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 100 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying cosmetology schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose cosmetology graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Paul Mitchell The School Austin the top school for cosmetology graduate earnings in Texas. Set in the city of Austin, Paul Mitchell The School Austin is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Paul Mitchell The School Austin earn a median of about $31,923 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Duvalls School Of Cosmetology, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Bedford, Duvalls School Of Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Duvalls School Of Cosmetology make a median of around $28,970 per year.
Avenue Five Institute came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Austin, Avenue Five Institute is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Avenue Five Institute typically earn about $32,137 annually.
Avenue Five Institute South Austin Campus produces some of the highest-paid graduates in cosmetology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Austin, Avenue Five Institute South Austin Campus is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Avenue Five Institute South Austin Campus make a median of around $32,137 per year.
Odessa College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a public institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Odessa College make a median of around $24,416 per year.
Clarendon College earned the #6 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Clarendon, Clarendon College is a public institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Clarendon College make a median of around $23,963 per year.
Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Dallas came in at #7 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Dallas is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Grand Prairie. Cosmetology graduates of Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Dallas earn a median of about $24,542 a year early in their careers.
Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Irving earned the #8 position 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. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Irving typically earn about $24,542 annually.
El Paso Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from El Paso Community College typically earn about $23,733 annually.
Navarro College placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Navarro College is a public school located in the town of Corsicana. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $26,977.
Baldwin Beauty School North Austin earned the #11 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Baldwin Beauty School North Austin is a private for-profit school located in the city of Austin. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Baldwin Beauty School North Austin typically earn about $23,928 annually.
Baldwin Beauty School South Austin landed the #12 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Baldwin Beauty School South Austin is a private for-profit school located in the city of Austin. Cosmetology graduates of Baldwin Beauty School South Austin earn a median of about $23,928 a year early in their careers.
Champion Beauty College landed the #13 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Champion Beauty College is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Houston. Cosmetology graduates of Champion Beauty College earn a median of about $17,143 a year early in their careers.
Cosmetology Career Center Llc earned the #14 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Carrollton, Cosmetology Career Center Llc is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Cosmetology Career Center Llc earn a median of about $26,293 a year early in their careers.
Paul Mitchell The School Arlington landed the #15 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Arlington, Paul Mitchell The School Arlington is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell The School Arlington make a median of around $26,293 per year.
Paul Mitchell The School San Antonio placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Paul Mitchell The School San Antonio is a private for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School San Antonio typically earn about $26,293 annually.
Charles And Sues School Of Hair Design placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Charles And Sues School Of Hair Design is a private for-profit school located in the city of Bryan. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Charles And Sues School Of Hair Design make a median of around $22,069 per year.
Paul Mitchell The School Houston landed the #18 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Paul Mitchell The School Houston is a private for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $28,319.
Paul Mitchell The School Webster landed the #19 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Webster, Paul Mitchell The School Webster is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Webster typically earn about $28,319 annually.
The Salon Professional Academy Lewisville placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Lewisville, The Salon Professional Academy Lewisville is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $23,326.
Wharton County Junior College came in at #21 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Wharton County Junior College is a public school located in the town of Wharton. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $27,644.
Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy earned the #22 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Amarillo, Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy make a median of around $25,622 per year.
Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy Lubbock landed the #23 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy Lubbock is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $25,622.
Ogle School Hair Skin Nails Dallas earned the #24 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Dallas, Ogle School Hair Skin Nails Dallas is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Ogle School Hair Skin Nails Dallas make a median of around $25,413 per year.
Ogle School Hair Skin Nails Ft Worth came in at #25 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Ogle School Hair Skin Nails Ft Worth is a private for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Cosmetology graduates of Ogle School Hair Skin Nails Ft Worth earn a median of about $25,413 a year early in their careers.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning cosmetology graduates:
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 · 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.