2027 Best Value Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor Schools in Texas
[Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/cosmetology-barber-styling-and-nail-instructor/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor schools.
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2027 Best Value Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor Schools in Texas
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 Texas. 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, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,711 to complete the cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor program here. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $18,495. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grayson College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor schools. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. In-state tuition and fees average $3,000, with out-of-state students paying around $6,300. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete the cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor program here. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $42,487. Set against $11,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar State College Port Arthur came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor schools. Lamar State College Port Arthur is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Port Arthur. Students from in state pay about $1,770 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,070 for out-of-state students. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates carry a median of $33,385 in student loans. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $78,580. That is a strong return on a $33,385 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor will find it at Houston Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Students borrow a median of $23,061 to complete the cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor program here. 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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Howard College earned it the #5 place for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor. Located in the town of Big Spring, Howard College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,766, while out-of-state students pay about $6,716. Typical student debt for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates is $14,242. Soon after graduation, cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor degree recipients from Howard College generally make around $41,039. That is a strong return on a $14,242 median debt.
Lee College came in at #6 for value in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor this year. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,520, with out-of-state students paying around $5,045. Typical student debt for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates is $10,941. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $14,727. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Odessa College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor schools. Set in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,688 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,926. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete the cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor program here. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $47,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Plains College earned the #8 position for value in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor this year. Set in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,733 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,157. Typical student debt for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor degree recipients from South Plains College generally make around $30,949. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Southwest Texas Junior College landed the #9 spot for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor value this year. Southwest Texas Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Uvalde. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,646, with out-of-state students paying around $6,294. Students borrow a median of $7,157 to complete the cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor program here. Soon after graduation, cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor degree recipients from Southwest Texas Junior College generally make around $25,528. Set against $7,157 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hill College placed #10 among the best values for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor. Set in the town of Hillsboro, Hill College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,862. Typical student debt for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates is $12,302. 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.
Frank Phillips College came in at #11 for value in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor this year. Set in the town of Borger, Frank Phillips College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,712, with out-of-state students paying around $4,882. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $18,041.
Cisco College placed #12 among the best values for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor. Set in the rural area of Cisco, Cisco College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,710, with out-of-state students paying around $7,140. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates carry a median of $10,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor degree recipients from Cisco College generally make around $17,820. Set against $10,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Jacinto Community College came in at #13 for value in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates is $8,791. Soon after graduation, cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $38,107. Set against $8,791 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ga Beauty And Barber School ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor schools. Set in the city of McAllen, Ga Beauty And Barber School is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates is $5,953. Soon after graduation, cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor degree recipients from Ga Beauty And Barber School generally make around $13,238.
Academy Of Hair Design Lufkin came in at #15 for value in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor this year. Located in the town of Lufkin, Academy Of Hair Design Lufkin is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates is $16,500. Early-career cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates make about $14,039. That is a strong return on a $16,500 median debt.
Hands On Therapy earned the #16 position for value in cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor this year. Located in the suburb of Mesquite, Hands On Therapy is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates is $10,874. Soon after graduation, cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor degree recipients from Hands On Therapy generally make around $21,757. That is a strong return on a $10,874 median debt.
Houston Barber School ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor schools. Houston Barber School is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Houston.
Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Irving landed the #18 spot for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor value this year. Set in the city of Irving, Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Irving is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor graduates is $7,698. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates of Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Irving earn a median of $23,225 early in their careers. Set against $7,698 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Paul Mitchell The School San Antonio landed the #19 spot for cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor value this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, Paul Mitchell The School San Antonio is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $9,833 to complete the cosmetology, barber/styling, & nail instructor program here. Cosmetology, Barber/styling, & Nail Instructor graduates of Paul Mitchell The School San Antonio earn a median of $20,500 early in their careers. Set against $9,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
