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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 31 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.
Our analysis ranked The Salon Professional Academy Battle Creek the top school for cosmetology graduate earnings in Michigan. Located in the city of Battle Creek, The Salon Professional Academy Battle Creek is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of The Salon Professional Academy Battle Creek earn a median of about $29,685 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Brighton Institute Of Cosmetology earned it the #2 place for cosmetology. Brighton Institute Of Cosmetology is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Brighton. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Brighton Institute Of Cosmetology typically earn about $27,490 annually.
Taylor Andrews Academy Of Hair Design Hair Lab Detroit Barber School produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #3 spot this year. Taylor Andrews Academy Of Hair Design Hair Lab Detroit Barber School is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Southgate. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Taylor Andrews Academy Of Hair Design Hair Lab Detroit Barber School make a median of around $27,604 per year.
A rank of #4 makes Northern Michigan University one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Northern Michigan University typically earn about $21,628 annually.
A rank of #5 makes Twin City Beauty College one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the suburb of Saint Joseph, Twin City Beauty College is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Twin City Beauty College make a median of around $26,306 per year.
West Michigan College Of Barbering And Beauty came in at #6 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. West Michigan College Of Barbering And Beauty is a private for-profit school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $27,793.
Paul Mitchell The School Grand Rapids landed the #7 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Paul Mitchell The School Grand Rapids is a private for-profit school located in the city of Kentwood. Cosmetology graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Grand Rapids earn a median of about $24,214 a year early in their careers.
Douglas J Aveda Institute placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of East Lansing, Douglas J Aveda Institute is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Douglas J Aveda Institute make a median of around $24,646 per year.
Nuvo College Of Cosmetology placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of Norton Shores, Nuvo College Of Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Nuvo College Of Cosmetology make a median of around $26,461 per year.
Paul Mitchell The School Michigan ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Paul Mitchell The School Michigan is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Sterling Heights. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Michigan typically earn about $25,624 annually.
Michigan College Of Beauty Troy came in at #11 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Michigan College Of Beauty Troy is a private for-profit school located in the city of Troy. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Michigan College Of Beauty Troy make a median of around $24,122 per year.
Paul Mitchell The School Great Lakes came in at #12 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Paul Mitchell The School Great Lakes is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Port Huron. Cosmetology graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Great Lakes earn a median of about $21,172 a year early in their careers.
Paul Mitchell The School Farmington Hills came in at #13 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Paul Mitchell The School Farmington Hills is a private for-profit school located in the city of Farmington Hills. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Farmington Hills typically earn about $22,236 annually.
Lesprit Academy came in at #14 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Canton, Lesprit Academy is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Lesprit Academy earn a median of about $21,691 a year early in their careers.
Empire Beauty School Michigan placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Grand Rapids, Empire Beauty School Michigan is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Empire Beauty School Michigan earn a median of about $22,064 a year early in their careers.
David Pressley School Of Cosmetology came in at #16 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Royal Oak, David Pressley School Of Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from David Pressley School Of Cosmetology typically earn about $21,659 annually.
Michigan College Of Beauty Monroe ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Michigan College Of Beauty Monroe is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Monroe. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Michigan College Of Beauty Monroe make a median of around $20,434 per year.
Hillsdale Beauty College landed the #18 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the town of Hillsdale, Hillsdale Beauty College is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Hillsdale Beauty College typically earn about $16,576 annually.
Protege Academy East Lansing landed the #19 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of East Lansing, Protege Academy East Lansing is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Protege Academy East Lansing make a median of around $21,385 per year.
Protege Academy Mount Pleasant landed the #20 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the town of Mt. Pleasant, Protege Academy Mount Pleasant is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $21,385.
French Academy Of Cosmetology landed the #21 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Spring Lake, French Academy Of Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of French Academy Of Cosmetology earn a median of about $21,034 a year early in their careers.
Elevate Salon Institute came in at #22 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Royal Oak, Elevate Salon Institute is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Elevate Salon Institute make a median of around $18,981 per year.
Panda Scholars Beauty School earned the #23 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Panda Scholars Beauty School is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Panda Scholars Beauty School typically earn about $19,134 annually.
Bayshire Academy Of Beauty Craft Inc landed the #24 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Bayshire Academy Of Beauty Craft Inc is a private for-profit school located in the city of Bay City. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Bayshire Academy Of Beauty Craft Inc make a median of around $22,911 per year.
M J Murphy Beauty College Of Mount Pleasant placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, M J Murphy Beauty College Of Mount Pleasant is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of M J Murphy Beauty College Of Mount Pleasant earn a median of about $14,261 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid cosmetology ranking:
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 · 31 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.