2027 Best General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist Schools in the The Plains States Region
General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 78 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general cosmetology/cosmetologist students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general cosmetology/cosmetologist education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College tops our 2027 ranking of the best general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Saint Paul. About 85 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree from Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College earn around $32,987 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,250.
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Ridgewater College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general cosmetology/cosmetologist, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public institution. Ridgewater College awarded about 28 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree from Ridgewater College earn around $21,574 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,750.
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Students looking for a strong general cosmetology/cosmetologist program will find one at Garden City Community College, which ranked #3. Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Garden City. About 19 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Garden City Community College in the most recent year. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Garden City Community College earn a median of $18,724 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
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Students looking for a strong general cosmetology/cosmetologist program will find one at Minnesota State Community And Technical College, which ranked #4. Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Fergus Falls. There were roughly 14 general cosmetology/cosmetologist students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Minnesota State Community And Technical College generally make around $24,367. Minnesota State Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $10,169 in student loans.
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Kansas City Kansas Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Kansas City. About 30 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Kansas City Kansas Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program make about $21,091 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,235 to complete this degree.
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Century College landed the #6 spot for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Located in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public university. About 74 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Century College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program make about $47,502 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,332 to complete this degree.
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Minnesota West Community And Technical College came in at #7 for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Granite Falls. About 11 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Minnesota West Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general cosmetology/cosmetologist 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.
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Washburn Institute Of Technology placed #8 among the best general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public university. There were roughly 43 general cosmetology/cosmetologist students who graduated with this degree at Washburn Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree from Washburn Institute Of Technology earn around $22,547 in the first couple years of their career. Washburn Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans.
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Hutchinson Community College came in at #9 for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Hutchinson. Hutchinson Community College awarded about 41 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree from Hutchinson Community College earn around $17,437 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,148 to complete this degree.
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Lake Area Technical Institute ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools. Set in the town of Watertown, Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public institution. About 35 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Lake Area Technical Institute in the most recent year. Graduates of the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program make about $20,420 in their early career. Lake Area Technical Institute graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
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Riverland Community College landed the #11 spot for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Austin. There were roughly 31 general cosmetology/cosmetologist students who graduated with this degree at Riverland Community College in the most recent data year. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Riverland Community College earn a median of $49,194 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,732.
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Northwest Kansas Technical College landed the #12 spot for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Northwest Kansas Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Goodland. There were roughly 16 general cosmetology/cosmetologist students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Kansas Technical College in the most recent data year. General Cosmetology/cosmetologist graduates of Northwest Kansas Technical College earn a median of $41,638 early in their careers.
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Seward County Community College And Area Technical School ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools. Located in the town of Liberal, Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public university. Seward County Community College And Area Technical School awarded about 32 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree from Seward County Community College And Area Technical School earn around $53,375 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,175 to complete this degree.
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Fort Scott Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools. This small public university is located in the town of Fort Scott. There were roughly 36 general cosmetology/cosmetologist students who graduated with this degree at Fort Scott Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree from Fort Scott Community College earn around $20,691 in the first couple years of their career. Fort Scott Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
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Dodge City Community College earned the #15 position for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Dodge City. About 20 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Dodge City Community College in the most recent year.
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Minnesota State College Southeast Technical placed #16 among the best general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Winona. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical awarded about 18 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program make about $50,290 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,522.
Read more about the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program at Minnesota State College Southeast Technical
Cowley County Community College placed #17 among the best general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools. Set in the town of Arkansas City, Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 25 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Cowley County Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program make about $34,099 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,312 to complete this degree.
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Independence Community College came in at #18 for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Set in the rural area of Independence, Independence Community College is a small public institution. There were roughly 13 general cosmetology/cosmetologist students who graduated with this degree at Independence Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree from Independence Community College earn around $23,620 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,302.
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Aveda Institute Minneapolis earned the #19 position for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Minneapolis. About 165 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Aveda Institute Minneapolis in the most recent year. Graduates of the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program make about $24,230 in their early career. Aveda Institute Minneapolis graduates carry a median of $9,941 in student loans.
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Nova Academy Of Cosmetology landed the #20 spot for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Nova Academy Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. Nova Academy Of Cosmetology awarded about 76 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree from Nova Academy Of Cosmetology earn around $25,754 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,999.
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Model College Of Hair Design ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Model College Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit institution. Model College Of Hair Design awarded about 54 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program make about $25,814 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,778.
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Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics placed #22 among the best general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools. Set in the city of Omaha, Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics is a small private for-profit institution. About 92 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics in the most recent year. Graduates of the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program make about $25,942 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,166.
More information about a degree in general cosmetology/cosmetologist from Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics
Stewart School landed the #23 spot for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Stewart School is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Sioux Falls. There were roughly 71 general cosmetology/cosmetologist students who graduated with this degree at Stewart School in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general cosmetology/cosmetologist program make about $22,684 in their early career. Stewart School graduates carry a median of $8,863 in student loans.
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The Salon Professional Academy Fargo placed #24 among the best general cosmetology/cosmetologist schools. Set in the city of Fargo, The Salon Professional Academy Fargo is a small private for-profit institution. There were roughly 24 general cosmetology/cosmetologist students who graduated with this degree at The Salon Professional Academy Fargo in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from The Salon Professional Academy Fargo generally make around $29,330. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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Pci Academy Plymouth came in at #25 for general cosmetology/cosmetologist this year. Located in the city of Plymouth, Pci Academy Plymouth is a small private for-profit university. About 44 general cosmetology/cosmetologist degrees were awarded at Pci Academy Plymouth in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general cosmetology/cosmetologist degree recipients from Pci Academy Plymouth generally make around $24,178. Pci Academy Plymouth graduates carry a median of $10,570 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general cosmetology/cosmetologist 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 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 · 78 schools evaluated.
- 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.
