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 schools below stand out for the salaries their cosmetology graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 100 schools on the early-career earnings of their cosmetology graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose cosmetology graduates go on to earn the most.
Paul Mitchell The School Austin earned the #1 spot for highest-paid cosmetology graduates in the Southwest Region. Paul Mitchell The School Austin is a private for-profit school located in the city of Austin. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,923.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Gateway Community College Central City, which ranked #2. Gateway Community College Central City is a public school located in the city of Phoenix. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Gateway Community College Central City make a median of around $27,549 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Duvalls School Of Cosmetology earned it the #3 place for cosmetology. Duvalls School Of Cosmetology is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Bedford. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $28,970.
Penrose Academy came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Penrose Academy is a private for-profit school located in the city of Scottsdale. Cosmetology graduates of Penrose Academy earn a median of about $32,167 a year early in their careers.
Southwest Institute Of Healing Arts produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #5 spot this year. Southwest Institute Of Healing Arts is a private for-profit school located in the city of Tempe. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Southwest Institute Of Healing Arts typically earn about $26,798 annually.
Avenue Five Institute landed the #6 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Austin, Avenue Five Institute is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $32,137.
Avenue Five Institute South Austin Campus placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Avenue Five Institute South Austin Campus is a private for-profit school located in the city of Austin. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $32,137.
Tulsa Technology Center came in at #8 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Tulsa Technology Center is a public school located in the city of Tulsa. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $26,713.
Aveda Institute Phoenix placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Aveda Institute Phoenix is a private for-profit school located in the city of Tempe. Cosmetology graduates of Aveda Institute Phoenix earn a median of about $31,501 a year early in their careers.
Aveda Institute Tucson came in at #10 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Aveda Institute Tucson is a private for-profit school located in the city of Tucson. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Aveda Institute Tucson make a median of around $31,501 per year.
Pure Aesthetics placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Tucson, Pure Aesthetics is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Pure Aesthetics typically earn about $29,730 annually.
Avalon School Of Cosmetology Mesa landed the #12 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Avalon School Of Cosmetology Mesa is a private for-profit school located in the city of Mesa. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Avalon School Of Cosmetology Mesa typically earn about $29,008 annually.
Avalon School Of Cosmetology Phoenix earned the #13 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Avalon School Of Cosmetology Phoenix is a private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Cosmetology graduates of Avalon School Of Cosmetology Phoenix earn a median of about $29,008 a year early in their careers.
Paul Mitchell The School Phoenix earned the #14 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Paul Mitchell The School Phoenix is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $29,403.
Odessa College placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Odessa College typically earn about $24,416 annually.
Clarendon College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the rural area of Clarendon, Clarendon College is a public institution. Cosmetology graduates of Clarendon College earn a median of about $23,963 a year early in their careers.
Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Dallas ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of Grand Prairie, Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Dallas is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Dallas typically earn about $24,542 annually.
Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Irving came in at #18 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Irving, Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Irving is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $24,542.
El Paso Community College earned the #19 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. El Paso Community College is a public school located in the city of El Paso. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $23,733.
Studio Academy Of Beauty ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Chandler, Studio Academy Of Beauty is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Studio Academy Of Beauty typically earn about $25,548 annually.
Navarro College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the town of Corsicana, Navarro College is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Navarro College typically earn about $26,977 annually.
Central Oklahoma College earned the #22 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Central Oklahoma College is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Central Oklahoma College typically earn about $29,459 annually.
Baldwin Beauty School North Austin earned the #23 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Austin, Baldwin Beauty School North Austin is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $23,928.
Baldwin Beauty School South Austin earned the #24 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Baldwin Beauty School South Austin is a private for-profit school located in the city of Austin. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Baldwin Beauty School South Austin typically earn about $23,928 annually.
International Barber College placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of Chandler, International Barber College is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,925.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid cosmetology ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 100 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.