by our College Data Analytics Team
[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a cosmetology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 37 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.
Tiffin Academy Of Hair Design tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools in Ohio. Set in the town of Tiffin, Tiffin Academy Of Hair Design is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Tiffin Academy Of Hair Design make a median of around $32,078 per year.
Moler Pickens Beauty Academy produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #2 spot this year. Moler Pickens Beauty Academy is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. Cosmetology graduates of Moler Pickens Beauty Academy earn a median of about $31,564 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Paul Mitchell The School Columbus, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Columbus, Paul Mitchell The School Columbus is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Columbus typically earn about $28,267 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Aveda Fredrics Institute Cincinnati earned it the #4 place for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of West Chester, Aveda Fredrics Institute Cincinnati is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Aveda Fredrics Institute Cincinnati earn a median of about $30,177 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Aveda Institute Columbus earned it the #5 place for cosmetology. Aveda Institute Columbus is a private for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Aveda Institute Columbus make a median of around $28,312 per year.
Summit Salon Academy Perrysburg ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of Perrysburg, Summit Salon Academy Perrysburg is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Summit Salon Academy Perrysburg typically earn about $27,084 annually.
The Spa School placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. The Spa School 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 $29,111.
Brown Aveda Institute Mentor came in at #8 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Mentor, Brown Aveda Institute Mentor is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $26,698.
Brown Aveda Institute Strongsville came in at #9 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Strongsville, Brown Aveda Institute Strongsville is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Brown Aveda Institute Strongsville make a median of around $26,698 per year.
Ohio State College Of Barber Styling landed the #10 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Columbus, Ohio State College Of Barber Styling is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Ohio State College Of Barber Styling make a median of around $23,195 per year.
National Beauty College Canton earned the #11 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Canton, National Beauty College Canton is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from National Beauty College Canton make a median of around $31,316 per year.
Ohio State School Of Cosmetology Canal Winchester came in at #12 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of CANAL WINCHESTER, Ohio State School Of Cosmetology Canal Winchester is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Ohio State School Of Cosmetology Canal Winchester earn a median of about $22,322 a year early in their careers.
Paul Mitchell The School Cleveland earned the #13 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Twinsburg, Paul Mitchell The School Cleveland is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Cleveland earn a median of about $26,405 a year early in their careers.
Elite School Of Cosmetology ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Elite School Of Cosmetology is a private for-profit school located in the town of Norwalk. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Elite School Of Cosmetology make a median of around $32,984 per year.
Salon Institute Toledo Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of Toledo, Salon Institute Toledo Campus is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Salon Institute Toledo Campus earn a median of about $21,598 a year early in their careers.
Paul Mitchell The School Cincinnati earned the #16 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Paul Mitchell The School Cincinnati is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Cincinnati. Cosmetology graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Cincinnati earn a median of about $24,109 a year early in their careers.
Paul Mitchell The School Toledo placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Paul Mitchell The School Toledo is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Sylvania. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Toledo typically earn about $24,109 annually.
Creative Images Institute Of Cosmetology North Dayton placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Creative Images Institute Of Cosmetology North Dayton is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Creative Images Institute Of Cosmetology North Dayton make a median of around $24,405 per year.
Creative Images Institute Of Cosmetology South Dayton earned the #19 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Creative Images Institute Of Cosmetology South Dayton is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $24,405.
Ohio State Beauty Academy landed the #20 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Lima, Ohio State Beauty Academy is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Ohio State Beauty Academy make a median of around $22,543 per year.
Ohio State School Of Cosmetology Heath earned the #21 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Heath, Ohio State School Of Cosmetology Heath is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Ohio State School Of Cosmetology Heath make a median of around $24,052 per year.
Apollo Career Center landed the #22 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Lima, Apollo Career Center is a public institution. Cosmetology graduates of Apollo Career Center earn a median of about $18,412 a year early in their careers.
Polaris Career Center ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Polaris Career Center is a public school located in the suburb of Middleburg Heights. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Polaris Career Center make a median of around $18,100 per year.
Casal Aveda Institute ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of Niles, Casal Aveda Institute is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $20,221.
Career And Technology Education Centers Of Licking County landed the #25 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Career And Technology Education Centers Of Licking County is a public school located in the suburb of Newark. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $17,402.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid cosmetology ranking:
This list is compiled 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 · 37 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.