by our College Data Analytics Team
[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. 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 65 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.
Leading the list is Trinidad State Junior College, our #1 for cosmetology graduate salaries in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Trinidad State Junior College typically earn about $31,270 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Aveda Institute Denver, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Denver, Aveda Institute Denver is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Aveda Institute Denver typically earn about $33,463 annually.
Medspa Academies produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of South Jordan, Medspa Academies is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Medspa Academies typically earn about $31,790 annually.
Paul Mitchell The School Denver came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Paul Mitchell The School Denver is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $29,387.
A rank of #5 makes Top Nails And Hair Beauty School one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Taylorsville, Top Nails And Hair Beauty School is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Top Nails And Hair Beauty School make a median of around $23,736 per year.
Institute Of Business And Medical Careers landed the #6 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Institute Of Business And Medical Careers is a private for-profit school located in the city of Fort Collins. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Institute Of Business And Medical Careers make a median of around $28,738 per year.
Skinworks School Of Advanced Skincare came in at #7 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Skinworks School Of Advanced Skincare is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Skinworks School Of Advanced Skincare make a median of around $25,256 per year.
Cameo College Of Essential Beauty ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Murray, Cameo College Of Essential Beauty is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Cameo College Of Essential Beauty typically earn about $26,990 annually.
Xenon International Academy Denver earned the #9 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Aurora, Xenon International Academy Denver is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,422.
Avalon School Of Cosmetology Layton earned the #10 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Layton, Avalon School Of Cosmetology Layton is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Avalon School Of Cosmetology Layton make a median of around $29,008 per year.
Collectiv Academy placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the suburb of Sandy, Collectiv Academy is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Collectiv Academy earn a median of about $29,654 a year early in their careers.
Paul Mitchell The School Salt Lake City came in at #12 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Holladay, Paul Mitchell The School Salt Lake City is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Salt Lake City earn a median of about $26,829 a year early in their careers.
Mandalyn Academy came in at #13 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Mandalyn Academy is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of American Fork. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Mandalyn Academy make a median of around $25,893 per year.
Taylor Andrews Academy Of Hair Design West Jordan landed the #14 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Taylor Andrews Academy Of Hair Design West Jordan is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of West Jordan. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Taylor Andrews Academy Of Hair Design West Jordan typically earn about $27,604 annually.
Taylor Andrews Academy Orem earned the #15 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Provo, Taylor Andrews Academy Orem is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Taylor Andrews Academy Orem typically earn about $27,604 annually.
Montana Academy Of Salons came in at #16 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Montana Academy Of Salons is a private for-profit school located in the city of Great Falls. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $27,567.
Aveda Institute Provo came in at #17 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Provo, Aveda Institute Provo is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Aveda Institute Provo make a median of around $27,954 per year.
Eastern Wyoming College landed the #18 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Eastern Wyoming College is a public school located in the town of Torrington. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Eastern Wyoming College typically earn about $24,995 annually.
Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Colorado Springs ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Colorado Springs is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Colorado Springs typically earn about $24,576 annually.
Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Cheyenne ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Cheyenne, Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Cheyenne is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Cheyenne make a median of around $25,578 per year.
Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Fort Collins placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Fort Collins is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Loveland. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Cheeks International Academy Of Beauty Culture Fort Collins typically earn about $25,578 annually.
Paul Mitchell The School Logan earned the #22 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Paul Mitchell The School Logan is a private for-profit school located in the city of Logan. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Logan typically earn about $24,348 annually.
Pickens Technical College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Pickens Technical College is a public school located in the city of Aurora. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $21,697.
Paul Mitchell The School Boise earned the #24 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Paul Mitchell The School Boise is a private for-profit school located in the city of Boise. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Boise typically earn about $23,084 annually.
Paul Mitchell The School Nampa came in at #25 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Paul Mitchell The School Nampa is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Nampa. Cosmetology graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Nampa earn a median of about $23,084 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid cosmetology ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 65 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.