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 schools below stand out for the salaries their cosmetology graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 schools on the early-career earnings of their cosmetology graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send cosmetology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Stevensons Academy Of Hair Design tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools in Louisiana. Set in the city of New Orleans, Stevensons Academy Of Hair Design is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Stevensons Academy Of Hair Design typically earn about $33,650 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Aveda Institute Covington one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Covington, Aveda Institute Covington is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Aveda Institute Covington typically earn about $25,748 annually.
A rank of #3 makes John Jay Beauty College Kenner one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. John Jay Beauty College Kenner is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Kenner. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from John Jay Beauty College Kenner typically earn about $25,737 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Vh Barber And Styling Academy earned it the #4 place for cosmetology. Vh Barber And Styling Academy is a private for-profit school located in the city of Bossier City. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Vh Barber And Styling Academy make a median of around $19,545 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Aveda Institute Baton Rouge one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Baton Rouge, Aveda Institute Baton Rouge is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Aveda Institute Baton Rouge typically earn about $21,762 annually.
Guys Shreveport Academy Of Cosmetology Inc placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Shreveport, Guys Shreveport Academy Of Cosmetology Inc is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,027.
Vanguard College Of Cosmetology Baton Rouge ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Vanguard College Of Cosmetology Baton Rouge is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Vanguard College Of Cosmetology Baton Rouge make a median of around $21,798 per year.
Vanguard College Of Cosmetology Metairie landed the #8 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Metairie, Vanguard College Of Cosmetology Metairie is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Vanguard College Of Cosmetology Metairie earn a median of about $21,798 a year early in their careers.
Stage One The Hair School came in at #9 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Lake Charles, Stage One The Hair School is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $19,432.
Pineville Beauty School earned the #10 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Pineville, Pineville Beauty School is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Pineville Beauty School earn a median of about $18,093 a year early in their careers.
Cloyds Beauty School 3 Inc came in at #11 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Monroe, Cloyds Beauty School 3 Inc is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Cloyds Beauty School 3 Inc make a median of around $21,665 per year.
Blue Cliff College Alexandria placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of Alexandria, Blue Cliff College Alexandria is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Blue Cliff College Alexandria make a median of around $19,662 per year.
Blue Cliff College Lafayette placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Lafayette, Blue Cliff College Lafayette is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Blue Cliff College Lafayette make a median of around $19,662 per year.
Blue Cliff College Metairie earned the #14 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Metairie, Blue Cliff College Metairie is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Blue Cliff College Metairie make a median of around $19,662 per year.
My Les Beauty College Gretna landed the #15 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. My Les Beauty College Gretna is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Gretna. Early-career cosmetology graduates from My Les Beauty College Gretna make a median of around $15,487 per year.
Aveda Institute Lafayette placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of Lafayette, Aveda Institute Lafayette is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $20,649.
Delgado Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of New Orleans, Delgado Community College is a public institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Delgado Community College make a median of around $18,493 per year.
South Louisiana Beauty College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Houma, South Louisiana Beauty College is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from South Louisiana Beauty College typically earn about $15,617 annually.
Celebrity Barber School earned the #19 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Monroe, Celebrity Barber School is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Celebrity Barber School typically earn about $15,947 annually.
Celebrity Stylist Beauty School placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Monroe, Celebrity Stylist Beauty School is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Celebrity Stylist Beauty School typically earn about $15,947 annually.
Omega Institute Of Cosmetology ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Houma, Omega Institute Of Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Omega Institute Of Cosmetology typically earn about $17,526 annually.
Denham Springs Beauty School ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of Denham Springs, Denham Springs Beauty School is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Denham Springs Beauty School typically earn about $17,978 annually.
Cosmetology Training Center earned the #23 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Lafayette, Cosmetology Training Center is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Cosmetology Training Center make a median of around $14,052 per year.
Park Place Premier Barber School earned the #24 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Park Place Premier Barber School is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Park Place Premier Barber School make a median of around $13,807 per year.
Compass Career College came in at #25 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Compass Career College is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hammond. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Compass Career College make a median of around $14,886 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid cosmetology ranking:
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 · 28 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.