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.
College Factual analyzed 40 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying cosmetology schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose cosmetology graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins the top school for cosmetology graduate earnings in Georgia. Set in the city of Warner Robins, Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a public institution. Cosmetology graduates of Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins earn a median of about $25,294 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Lanier Technical College, which ranked #2. Lanier Technical College is a public school located in the city of Gainesville. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Lanier Technical College typically earn about $27,983 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Columbus Technical College earned it the #3 place for cosmetology. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,036.
Southern Crescent Technical College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a public institution. Cosmetology graduates of Southern Crescent Technical College earn a median of about $23,813 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #5 makes Ogeechee Technical College one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the town of Statesboro, Ogeechee Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $32,510.
Gwinnett Technical College earned the #6 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $29,716.
Keune Academy By 124 came in at #7 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Keune Academy By 124 is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Keune Academy By 124 earn a median of about $23,673 a year early in their careers.
Albany Technical College earned the #8 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Albany, Albany Technical College is a public institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Albany Technical College make a median of around $20,668 per year.
South Georgia Technical College landed the #9 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. South Georgia Technical College is a public school located in the town of Americus. Cosmetology graduates of South Georgia Technical College earn a median of about $20,501 a year early in their careers.
International School Of Skin Nailcare And Massage Therapy ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Sandy Springs, International School Of Skin Nailcare And Massage Therapy is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $20,066.
Empire Beauty School Gwinnett ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Empire Beauty School Gwinnett is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,816.
Empire Beauty School Kennesaw landed the #12 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Empire Beauty School Kennesaw is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Kennesaw. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School Kennesaw make a median of around $22,816 per year.
Paul Mitchell The School Esani came in at #13 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Roswell, Paul Mitchell The School Esani is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $23,950.
Southern Regional Technical College came in at #14 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a public institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Southern Regional Technical College make a median of around $26,932 per year.
Athens Technical College came in at #15 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Athens Technical College is a public school located in the city of Athens. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $25,269.
Elaine Sterling Institute landed the #16 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Elaine Sterling Institute is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Elaine Sterling Institute typically earn about $26,456 annually.
Georgia Piedmont Technical College earned the #17 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a public school located in the suburb of Clarkston. Cosmetology graduates of Georgia Piedmont Technical College earn a median of about $19,737 a year early in their careers.
Georgia Career Institute earned the #18 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Conyers, Georgia Career Institute is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Georgia Career Institute earn a median of about $23,066 a year early in their careers.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College earned the #19 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $18,870.
Empire Beauty School Northlake ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of Atlanta, Empire Beauty School Northlake is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School Northlake make a median of around $22,594 per year.
Atlanta Technical College earned the #21 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Technical College is a public institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Atlanta Technical College make a median of around $21,834 per year.
Mak Beauty Institute came in at #22 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Mak Beauty Institute is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Cumming. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Mak Beauty Institute make a median of around $18,519 per year.
Georgia Institute Of Cosmetology placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of Athens, Georgia Institute Of Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Cosmetology typically earn about $20,835 annually.
Empire Beauty School Augusta earned the #24 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Empire Beauty School Augusta is a private for-profit school located in the city of Augusta. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,409.
Empire Beauty School Morrow placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Empire Beauty School Morrow is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Morrow. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $21,000.
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 · 40 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.