by our College Data Analytics Team
[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a cosmetology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 15 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.
North Shore Community College tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools in Massachusetts. Set in the suburb of Danvers, North Shore Community College is a public institution. Cosmetology graduates of North Shore Community College earn a median of about $27,347 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Catherine Hinds Institute Of Esthetics, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Woburn, Catherine Hinds Institute Of Esthetics is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Catherine Hinds Institute Of Esthetics make a median of around $27,075 per year.
A rank of #3 makes Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Worcester one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Worcester, Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Worcester is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Worcester typically earn about $32,435 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Lowell, Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute make a median of around $32,171 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Spa Tech Institute Plymouth earned it the #5 place for cosmetology. Spa Tech Institute Plymouth is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Plymouth. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $25,835.
Spa Tech Institute Westboro placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Westborough, Spa Tech Institute Westboro is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Spa Tech Institute Westboro earn a median of about $25,835 a year early in their careers.
Eine Inc placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Tewksbury, Eine Inc is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Eine Inc make a median of around $20,496 per year.
New England Hair Academy landed the #8 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. New England Hair Academy is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Malden. Early-career cosmetology graduates from New England Hair Academy make a median of around $23,978 per year.
Jupiter Beauty Academy came in at #9 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Boston, Jupiter Beauty Academy is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Jupiter Beauty Academy earn a median of about $25,998 a year early in their careers.
Rob Roy Academy Worcester placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Rob Roy Academy Worcester is a private for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $21,386.
Digrigoli School Of Cosmetology ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of West Springfield, Digrigoli School Of Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Digrigoli School Of Cosmetology make a median of around $23,984 per year.
Empire Beauty School Malden earned the #12 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Malden, Empire Beauty School Malden is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,409.
Rob Roy Academy Fall River ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Rob Roy Academy Fall River is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Fall River. Cosmetology graduates of Rob Roy Academy Fall River earn a median of about $18,364 a year early in their careers.
Massachusetts School Of Barbering earned the #14 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Quincy, Massachusetts School Of Barbering is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Massachusetts School Of Barbering earn a median of about $18,917 a year early in their careers.
Alexander Academy ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Alexander Academy is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lunenburg. Cosmetology graduates of Alexander Academy earn a median of about $16,091 a year early in their careers.
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 · 15 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.