2027 Best Value General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist Schools in Minnesota
[General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/cosmetology-cosmetologist-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general cosmetology/cosmetologist students.
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2027 Best Value General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist Schools in Minnesota
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist Schools
Leading the list is Ridgewater College, our #1 best value for general cosmetology/cosmetologist in Minnesota. Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Willmar. Students from in state pay about $6,121 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program here. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Ridgewater College earn a median of $21,574 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Riverland Community College earned it the #2 place for general cosmetology/cosmetologist. Set in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,297 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,732 to complete the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program here. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Riverland Community College generally make around $49,194. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general cosmetology/cosmetologist will find it at Century College, which ranked #3. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,214. Students borrow a median of $21,332 to complete the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program here. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Century College generally make around $47,502. That is a strong return on a $21,332 median debt.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools. Set in the rural area of Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,491. Students borrow a median of $8,730 to complete the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program here. Early-career general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates make about $17,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general cosmetology/cosmetologist will find it at Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College, which ranked #5. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $6,326. Typical student debt for general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates is $14,250. Early-career general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates make about $32,987. Set against $14,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Avalon School Of Cosmetology earned the #6 position for value in general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Set in the town of Worthington, Avalon School Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit institution. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $28,336.
Model College Of Hair Design came in at #7 for value in general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Model College Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates is $8,778. Early-career general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates make about $25,814. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College placed #8 among the best values for general cosmetology/cosmetologist. Located in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,908 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates is $10,169. Early-career general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates make about $24,367. That is a strong return on a $10,169 median debt.
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools. Located in the town of Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,432. Typical student debt for general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates is $22,522. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Minnesota State College Southeast Technical generally make around $50,290. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hastings Beauty School landed the #10 spot for general cosmetology/cosmetologist value this year. Hastings Beauty School is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Hastings. Early-career general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates make about $23,396.
Empire Beauty School Spring Lake Park placed #11 among the best values for general cosmetology/cosmetologist. Located in the suburb of Spring Lake Park, Empire Beauty School Spring Lake Park is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates is $15,765. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Empire Beauty School Spring Lake Park generally make around $18,408. Set against $15,765 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Aveda Institute Minneapolis landed the #12 spot for general cosmetology/cosmetologist value this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Aveda Institute Minneapolis is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates is $9,941. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Aveda Institute Minneapolis generally make around $24,230. Set against $9,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Empire Beauty School Bloomington came in at #13 for value in general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Empire Beauty School Bloomington is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Bloomington. Typical student debt for general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates is $13,849. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Empire Beauty School Bloomington generally make around $18,639. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pci Academy Plymouth landed the #14 spot for general cosmetology/cosmetologist value this year. Located in the city of Plymouth, Pci Academy Plymouth is a small private for-profit university. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates carry a median of $10,570 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Pci Academy Plymouth generally make around $24,178. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Nova Academy Of Cosmetology landed the #15 spot for general cosmetology/cosmetologist value this year. Nova Academy Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. Typical student debt for general cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates is $9,999. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Nova Academy Of Cosmetology generally make around $25,754. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
