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 8 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.
Vogue College Of Cosmetology Santa Fe earned the #1 spot for highest-paid cosmetology graduates in New Mexico. Located in the city of Santa Fe, Vogue College Of Cosmetology Santa Fe is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Vogue College Of Cosmetology Santa Fe typically earn about $30,891 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Aveda Institute New Mexico, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Aveda Institute New Mexico is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $20,438.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Central New Mexico Community College, which ranked #3. Central New Mexico Community College is a public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $24,742.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Albuquerque, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Albuquerque is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Albuquerque earn a median of about $20,862 a year early in their careers.
Olympian Academy Of Cosmetology Alamogordo produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #5 spot this year. Olympian Academy Of Cosmetology Alamogordo is a private for-profit school located in the city of LAS CRUCES. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $20,517.
Avenue Academy A Cosmetology Institute earned the #6 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Avenue Academy A Cosmetology Institute is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Avenue Academy A Cosmetology Institute make a median of around $16,841 per year.
Clovis Community College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Clovis Community College is a public school located in the town of Clovis. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Clovis Community College typically earn about $17,809 annually.
Glitz School Of Cosmetology came in at #8 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Las Cruces, Glitz School Of Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Glitz School Of Cosmetology typically earn about $16,178 annually.
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 · 8 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.