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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 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.
Arkansas Beauty School Little Rock earned the #1 spot for highest-paid cosmetology graduates in Arkansas. Arkansas Beauty School Little Rock is a private for-profit school located in the city of Little Rock. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Arkansas Beauty School Little Rock typically earn about $20,578 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at The Salon Professional Academy North Little Rock, which ranked #2. Located in the rural area of Sherwood, The Salon Professional Academy North Little Rock is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from The Salon Professional Academy North Little Rock typically earn about $24,288 annually.
Academy Of Salon And Spa came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Academy Of Salon And Spa is a private for-profit school located in the city of Fort Smith. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Academy Of Salon And Spa typically earn about $19,339 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Arkansas College Of Barbering And Hair Design one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Arkansas College Of Barbering And Hair Design is a private for-profit school located in the city of North Little Rock. Cosmetology graduates of Arkansas College Of Barbering And Hair Design earn a median of about $20,977 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Paul Mitchell The School Arkansas earned it the #5 place for cosmetology. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Paul Mitchell The School Arkansas is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $25,707.
Career Academy Of Hair Design ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Springdale, Career Academy Of Hair Design is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Career Academy Of Hair Design typically earn about $20,764 annually.
Arthurs Beauty College Inc Jacksonville came in at #7 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Jacksonville, Arthurs Beauty College Inc Jacksonville is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $23,825.
Arthurs Beauty School Inc Conway landed the #8 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Arthurs Beauty School Inc Conway is a private for-profit school located in the city of Conway. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Arthurs Beauty School Inc Conway make a median of around $23,825 per year.
Academy Of Professional Cosmetology ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Rogers, Academy Of Professional Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Academy Of Professional Cosmetology typically earn about $27,029 annually.
Designer Barber And Stylist School Fort Smith came in at #10 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Fort Smith, Designer Barber And Stylist School Fort Smith is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $17,466.
Imagine Paul Mitchell Partner School earned the #11 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Imagine Paul Mitchell Partner School is a private for-profit school located in the city of North Little Rock. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Imagine Paul Mitchell Partner School typically earn about $20,772 annually.
Searcy Beauty College earned the #12 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Searcy, Searcy Beauty College is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $19,223.
New Tyler Barber College Inc came in at #13 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. New Tyler Barber College Inc is a private for-profit school located in the city of North Little Rock. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $17,263.
Arkansas State University Newport ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the rural area of Newport, Arkansas State University Newport is a public institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Arkansas State University Newport make a median of around $15,140 per year.
Hot Springs Beauty College earned the #15 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Hot Springs, Hot Springs Beauty College is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Hot Springs Beauty College make a median of around $14,649 per year.
Arthurs Beauty College Jonesboro ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arthurs Beauty College Jonesboro is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $13,295.
Washington Barber College Inc came in at #17 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Little Rock, Washington Barber College Inc is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Washington Barber College Inc typically earn about $15,181 annually.
Professional Cosmetology Education Center ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the town of El Dorado, Professional Cosmetology Education Center is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Professional Cosmetology Education Center earn a median of about $17,219 a year early in their careers.
Rich Mountain Community College placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Rich Mountain Community College is a public school located in the town of Mena. Cosmetology graduates of Rich Mountain Community College earn a median of about $10,392 a year early in their careers.
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 · 19 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.