by our College Data Analytics Team
[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their cosmetology graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 100 schools on the early-career earnings of their cosmetology graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose cosmetology graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in cosmetology, no school beat Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Shoreline this year. Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Shoreline is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Shoreline. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Shoreline typically earn about $33,492 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Medspa Academies National Institute Of Modern Aesthetics one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Las Vegas, Medspa Academies National Institute Of Modern Aesthetics is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Medspa Academies National Institute Of Modern Aesthetics earn a median of about $31,790 a year early in their careers.
Summit Salon Academy Portland produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #3 spot this year. Summit Salon Academy Portland is a private for-profit school located in the city of Tigard. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Summit Salon Academy Portland make a median of around $27,110 per year.
A rank of #4 makes Gary Manuel Aveda Institute one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of Seattle, Gary Manuel Aveda Institute is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Gary Manuel Aveda Institute typically earn about $34,909 annually.
Gene Juarez Academy Of Beauty Federal Way produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #5 spot this year. Gene Juarez Academy Of Beauty Federal Way is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Federal Way. Cosmetology graduates of Gene Juarez Academy Of Beauty Federal Way earn a median of about $30,887 a year early in their careers.
International Academy Of Style came in at #6 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Reno, International Academy Of Style is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from International Academy Of Style make a median of around $25,903 per year.
Summit Salon Academy Tacoma ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Tacoma, Summit Salon Academy Tacoma is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Summit Salon Academy Tacoma typically earn about $29,174 annually.
Paul Mitchell The School Spokane ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Spokane Valley, Paul Mitchell The School Spokane is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Spokane typically earn about $24,869 annually.
Aveda Institute Portland ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Portland, Aveda Institute Portland is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Aveda Institute Portland typically earn about $28,625 annually.
Aveda Institute Portland Vancouver Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Vancouver, Aveda Institute Portland Vancouver Campus is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $28,625.
Avalon Institute Las Vegas ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Avalon Institute Las Vegas is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Las Vegas. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $29,008.
Evergreen Beauty And Barber College Everett landed the #12 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Everett, Evergreen Beauty And Barber College Everett is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Evergreen Beauty And Barber College Everett make a median of around $24,890 per year.
Phagans Beauty College earned the #13 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Phagans Beauty College is a private for-profit school located in the city of Corvallis. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Phagans Beauty College make a median of around $30,024 per year.
The Salon Professional Academy San Jose ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. The Salon Professional Academy San Jose is a private for-profit school located in the city of San Jose. Cosmetology graduates of The Salon Professional Academy San Jose earn a median of about $21,974 a year early in their careers.
Phagans School Of Beauty placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Salem, Phagans School Of Beauty is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $28,116.
San Jose City College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. San Jose City College is a public school located in the city of San Jose. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $23,253.
San Francisco Institute Of Esthetics And Cosmetology Inc earned the #17 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco Institute Of Esthetics And Cosmetology Inc is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of San Francisco Institute Of Esthetics And Cosmetology Inc earn a median of about $28,410 a year early in their careers.
Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Santa Fe Springs. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $28,808.
Beau Monde College Of Hair Design Beau Monde Academy Of Cosmetology earned the #19 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Portland, Beau Monde College Of Hair Design Beau Monde Academy Of Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Beau Monde College Of Hair Design Beau Monde Academy Of Cosmetology earn a median of about $31,169 a year early in their careers.
Pomona Unified School District Adult And Career Education placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Pomona Unified School District Adult And Career Education is a public school located in the suburb of Pomona. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $21,800.
Paul Mitchell The School East Bay landed the #21 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Paul Mitchell The School East Bay is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $27,442.
Institute Of Technology Inc landed the #22 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Institute Of Technology Inc is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Clovis. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $21,184.
Mti College earned the #23 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Sacramento, Mti College is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $20,434.
Northwest College Beaverton landed the #24 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the city of Beaverton, Northwest College Beaverton is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Northwest College Beaverton typically earn about $24,826 annually.
Northwest College Clackamas came in at #25 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Happy Valley, Northwest College Clackamas is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Northwest College Clackamas typically earn about $24,826 annually.
These schools also send cosmetology graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their cosmetology graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.