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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 37 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying cosmetology schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose cosmetology graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Career School Of Ny, our #1 for cosmetology graduate salaries in New York. 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.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at New York School Of Esthetics And Day Spa, which ranked #2. Located in the city of white plains, New York School Of Esthetics And Day Spa is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from New York School Of Esthetics And Day Spa typically earn about $29,852 annually.
Atelier Esthetique Institute Of Esthetics came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of New York, Atelier Esthetique Institute Of Esthetics is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Atelier Esthetique Institute Of Esthetics earn a median of about $26,625 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes Paul Mitchell The School Schenectady one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of Schenectady, Paul Mitchell The School Schenectady is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Schenectady typically earn about $31,784 annually.
Aesthetic Science Institute came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of Latham, Aesthetic Science Institute is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Aesthetic Science Institute typically earn about $23,783 annually.
Arrojo Cosmetology School came in at #6 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, Arrojo Cosmetology School is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Arrojo Cosmetology School earn a median of about $29,329 a year early in their careers.
Western Suffolk Boces placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the suburb of Northport, Western Suffolk Boces is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Western Suffolk Boces typically earn about $29,809 annually.
Continental School Of Beauty Culture West Seneca placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the suburb of West Seneca, Continental School Of Beauty Culture West Seneca is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Continental School Of Beauty Culture West Seneca earn a median of about $22,374 a year early in their careers.
Erie 1 Boces placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Erie 1 Boces is a public school located in the suburb of West Seneca. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Erie 1 Boces make a median of around $30,129 per year.
Christine Valmy International School For Esthetics Skin Care And Makeup ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of New York, Christine Valmy International School For Esthetics Skin Care And Makeup is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Christine Valmy International School For Esthetics Skin Care And Makeup typically earn about $24,008 annually.
Continental School Of Beauty Culture Mattydale ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the suburb of Mattydale, Continental School Of Beauty Culture Mattydale is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Continental School Of Beauty Culture Mattydale earn a median of about $24,887 a year early in their careers.
Continental School Of Beauty Culture Rochester earned the #12 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Continental School Of Beauty Culture Rochester is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Continental School Of Beauty Culture Rochester make a median of around $24,887 per year.
New York Institute Of Beauty came in at #13 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. New York Institute Of Beauty is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Islandia. Cosmetology graduates of New York Institute Of Beauty earn a median of about $24,540 a year early in their careers.
Capri Cosmetology Learning Centers earned the #14 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Nanuet, Capri Cosmetology Learning Centers is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $24,854.
Shear Ego International School Of Hair Design earned the #15 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Shear Ego International School Of Hair Design is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $24,984.
Long Island Barber Institute came in at #16 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Long Island Barber Institute is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Long Island Barber Institute make a median of around $22,328 per year.
Schuyler Steuben Chemung Tioga Allegany Boces ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the rural area of Elmira, Schuyler Steuben Chemung Tioga Allegany Boces is a public institution. Cosmetology graduates of Schuyler Steuben Chemung Tioga Allegany Boces earn a median of about $16,783 a year early in their careers.
The Salon Professional Academy Tonawanda ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the suburb of Tonawanda, The Salon Professional Academy Tonawanda is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,851.
Aveda Institute New York earned the #19 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, Aveda Institute New York is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Aveda Institute New York make a median of around $23,634 per year.
Long Island Beauty School Hempstead ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the suburb of Hempstead, Long Island Beauty School Hempstead is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Long Island Beauty School Hempstead make a median of around $25,201 per year.
Empire Beauty School Buffalo landed the #21 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Cheektowaga, Empire Beauty School Buffalo is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School Buffalo make a median of around $22,064 per year.
Long Island Nail And Skin Care Institute ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Long Island Nail And Skin Care Institute is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Bethpage. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Long Island Nail And Skin Care Institute make a median of around $22,228 per year.
Empire Beauty School Queens placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Empire Beauty School Queens is a private for-profit school located in the city of Astoria. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School Queens make a median of around $21,000 per year.
Lia Schorr Institute Of Cosmetic Skin Care Training earned the #24 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New York, Lia Schorr Institute Of Cosmetic Skin Care Training is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Lia Schorr Institute Of Cosmetic Skin Care Training typically earn about $17,926 annually.
Brittany Beauty Academy Brooklyn came in at #25 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Brittany Beauty Academy Brooklyn is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Brittany Beauty Academy Brooklyn make a median of around $19,165 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning cosmetology graduates:
This ranking is produced 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 · 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.