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 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 43 schools to find where cosmetology graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose cosmetology graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked South Hills Beauty Academy Inc the top school for cosmetology graduate earnings in Pennsylvania. Set in the suburb of Pittsburgh, South Hills Beauty Academy Inc is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from South Hills Beauty Academy Inc typically earn about $25,648 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Penn Commercial Business Technical School, which ranked #2. Penn Commercial Business Technical School is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Washington. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $25,204.
The Salon Professional Academy Altoona produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Altoona, The Salon Professional Academy Altoona is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from The Salon Professional Academy Altoona typically earn about $27,912 annually.
Lancaster School Of Cosmetology And Therapeutic Bodywork produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #4 spot 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 produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #5 spot this year. Metro Beauty Academy is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Allentown. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Metro Beauty Academy make a median of around $24,018 per year.
Douglas Education Center earned the #6 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Douglas Education Center is a private for-profit school located in the town of Monessen. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Douglas Education Center make a median of around $25,466 per year.
Bella Capelli Academy earned the #7 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Bella Capelli Academy is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Monroeville. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Bella Capelli Academy typically earn about $27,933 annually.
Champs Barber School earned the #8 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Champs Barber School is a private for-profit school located in the city of Lancaster. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Champs Barber School typically earn about $20,384 annually.
Empire Beauty School Pottsville came in at #9 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Pottsville, Empire Beauty School Pottsville is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Empire Beauty School Pottsville typically earn about $22,816 annually.
Great Lakes Institute Of Technology placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the suburb of Erie, Great Lakes Institute Of Technology is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Great Lakes Institute Of Technology typically earn about $26,178 annually.
Empire Beauty School Hanover earned the #11 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Empire Beauty School Hanover is a private for-profit school located in the city of Hanover. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,594.
Empire Beauty School Ne Philadelphia landed the #12 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Empire Beauty School Ne Philadelphia is a private for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School Ne Philadelphia make a median of around $22,594 per year.
Jean Madeline Aveda Institute landed the #13 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Jean Madeline Aveda Institute is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $26,712.
The Beauty School Stroudsburg placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the town of Stroudsburg, The Beauty School Stroudsburg is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of The Beauty School Stroudsburg earn a median of about $24,564 a year early in their careers.
The Beauty Institute Ambler placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the suburb of Ambler, The Beauty Institute Ambler is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from The Beauty Institute Ambler make a median of around $22,654 per year.
Altoona Beauty School Inc came in at #16 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Altoona Beauty School Inc is a private for-profit school located in the city of Altoona. Cosmetology graduates of Altoona Beauty School Inc earn a median of about $19,264 a year early in their careers.
Empire Beauty School Lancaster landed the #17 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Lancaster, Empire Beauty School Lancaster is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School Lancaster make a median of around $21,931 per year.
Empire Beauty School Lehigh Valley ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Empire Beauty School Lehigh Valley is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Whitehall. Cosmetology graduates of Empire Beauty School Lehigh Valley earn a median of about $21,931 a year early in their careers.
Empire Beauty School Monroeville ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Empire Beauty School Monroeville is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Monroeville. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $21,931.
Empire Beauty School Shamokin Dam landed the #20 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the town of Shamokin Dam, Empire Beauty School Shamokin Dam is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Empire Beauty School Shamokin Dam earn a median of about $21,931 a year early in their careers.
Empire Beauty School Springfield came in at #21 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Empire Beauty School Springfield is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Springfield. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $21,931.
Empire Beauty School West Mifflin ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Empire Beauty School West Mifflin is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of West Mifflin. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $21,931.
Bucks County School Of Beauty Culture Inc came in at #23 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Feasterville, Bucks County School Of Beauty Culture Inc is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,596.
Empire Beauty School Center City Philadelphia earned the #24 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Empire Beauty School Center City Philadelphia is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,064.
Empire Beauty School Harrisburg landed the #25 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Harrisburg, Empire Beauty School Harrisburg is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School Harrisburg make a median of around $22,064 per year.
These schools also send cosmetology graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 43 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.