by our College Data Analytics Team
[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their cosmetology graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find where cosmetology graduates earn the most.
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Below are the schools whose cosmetology graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in cosmetology, no school beat Artistic Academy Of Hair Design 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.
A rank of #2 makes Robert Fiance Beauty Schools North Plainfield one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the suburb of North Plainfield, Robert Fiance Beauty Schools North Plainfield is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Robert Fiance Beauty Schools North Plainfield typically earn about $20,689 annually.
Ocean County Vocational Technical School came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Ocean County Vocational Technical School is a public school located in the suburb of Toms River. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Ocean County Vocational Technical School make a median of around $29,679 per year.
Christine Valmy International School Of Esthetics And Cosmetology came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Christine Valmy International School Of Esthetics And Cosmetology is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Wayne. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Christine Valmy International School Of Esthetics And Cosmetology typically earn about $24,291 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Innovate Salon Academy, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of South Plainfield, Innovate Salon Academy is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $26,623.
Innovate Salon Academy Ewing placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Ewing, Innovate Salon Academy Ewing is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Innovate Salon Academy Ewing make a median of around $26,623 per year.
Rizzieri Aveda School For Beauty And Wellness earned the #7 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Voorhees, Rizzieri Aveda School For Beauty And Wellness is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Rizzieri Aveda School For Beauty And Wellness typically earn about $25,431 annually.
Parisian Beauty School landed the #8 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Hackensack, Parisian Beauty School is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Parisian Beauty School typically earn about $27,395 annually.
Empire Beauty School Bloomfield came in at #9 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Empire Beauty School Bloomfield is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Bloomfield. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,913.
Empire Beauty School Union came in at #10 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Union, Empire Beauty School Union is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Empire Beauty School Union typically earn about $22,913 annually.
Atlantic Beauty And Spa Academy Llc ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic Beauty And Spa Academy Llc is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Atlantic Beauty And Spa Academy Llc typically earn about $22,389 annually.
Cutting Edge Academy earned the #12 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Succasunna, Cutting Edge Academy is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Cutting Edge Academy make a median of around $19,411 per year.
P B Cosmetology Education Center came in at #13 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Gloucester, P B Cosmetology Education Center is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from P B Cosmetology Education Center make a median of around $22,695 per year.
Empire Beauty School Cherry Hill earned the #14 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Cherry Hill, Empire Beauty School Cherry Hill is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School Cherry Hill make a median of around $21,000 per year.
Robert Fiance Beauty Schools West New York ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of West New York, Robert Fiance Beauty Schools West New York is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Robert Fiance Beauty Schools West New York typically earn about $18,870 annually.
Total Image Beauty Academy landed the #16 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Union City, Total Image Beauty Academy is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Total Image Beauty Academy typically earn about $19,600 annually.
Monmouth County Vocational School District placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Monmouth County Vocational School District is a public school located in the suburb of Freehold. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $11,531.
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 · 17 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.