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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the early-career earnings of their cosmetology graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send cosmetology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Montana Academy Of Salons earned the #1 spot for highest-paid cosmetology graduates in Montana. Montana Academy Of Salons is a private for-profit school located in the city of Great Falls. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Montana Academy Of Salons make a median of around $27,567 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Academy Of Cosmetology Bozeman, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Bozeman, Academy Of Cosmetology Bozeman is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Academy Of Cosmetology Bozeman make a median of around $21,876 per year.
Creviers Academy Of Cosmetology Arts came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the town of Kalispell, Creviers Academy Of Cosmetology Arts is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Creviers Academy Of Cosmetology Arts earn a median of about $14,828 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Butte Academy Of Beauty Culture earned it the #4 place for cosmetology. Set in the town of Butte, Butte Academy Of Beauty Culture is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Butte Academy Of Beauty Culture typically earn about $19,863 annually.
This ranking is produced 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 · 4 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.