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 highest-paying schools turn a cosmetology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 38 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying cosmetology schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send cosmetology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
The Salon Professional Academy Nashville tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools in Tennessee. The Salon Professional Academy Nashville is a private for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Early-career cosmetology graduates from The Salon Professional Academy Nashville make a median of around $35,780 per year.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Nashville came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Nashville is a public school located in the city of Nashville. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $27,984.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Goulds Academy, which ranked #3. Goulds Academy is a private for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. Cosmetology graduates of Goulds Academy earn a median of about $25,367 a year early in their careers.
Goulds Academy Bartlett produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Bartlett, Goulds Academy Bartlett is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Goulds Academy Bartlett make a median of around $25,367 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro typically earn about $22,176 annually.
Paul Mitchell The School Murfreesboro came in at #6 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Paul Mitchell The School Murfreesboro is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Murfreesboro earn a median of about $24,201 a year early in their careers.
Paul Mitchell The School Murfreesboro Nashville ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of Powder Springs, Paul Mitchell The School Murfreesboro Nashville is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Murfreesboro Nashville earn a median of about $24,201 a year early in their careers.
Image Maker Beauty Institute ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Image Maker Beauty Institute is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hendersonville. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Image Maker Beauty Institute typically earn about $21,451 annually.
Austins Beauty College Inc ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austins Beauty College Inc is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $20,977.
Franklin Academy came in at #10 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Franklin Academy is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Franklin Academy make a median of around $20,885 per year.
Chattanooga College Medical Dental And Technical Careers ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Chattanooga College Medical Dental And Technical Careers is a private for-profit school located in the city of Chattanooga. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Chattanooga College Medical Dental And Technical Careers typically earn about $20,488 annually.
Masters Barber And Styling College came in at #12 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Old Hickory, Masters Barber And Styling College is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $20,082.
Queen City College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Clarksville, Queen City College is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Queen City College earn a median of about $23,571 a year early in their careers.
Paul Mitchell The School Knoxville placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of Powder Springs, Paul Mitchell The School Knoxville is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Knoxville typically earn about $22,452 annually.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Harriman earned the #15 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Harriman, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Harriman is a public institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $19,479.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the rural area of Dickson, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson typically earn about $20,216 annually.
Genesis Career College Lebanon came in at #17 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Lebanon, Genesis Career College Lebanon is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Genesis Career College Lebanon typically earn about $21,509 annually.
Genesis Career College Cookeville ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Genesis Career College Cookeville is a private for-profit school located in the town of Cookeville. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,777.
Paul Mitchell The School Memphis landed the #19 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Paul Mitchell The School Memphis is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell The School Memphis make a median of around $20,489 per year.
Empire Beauty School E Memphis landed the #20 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the city of Memphis, Empire Beauty School E Memphis is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Empire Beauty School E Memphis typically earn about $22,064 annually.
Empire Beauty School Nashville landed the #21 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Brentwood, Empire Beauty School Nashville is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Empire Beauty School Nashville earn a median of about $22,409 a year early in their careers.
Empire Beauty School Jackson ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Jackson, Empire Beauty School Jackson is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Empire Beauty School Jackson earn a median of about $21,000 a year early in their careers.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald landed the #23 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Hohenwald, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald is a public institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald make a median of around $17,987 per year.
Tennessee School Of Beauty Of Knoxville Inc ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Knoxville, Tennessee School Of Beauty Of Knoxville Inc is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Tennessee School Of Beauty Of Knoxville Inc typically earn about $17,506 annually.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Memphis ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Memphis is a public school located in the city of Memphis. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $16,294.
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 · 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.