by our College Data Analytics Team
[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools to find where cosmetology graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send cosmetology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Aveda Fredrics Institute Indianapolis the top school for cosmetology graduate earnings in Indiana. Set in the city of Carmel, Aveda Fredrics Institute Indianapolis is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,182.
Paul Mitchell The School Indianapolis came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. 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.
A rank of #3 makes Summit Salon Academy Anderson one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of Anderson, Summit Salon Academy Anderson is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Summit Salon Academy Anderson make a median of around $25,326 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Paul Mitchell The School Merrillville earned it the #4 place for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Merrillville, Paul Mitchell The School Merrillville is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Merrillville typically earn about $24,618 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Tricoci University Of Beauty Culture Indianapolis, which ranked #5. Tricoci University Of Beauty Culture Indianapolis is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Indianapolis. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Tricoci University Of Beauty Culture Indianapolis make a median of around $24,660 per year.
Tricoci University Of Beauty Culture Lafayette came in at #6 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Lafayette, Tricoci University Of Beauty Culture Lafayette is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Tricoci University Of Beauty Culture Lafayette typically earn about $24,660 annually.
Rudaes School Of Beauty Culture Ft Wayne came in at #7 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Rudaes School Of Beauty Culture Ft Wayne is a private for-profit school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $23,408.
J Michael Harrold Beauty Academy placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of Terre Haute, J Michael Harrold Beauty Academy is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $23,613.
Summit Salon Academy Kokomo landed the #9 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Summit Salon Academy Kokomo is a private for-profit school located in the city of Kokomo. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Summit Salon Academy Kokomo make a median of around $23,049 per year.
Empire Beauty School Speedway landed the #10 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Speedway, Empire Beauty School Speedway is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,594.
Tricoci University Of Beauty Culture Highland placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the suburb of Highland, Tricoci University Of Beauty Culture Highland is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Tricoci University Of Beauty Culture Highland make a median of around $23,048 per year.
Rogers Academy Of Hair Design placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Rogers Academy Of Hair Design is a private for-profit school located in the city of Evansville. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Rogers Academy Of Hair Design typically earn about $22,789 annually.
Denmark College came in at #13 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Denmark College is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Merrillville. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $18,334.
Tricoci University Of Beauty Cuture Llc Bloomington came in at #14 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Tricoci University Of Beauty Cuture Llc Bloomington is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Tricoci University Of Beauty Cuture Llc Bloomington make a median of around $18,592 per year.
The Salon Professional Academy Evansville came in at #15 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Evansville, The Salon Professional Academy Evansville is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $18,456.
Pjs College Of Cosmetology Clarksville earned the #16 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Clarksville, Pjs College Of Cosmetology Clarksville is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Pjs College Of Cosmetology Clarksville make a median of around $23,332 per year.
Don Roberts School Of Hair Design placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the suburb of Schererville, Don Roberts School Of Hair Design is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Don Roberts School Of Hair Design earn a median of about $18,492 a year early in their careers.
Ravenscroft Beauty College landed the #18 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Ravenscroft Beauty College is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $19,984.
Pjs College Of Cosmetology Richmond ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the town of Richmond, Pjs College Of Cosmetology Richmond is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $15,581.
Kennys Academy Of Barbering came in at #20 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Kennys Academy Of Barbering is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Kennys Academy Of Barbering make a median of around $15,048 per year.
Lil Lous Beauty And Barber College Hammond landed the #21 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Lil Lous Beauty And Barber College Hammond is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hammond. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Lil Lous Beauty And Barber College Hammond typically earn about $13,867 annually.
Lil Lous Beauty And Barber College Llc placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the suburb of Gary, Lil Lous Beauty And Barber College Llc is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Lil Lous Beauty And Barber College Llc earn a median of about $13,867 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries cosmetology graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 22 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.