by our College Data Analytics Team
[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a cosmetology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 100 schools on the early-career earnings of their cosmetology graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send cosmetology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in cosmetology, no school beat Tiffin Academy Of Hair Design this year. Set in the town of Tiffin, Tiffin Academy Of Hair Design is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Tiffin Academy Of Hair Design typically earn about $32,078 annually.
The Salon Professional Academy Battle Creek produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #2 spot this year. The Salon Professional Academy Battle Creek is a private for-profit school located in the city of Battle Creek. Early-career cosmetology graduates from The Salon Professional Academy Battle Creek make a median of around $29,685 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at University Of Aesthetics And Cosmetology, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Aesthetics And Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from University Of Aesthetics And Cosmetology typically earn about $34,757 annually.
Brighton Institute Of Cosmetology produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Brighton, Brighton Institute Of Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $27,490.
Waukesha County Technical College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #5 spot this year. Waukesha County Technical College is a public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $27,049.
The Salon Professional Academy Onalaska landed the #6 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Onalaska, The Salon Professional Academy Onalaska is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $29,896.
Aveda Fredrics Institute Indianapolis ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Carmel, Aveda Fredrics Institute Indianapolis is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Aveda Fredrics Institute Indianapolis make a median of around $31,182 per year.
Aveda Institute Madison landed the #8 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Aveda Institute Madison is a private for-profit school located in the city of Madison. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Aveda Institute Madison typically earn about $29,826 annually.
The Institute Of Beauty And Wellness landed the #9 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, The Institute Of Beauty And Wellness is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of The Institute Of Beauty And Wellness earn a median of about $29,826 a year early in their careers.
The Salon Professional Academy Kenosha placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. The Salon Professional Academy Kenosha is a private for-profit school located in the city of Kenosha. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from The Salon Professional Academy Kenosha typically earn about $32,155 annually.
Chippewa Valley Technical College earned the #11 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $29,373.
Moler Pickens Beauty Academy earned the #12 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Moler Pickens Beauty Academy is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,564.
Paul Mitchell The School Columbus came in at #13 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Paul Mitchell The School Columbus is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $28,267.
Aveda Fredrics Institute Cincinnati came in at #14 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Aveda Fredrics Institute Cincinnati is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of West Chester. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Aveda Fredrics Institute Cincinnati make a median of around $30,177 per year.
Paul Mitchell The School Madison ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Madison, Paul Mitchell The School Madison is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell The School Madison make a median of around $29,114 per year.
Paul Mitchell The School Indianapolis placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Paul Mitchell The School Indianapolis is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Indianapolis earn a median of about $27,194 a year early in their careers.
Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #17 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a public institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Milwaukee Area Technical College make a median of around $27,922 per year.
Vici Beauty School landed the #18 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Vici Beauty School is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Greenfield. Cosmetology graduates of Vici Beauty School earn a median of about $30,010 a year early in their careers.
G Skin And Beauty Institute placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. G Skin And Beauty Institute is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Oakbrook. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from G Skin And Beauty Institute typically earn about $33,521 annually.
State College Of Beauty Culture Inc placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Wausau, State College Of Beauty Culture Inc is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $24,688.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College landed the #21 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the rural area of Fennimore, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $24,503.
Aveda Institute Chicago came in at #22 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Aveda Institute Chicago is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Aveda Institute Chicago typically earn about $27,574 annually.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College came in at #23 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College is a public school located in the town of Olney. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $24,120.
Hair Professionals Academy Of Cosmetology earned the #24 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Schaumburg, Hair Professionals Academy Of Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Hair Professionals Academy Of Cosmetology typically earn about $27,906 annually.
Aveda Institute Columbus earned the #25 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Aveda Institute Columbus is a private for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $28,312.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning cosmetology graduates:
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.