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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 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.
Career School Of Ny earned the #1 spot for highest-paid cosmetology graduates in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of Staten Island, Career School Of Ny is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Career School Of Ny typically earn about $25,195 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Hair Academy School Of Barbering And Beauty earned it the #2 place for cosmetology. Set in the suburb of Newark, Hair Academy School Of Barbering And Beauty is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $25,168.
New York School Of Esthetics And Day Spa came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of white plains, New York School Of Esthetics And Day Spa is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from New York School Of Esthetics And Day Spa make a median of around $29,852 per year.
Baltimore School Of Massage Linthicum came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Baltimore School Of Massage Linthicum is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Linthicum. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Baltimore School Of Massage Linthicum typically earn about $27,921 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Atelier Esthetique Institute Of Esthetics earned it the #5 place for cosmetology. Atelier Esthetique Institute Of Esthetics is a private for-profit school located in the city of New York. Cosmetology graduates of Atelier Esthetique Institute Of Esthetics earn a median of about $26,625 a year early in their careers.
Paul Mitchell The School Jessup placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Jessup, Paul Mitchell The School Jessup is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Jessup typically earn about $23,343 annually.
Paul Mitchell The School Delaware placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the suburb of Newark, Paul Mitchell The School Delaware is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Delaware earn a median of about $28,315 a year early in their careers.
Paul Mitchell The School Schenectady placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Schenectady, Paul Mitchell The School Schenectady is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell The School Schenectady make a median of around $31,784 per year.
Aesthetic Science Institute came in at #9 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Aesthetic Science Institute is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Latham. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Aesthetic Science Institute typically earn about $23,783 annually.
Arrojo Cosmetology School ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Arrojo Cosmetology School is a private for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $29,329.
South Hills Beauty Academy Inc came in at #11 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Pittsburgh, South Hills Beauty Academy Inc is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of South Hills Beauty Academy Inc earn a median of about $25,648 a year early in their careers.
Western Suffolk Boces placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Northport, Western Suffolk Boces is a public institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Western Suffolk Boces make a median of around $29,809 per year.
Penn Commercial Business Technical School placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Washington, Penn Commercial Business Technical School is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $25,204.
The Salon Professional Academy Altoona earned the #14 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Altoona, The Salon Professional Academy Altoona is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $27,912.
The Salon Professional Academy Washington Dc placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Washington, The Salon Professional Academy Washington Dc is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from The Salon Professional Academy Washington Dc make a median of around $27,912 per year.
The Temple A Paul Mitchell Partner School came in at #16 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Frederick, The Temple A Paul Mitchell Partner School is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from The Temple A Paul Mitchell Partner School typically earn about $25,109 annually.
The Temple Annapolis A Paul Mitchell Partner School placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the suburb of Annapolis, The Temple Annapolis A Paul Mitchell Partner School is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $25,109.
Artistic Academy Of Hair Design earned the #18 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Artistic Academy Of Hair Design is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Morris Plains. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Artistic Academy Of Hair Design typically earn about $30,361 annually.
Lancaster School Of Cosmetology And Therapeutic Bodywork came in at #19 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Lancaster School Of Cosmetology And Therapeutic Bodywork is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lancaster. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Lancaster School Of Cosmetology And Therapeutic Bodywork make a median of around $26,828 per year.
Metro Beauty Academy landed the #20 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Allentown, Metro Beauty Academy is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $24,018.
Continental School Of Beauty Culture West Seneca landed the #21 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the suburb of West Seneca, Continental School Of Beauty Culture West Seneca is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Continental School Of Beauty Culture West Seneca make a median of around $22,374 per year.
Douglas Education Center landed the #22 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the town of Monessen, Douglas Education Center is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Douglas Education Center earn a median of about $25,466 a year early in their careers.
Robert Fiance Beauty Schools North Plainfield earned the #23 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Robert Fiance Beauty Schools North Plainfield is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of North Plainfield. Cosmetology graduates of Robert Fiance Beauty Schools North Plainfield earn a median of about $20,689 a year early in their careers.
Bennett Career Institute came in at #24 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Bennett Career Institute is a private for-profit school located in the city of Washington. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Bennett Career Institute typically earn about $23,777 annually.
Aveda Institute Maryland ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of Bel Air, Aveda Institute Maryland is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Aveda Institute Maryland typically earn about $28,770 annually.
These schools also send cosmetology graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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 · 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.