by our College Data Analytics Team
[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their cosmetology graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 85 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.
For graduate earnings in cosmetology, no school beat Palm Beach State College this year. Set in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Palm Beach State College typically earn about $35,090 annually.
Cozmo Beauty School produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #2 spot this year. Cozmo Beauty School is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Bonita Springs. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Cozmo Beauty School typically earn about $27,678 annually.
A rank of #3 makes Fortis Institute Pensacola one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Pensacola, Fortis Institute Pensacola is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Fortis Institute Pensacola earn a median of about $27,008 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Florida State College At Jacksonville, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a public institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Florida State College At Jacksonville make a median of around $21,869 per year.
A rank of #5 makes The Salon Professional Academy Ft Myers one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of Fort Myers, The Salon Professional Academy Ft Myers is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from The Salon Professional Academy Ft Myers typically earn about $24,193 annually.
Florida College Of Natural Health Maitland landed the #6 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Maitland, Florida College Of Natural Health Maitland is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Florida College Of Natural Health Maitland earn a median of about $26,665 a year early in their careers.
Florida College Of Natural Health Pompano Beach landed the #7 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Florida College Of Natural Health Pompano Beach is a private for-profit school located in the city of Pompano Beach. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Florida College Of Natural Health Pompano Beach make a median of around $26,665 per year.
Pensacola State College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Pensacola State College is a public school located in the city of Pensacola. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,904.
Paul Mitchell The School Fort Lauderdale came in at #9 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Plantation, Paul Mitchell The School Fort Lauderdale is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Fort Lauderdale typically earn about $31,784 annually.
Paul Mitchell The School Jacksonville placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Paul Mitchell The School Jacksonville is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell The School Jacksonville make a median of around $28,477 per year.
Aveda Institute Tallahassee landed the #11 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Aveda Institute Tallahassee is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Clearwater. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Aveda Institute Tallahassee typically earn about $27,555 annually.
Suncoast Technical College came in at #12 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Sarasota, Suncoast Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Suncoast Technical College typically earn about $22,662 annually.
Summit Salon Academy Tampa landed the #13 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Summit Salon Academy Tampa is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Tampa. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $25,768.
Fred K Marchman Technical College came in at #14 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of New Port Richey, Fred K Marchman Technical College is a public institution. Cosmetology graduates of Fred K Marchman Technical College earn a median of about $29,721 a year early in their careers.
Meridian College earned the #15 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Sarasota, Meridian College is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Meridian College earn a median of about $21,848 a year early in their careers.
Cortiva Institute Florida ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, Cortiva Institute Florida is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Cortiva Institute Florida typically earn about $21,812 annually.
Lake Technical College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the suburb of Eustis, Lake Technical College is a public institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Lake Technical College make a median of around $21,738 per year.
Manatee Technical College placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the suburb of Bradenton, Manatee Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Manatee Technical College typically earn about $21,731 annually.
Daytona College placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Daytona College is a private for-profit school located in the city of Ormond Beach. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Daytona College typically earn about $22,997 annually.
Daytona State College landed the #20 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Daytona State College typically earn about $22,418 annually.
Tom P Haney Technical Center landed the #21 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Tom P Haney Technical Center is a public school located in the suburb of Panama City. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Tom P Haney Technical Center make a median of around $19,253 per year.
Okaloosa Technical College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Okaloosa Technical College is a public school located in the city of Fort Walton Beach. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,208.
Marion Technical College Ocala ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Marion Technical College Ocala is a public school located in the city of Ocala. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Marion Technical College Ocala typically earn about $23,585 annually.
Sunstate Academy Fort Myers came in at #24 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Fort Myers, Sunstate Academy Fort Myers is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Sunstate Academy Fort Myers typically earn about $23,160 annually.
Fort Pierce Beauty Academy came in at #25 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Fort Pierce Beauty Academy is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. Cosmetology graduates of Fort Pierce Beauty Academy earn a median of about $19,839 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send cosmetology graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
This ranking is produced 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 · 85 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.