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 highest-paying schools turn a cosmetology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 6 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.
International Beauty School 4 earned the #1 spot for highest-paid cosmetology graduates in West Virginia. International Beauty School 4 is a private for-profit school located in the city of Martinsburg. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from International Beauty School 4 typically earn about $29,212 annually.
Clarksburg Beauty Academy And School Of Massage Therapy produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Clarksburg, Clarksburg Beauty Academy And School Of Massage Therapy is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Clarksburg Beauty Academy And School Of Massage Therapy make a median of around $20,289 per year.
A rank of #3 makes Academy Of Careers And Technology one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of Beckley, Academy Of Careers And Technology is a public institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $17,407.
Strong graduate earnings at Carver Career Center earned it the #4 place for cosmetology. Carver Career Center is a public school located in the suburb of Charleston. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $21,118.
Strong graduate earnings at Charleston School Of Beauty Culture earned it the #5 place for cosmetology. Charleston School Of Beauty Culture is a private for-profit school located in the city of Charleston. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Charleston School Of Beauty Culture make a median of around $17,191 per year.
Huntington School Of Beauty Culture ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the suburb of Huntington, Huntington School Of Beauty Culture is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Huntington School Of Beauty Culture make a median of around $11,915 per year.
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 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.