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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools to find where cosmetology graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send cosmetology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Medspa Academies, our #1 for cosmetology graduate salaries in Utah. Located in the suburb of South Jordan, Medspa Academies is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Medspa Academies earn a median of about $31,790 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Top Nails And Hair Beauty School earned it the #2 place for cosmetology. Set 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.
Skinworks School Of Advanced Skincare came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Skinworks School Of Advanced Skincare is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Skinworks School Of Advanced Skincare earn a median of about $25,256 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Cameo College Of Essential Beauty, which ranked #4. Cameo College Of Essential Beauty is a private for-profit school located in the city of Murray. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Cameo College Of Essential Beauty make a median of around $26,990 per year.
Avalon School Of Cosmetology Layton came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. 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 came in at #6 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Sandy, Collectiv Academy is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Collectiv Academy make a median of around $29,654 per year.
Paul Mitchell The School Salt Lake City came in at #7 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Paul Mitchell The School Salt Lake City is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Holladay. 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 earned the #8 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of American Fork, Mandalyn Academy is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Mandalyn Academy earn a median of about $25,893 a year early in their careers.
Taylor Andrews Academy Of Hair Design West Jordan came in at #9 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of West Jordan, Taylor Andrews Academy Of Hair Design West Jordan is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Taylor Andrews Academy Of Hair Design West Jordan earn a median of about $27,604 a year early in their careers.
Taylor Andrews Academy Orem earned the #10 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Provo, Taylor Andrews Academy Orem is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Taylor Andrews Academy Orem earn a median of about $27,604 a year early in their careers.
Aveda Institute Provo ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Aveda Institute Provo is a private for-profit school located in the city of Provo. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Aveda Institute Provo typically earn about $27,954 annually.
Paul Mitchell The School Logan earned the #12 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Paul Mitchell The School Logan is a private for-profit school located in the city of Logan. Cosmetology graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Logan earn a median of about $24,348 a year early in their careers.
Paul Mitchell The School Provo Provo Ut landed the #13 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Paul Mitchell The School Provo Provo Ut is a private for-profit school located in the city of Provo. Cosmetology graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Provo Provo Ut earn a median of about $21,240 a year early in their careers.
The Barber School came in at #14 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. The Barber School is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Midvale. Early-career cosmetology graduates from The Barber School make a median of around $26,062 per year.
Acaydia School Of Aesthetics ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Provo, Acaydia School Of Aesthetics is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Acaydia School Of Aesthetics typically earn about $12,423 annually.
Skin Science Institute earned the #16 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Skin Science Institute is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Sandy. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $21,115.
Bridgerland Technical College earned the #17 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Logan, Bridgerland Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Bridgerland Technical College typically earn about $16,521 annually.
Davis Technical College came in at #18 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Kaysville, Davis Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $18,745.
Taylor Andrews Academy St George placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of St. George, Taylor Andrews Academy St George is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Taylor Andrews Academy St George earn a median of about $17,003 a year early in their careers.
Renaissance Academie ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Provo, Renaissance Academie is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Renaissance Academie earn a median of about $26,123 a year early in their careers.
Mountainland Technical College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Lehi, Mountainland Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $14,902.
Ogden Weber Technical College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Ogden Weber Technical College is a public school located in the city of Ogden. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $14,030.
Evans Hairstyling College Cedar City came in at #23 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Cedar City, Evans Hairstyling College Cedar City is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Evans Hairstyling College Cedar City typically earn about $11,052 annually.
American Beauty Academy landed the #24 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. American Beauty Academy is a private for-profit school located in the town of Payson. Cosmetology graduates of American Beauty Academy earn a median of about $10,710 a year early in their careers.
American Beauty Academy West Valley Campus ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the suburb of West Valley City, American Beauty Academy West Valley Campus is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from American Beauty Academy West Valley Campus typically earn about $10,710 annually.
These schools also send cosmetology graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
This list is compiled 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 · 26 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.