2027 Best Value Make-Up Artist/Specialist Schools
[Make-Up Artist/Specialist](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/make-up-artist-specialist/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong make-up artist/specialist education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools to find the best return on investment for make-up artist/specialist students.
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Finding the Best Value Make-Up Artist/Specialist School for You
Where you study make-up artist/specialist affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Make-Up Artist/Specialist Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
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We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Make-Up Artist/Specialist Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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2027 Best Value Make-Up Artist/Specialist Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the make-up artist/specialist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Make-Up Artist/Specialist Schools
San Juan College tops our 2027 list of the best value make-up artist/specialist schools in the United States. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $5,393. Students borrow a median of $16,150 to complete the make-up artist/specialist program here. Early-career make-up artist/specialist graduates make about $41,697. That is a strong return on a $16,150 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Caribbean University Bayamon earned it the #2 place for make-up artist/specialist. Located in the city of Bayamon, Caribbean University Bayamon is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $8,844 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,628 to complete the make-up artist/specialist program here. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates of Caribbean University Bayamon earn a median of $24,272 early in their careers. Set against $12,628 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in make-up artist/specialist will find it at Mesa Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Early-career make-up artist/specialist graduates make about $54,730. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Emmas Beauty Academy Juana Diaz came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value make-up artist/specialist schools. Emmas Beauty Academy Juana Diaz is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Juana Diaz. Students borrow a median of $2,625 to complete the make-up artist/specialist program here. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates of Emmas Beauty Academy Juana Diaz earn a median of $8,607 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $2,625 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in make-up artist/specialist will find it at Century College San Juan, which ranked #5. Century College San Juan is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Juan. In-state tuition and fees average $9,100. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates carry a median of $3,394 in student loans. Soon after graduation, make-up artist/specialist degree recipients from Century College San Juan generally make around $7,902. Set against $3,394 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American Institute Of Beauty ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value make-up artist/specialist schools. Located in the suburb of Largo, American Institute Of Beauty is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for make-up artist/specialist graduates is $9,500. Early-career make-up artist/specialist graduates make about $18,327. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Modern Hairstyling Institute Bayamon landed the #7 spot for make-up artist/specialist value this year. Modern Hairstyling Institute Bayamon is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Bayamon. Typical student debt for make-up artist/specialist graduates is $3,500. Early-career make-up artist/specialist graduates make about $6,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Modern Hairstyling Institute Carolina landed the #8 spot for make-up artist/specialist value this year. Set in the suburb of Carolina, Modern Hairstyling Institute Carolina is a small private for-profit institution. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates carry a median of $3,014 in student loans. Soon after graduation, make-up artist/specialist degree recipients from Modern Hairstyling Institute Carolina generally make around $6,454. That is a strong return on a $3,014 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Neo Esthetique European Institute landed the #9 spot for make-up artist/specialist value this year. Neo Esthetique European Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Juan. Students borrow a median of $3,500 to complete the make-up artist/specialist program here. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates of Neo Esthetique European Institute earn a median of $9,265 early in their careers.
Instituto Educativo Premier ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value make-up artist/specialist schools. Located in the city of Ponce, Instituto Educativo Premier is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for make-up artist/specialist graduates is $3,500. Early-career make-up artist/specialist graduates make about $10,432. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Paul Mitchell The School Schenectady came in at #11 for value in make-up artist/specialist this year. Located in the city of Schenectady, Paul Mitchell The School Schenectady is a small private for-profit university. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates carry a median of $7,407 in student loans. Soon after graduation, make-up artist/specialist degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Schenectady generally make around $17,570.
Studio Beauty School placed #12 among the best values for make-up artist/specialist. Studio Beauty School is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Spokane Valley. Typical student debt for make-up artist/specialist graduates is $7,917. Early-career make-up artist/specialist graduates make about $17,110.
Modern Hairstyling Institute Arecibo ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value make-up artist/specialist schools. Set in the city of Arecibo, Modern Hairstyling Institute Arecibo is a small private for-profit institution. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates of Modern Hairstyling Institute Arecibo earn a median of $5,199 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 74%.
American Beauty Schools ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value make-up artist/specialist schools. Set in the suburb of Miami, American Beauty Schools is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $3,200 to complete the make-up artist/specialist program here. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates of American Beauty Schools earn a median of $11,693 early in their careers.
La Belle Beauty Academy earned the #15 position for value in make-up artist/specialist this year. La Belle Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Miami. Students borrow a median of $8,149 to complete the make-up artist/specialist program here. Soon after graduation, make-up artist/specialist degree recipients from La Belle Beauty Academy generally make around $12,087. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Boca Beauty Academy placed #16 among the best values for make-up artist/specialist. Set in the suburb of Boca Raton, Boca Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $6,920 to complete the make-up artist/specialist program here. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates of Boca Beauty Academy earn a median of $16,730 early in their careers.
Brittany Beauty Academy Levittown placed #17 among the best values for make-up artist/specialist. Set in the suburb of Levittown, Brittany Beauty Academy Levittown is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $9,284 to complete the make-up artist/specialist program here. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates of Brittany Beauty Academy Levittown earn a median of $16,822 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,284 median debt.
Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Irving landed the #18 spot for make-up artist/specialist value this year. Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Irving is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Irving. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates carry a median of $7,698 in student loans. Early-career make-up artist/specialist graduates make about $23,225. Set against $7,698 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Dallas placed #19 among the best values for make-up artist/specialist. Set in the suburb of Grand Prairie, Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Dallas is a small private for-profit institution. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates carry a median of $7,698 in student loans. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates of Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Dallas earn a median of $23,225 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,698 median debt.
Clary Sage College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value make-up artist/specialist schools. Located in the city of Tulsa, Clary Sage College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $11,241 to complete the make-up artist/specialist program here. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates of Clary Sage College earn a median of $16,948 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,241 median debt.
Paul Mitchell The School Boise placed #21 among the best values for make-up artist/specialist. Located in the city of Boise, Paul Mitchell The School Boise is a small private for-profit university. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates carry a median of $10,556 in student loans. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Boise earn a median of $21,620 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,556 median debt.
Douglas Education Center landed the #22 spot for make-up artist/specialist value this year. Located in the town of Monessen, Douglas Education Center is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $19,450. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates carry a median of $11,823 in student loans. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates of Douglas Education Center earn a median of $19,940 early in their careers. Set against $11,823 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Celebrity School Of Beauty earned the #23 position for value in make-up artist/specialist this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Celebrity School Of Beauty is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $7,000 to complete the make-up artist/specialist program here. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates of Celebrity School Of Beauty earn a median of $13,305 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Paul Mitchell The School North Haven came in at #24 for value in make-up artist/specialist this year. Paul Mitchell The School North Haven is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of North Haven. Make-Up Artist/specialist graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, make-up artist/specialist degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School North Haven generally make around $19,288. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
L Makeup Institute landed the #25 spot for make-up artist/specialist value this year. Set in the city of Las Vegas, L Makeup Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $6,702 to complete the make-up artist/specialist program here. Soon after graduation, make-up artist/specialist degree recipients from L Makeup Institute generally make around $17,300.
Rest of the Top 26 Best Value Make-Up Artist/Specialist Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in make-up artist/specialist:
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Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Make-Up Artist/Specialist. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 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.
