of $24,617 early in their careers. Minnesota School Of Cosmetology Woodbury Campus graduates carry a median of $10,194 in student loans. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Minnesota School Of Cosmetology Woodbury Campus

13

Hastings Beauty School placed #13 among the best cosmetology schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the town of Hastings. There were roughly 10 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Hastings Beauty School in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Hastings Beauty School generally make around $23,396. Get the full cosmetology details for Hastings Beauty School

14

Empire Beauty School Bloomington earned the #14 position for cosmetology this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Bloomington. Empire Beauty School Bloomington awarded about 110 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $18,639 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,849 to complete this degree. Read more about the cosmetology program at Empire Beauty School Bloomington

15

Avalon School Of Cosmetology earned the #15 position for cosmetology this year. Avalon School Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Worthington. Avalon School Of Cosmetology awarded about 12 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Avalon School Of Cosmetology

16

Empire Beauty School Spring Lake Park landed the #16 spot for cosmetology this year. Set in the suburb of Spring Lake Park, Empire Beauty School Spring Lake Park is a small private for-profit institution. There were roughly 29 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Empire Beauty School Spring Lake Park in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $18,408 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,765. See the full cosmetology program report for Empire Beauty School Spring Lake Park

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 19 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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