2027 Best Value Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor Schools in the Southwest Region
[Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/cosmetology-barber-styling-and-nail-instructor/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 62 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor students.
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2027 Best Value Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor Schools
College Of The Mainland tops our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,310, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates carry a median of $5,711 in student loans. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $18,495. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor will find it at Lee College, which ranked #2. Lee College is a large public school located in the city of Baytown. In-state tuition and fees average $2,520, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete the cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor program here. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates of Lee College earn a median of $14,727 early in their careers. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Lamar State College Port Arthur one of the best values for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor. Located in the city of Port Arthur, Lamar State College Port Arthur is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,770, compared with $8,070 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates is $33,385. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $78,580. That is a strong return on a $33,385 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Grayson College earned it the #4 place for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor. Located in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,000 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,300. Typical student debt for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates is $11,627. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $42,487. That is a strong return on a $11,627 median debt.
Howard College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor schools. Set in the town of Big Spring, Howard College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,766, compared with $6,716 for out-of-state students. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates carry a median of $14,242 in student loans. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $41,039. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor schools. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates carry a median of $23,061 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $40,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Juan College landed the #7 spot for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor value this year. Set in the rural area of Farmington, San Juan College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,910 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,393. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates carry a median of $16,150 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor degree recipients from San Juan College generally make around $41,697. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Odessa College earned the #8 position for value in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor this year. Located in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,688, compared with $4,926 for out-of-state students. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates carry a median of $9,087 in student loans. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $47,856. That is a strong return on a $9,087 median debt.
South Plains College came in at #9 for value in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor this year. Set in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,733, while out-of-state students pay about $5,157. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor program here. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $30,949. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Southwest Texas Junior College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor schools. Set in the town of Uvalde, Southwest Texas Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,646 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,294. Typical student debt for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates is $7,157. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $25,528. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hill College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor schools. Set in the town of Hillsboro, Hill College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,862. Students borrow a median of $12,302 to complete the cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor program here. Soon after graduation, cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor degree recipients from Hill College generally make around $39,212. That is a strong return on a $12,302 median debt.
Northland Pioneer College earned the #12 position for value in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor this year. Set in the rural area of Holbrook, Northland Pioneer College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,232 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates carry a median of $8,680 in student loans. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $44,117. That is a strong return on a $8,680 median debt.
Eastern Arizona College placed #13 among the best values for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor. Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Thatcher. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,352, while out-of-state students pay about $9,552. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates carry a median of $6,781 in student loans. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates of Eastern Arizona College earn a median of $40,304 early in their careers. Set against $6,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metro Technology Centers placed #14 among the best values for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Metro Technology Centers is a small public institution. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates carry a median of $15,833 in student loans. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $48,236. Set against $15,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Frank Phillips College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor schools. Located in the town of Borger, Frank Phillips College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,712, with out-of-state students paying around $4,882. Soon after graduation, cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor degree recipients from Frank Phillips College generally make around $18,041.
Central Technology Center placed #16 among the best values for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor. Located in the rural area of Drumright, Central Technology Center is a small public university. Median earnings reach $36,351 ten years out.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #17 spot for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor value this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Students borrow a median of $8,791 to complete the cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor program here. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $38,107. That is a strong return on a $8,791 median debt.
Cisco College landed the #18 spot for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor value this year. Located in the rural area of Cisco, Cisco College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,710, compared with $7,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates is $10,875. Soon after graduation, cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor degree recipients from Cisco College generally make around $17,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Technology Center placed #19 among the best values for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor. Western Technology Center is a small public school located in the rural area of Burns Flat. Soon after graduation, cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor degree recipients from Western Technology Center generally make around $40,264.
Kiamichi Technology Center Mcalester landed the #20 spot for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor value this year. Set in the town of McAlester, Kiamichi Technology Center Mcalester is a mid-sized public institution. Typical student debt for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates is $7,992. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $23,377. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pontotoc Technology Center landed the #21 spot for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor value this year. Located in the rural area of Ada, Pontotoc Technology Center is a small public university. Soon after graduation, cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor degree recipients from Pontotoc Technology Center generally make around $44,846.
Gordon Cooper Technology Center earned the #22 position for value in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor this year. Located in the town of Shawnee, Gordon Cooper Technology Center is a small public university. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates of Gordon Cooper Technology Center earn a median of $44,822 early in their careers.
Caddo Kiowa Technology Center ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor schools. Located in the rural area of Fort Cobb, Caddo Kiowa Technology Center is a small public university. Median earnings reach $21,576 ten years out.
Gateway Community College Central City earned the #24 position for value in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Gateway Community College Central City is a small public institution. Typical student debt for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates is $15,037. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $45,781. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern School Of Beauty Inc ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor schools. Set in the town of Durant, Southern School Of Beauty Inc is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates is $6,750. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates of Southern School Of Beauty Inc earn a median of $9,375 early in their careers. Set against $6,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 62 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 62 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
