by our College Data Analytics Team
[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 38 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.
Gaston College earned the #1 spot for highest-paid cosmetology graduates in North Carolina. Gaston College is a public school located in the suburb of Dallas. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Gaston College make a median of around $27,008 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Central Piedmont Community College earned it the #2 place for cosmetology. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a public institution. Cosmetology graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of about $29,690 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Wake Technical Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College typically earn about $29,405 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Aveda Institute Chapel Hill, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, Aveda Institute Chapel Hill is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Aveda Institute Chapel Hill earn a median of about $29,975 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Cape Fear Community College earned it the #5 place for cosmetology. Cape Fear Community College is a public school located in the city of Wilmington. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $24,537.
Sandhills Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Sandhills Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Pinehurst. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Sandhills Community College typically earn about $26,677 annually.
Rowan Cabarrus Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $26,704.
Central Carolina Community College earned the #8 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $24,576.
Alexander Paul Institute Of Hair Design ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Greenville, Alexander Paul Institute Of Hair Design is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Alexander Paul Institute Of Hair Design typically earn about $25,050 annually.
Paul Mitchell The School Gastonia placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of Charlotte, Paul Mitchell The School Gastonia is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell The School Gastonia make a median of around $25,628 per year.
Paul Mitchell The School Raleigh placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of Raleigh, Paul Mitchell The School Raleigh is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell The School Raleigh make a median of around $28,387 per year.
Robeson Community College placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the town of Lumberton, Robeson Community College is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Robeson Community College typically earn about $22,129 annually.
Health And Style Institute landed the #13 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, Health And Style Institute is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Health And Style Institute make a median of around $24,333 per year.
College Of Wilmington ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Wilmington, College Of Wilmington is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from College Of Wilmington make a median of around $23,204 per year.
Paul Mitchell The School Fayetteville landed the #15 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Paul Mitchell The School Fayetteville is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Fayetteville earn a median of about $23,322 a year early in their careers.
Mitchell Community College landed the #16 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the town of Statesville, Mitchell Community College is a public institution. Cosmetology graduates of Mitchell Community College earn a median of about $20,926 a year early in their careers.
Empire Beauty School Concord earned the #17 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Empire Beauty School Concord is a private for-profit school located in the city of Concord. Cosmetology graduates of Empire Beauty School Concord earn a median of about $22,913 a year early in their careers.
Empire Beauty School Pineville earned the #18 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Charlotte, Empire Beauty School Pineville is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Empire Beauty School Pineville earn a median of about $22,913 a year early in their careers.
Pinnacle Institute Of Cosmetology landed the #19 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Mooresville, Pinnacle Institute Of Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Pinnacle Institute Of Cosmetology earn a median of about $24,788 a year early in their careers.
Empire Beauty School West Greensboro placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Greensboro, Empire Beauty School West Greensboro is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School West Greensboro make a median of around $22,594 per year.
Davidson County Community College came in at #21 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Davidson County Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Thomasville. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $17,031.
Guilford Technical Community College came in at #22 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Guilford Technical Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Jamestown. Cosmetology graduates of Guilford Technical Community College earn a median of about $19,756 a year early in their careers.
Empire Beauty School Winston Salem came in at #23 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Empire Beauty School Winston Salem is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $21,000.
Beyond Measure Barbering Institute ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of Mebane, Beyond Measure Barbering Institute is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Beyond Measure Barbering Institute make a median of around $17,671 per year.
Leons Beauty School Inc landed the #25 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, Leons Beauty School Inc is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Leons Beauty School Inc typically earn about $17,247 annually.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid cosmetology ranking:
This list is compiled 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 · 38 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.