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.
College Factual analyzed 79 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 Aveda Institute Des Moines the top school for cosmetology graduate earnings in the The Plains States Region. Aveda Institute Des Moines is a private for-profit school located in the city of West Des Moines. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Aveda Institute Des Moines typically earn about $39,184 annually.
The Hair Academy came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Bismarck, The Hair Academy is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from The Hair Academy make a median of around $32,560 per year.
A rank of #3 makes The Salon Professional Academy Fargo one of the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. The Salon Professional Academy Fargo is a private for-profit school located in the city of Fargo. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from The Salon Professional Academy Fargo typically earn about $33,458 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in cosmetology will find them at Josefs School Of Hair Design Inc Grand Forks, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Grand Forks, Josefs School Of Hair Design Inc Grand Forks is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Josefs School Of Hair Design Inc Grand Forks earn a median of about $30,881 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Josefs West Academy earned it the #5 place for cosmetology. Set in the city of Fargo, Josefs West Academy is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Josefs West Academy make a median of around $30,881 per year.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College earned the #6 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $23,128.
La James International College Ft Dodge ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the town of Fort Dodge, La James International College Ft Dodge is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from La James International College Ft Dodge typically earn about $28,554 annually.
Aveda Institute Minneapolis earned the #8 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Aveda Institute Minneapolis is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Aveda Institute Minneapolis typically earn about $33,406 annually.
Model College Of Hair Design earned the #9 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Model College Of Hair Design is a private for-profit school located in the city of Saint Cloud. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Model College Of Hair Design typically earn about $29,877 annually.
Minnesota School Of Cosmetology Woodbury Campus placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the suburb of WOODBURY, Minnesota School Of Cosmetology Woodbury Campus is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Minnesota School Of Cosmetology Woodbury Campus typically earn about $30,875 annually.
Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics earned the #11 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics is a private for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics make a median of around $28,725 per year.
Pci Academy Ames landed the #12 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Ames, Pci Academy Ames is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Pci Academy Ames typically earn about $30,439 annually.
Pci Academy Iowa City placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Pci Academy Iowa City is a private for-profit school located in the city of Iowa City. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $30,439.
Pci Academy Plymouth ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Plymouth, Pci Academy Plymouth is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Pci Academy Plymouth typically earn about $30,439 annually.
Paul Mitchell The School St Louis came in at #15 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of St. Louis, Paul Mitchell The School St Louis is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $32,652.
Xenon International Academy Omaha ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Omaha, Xenon International Academy Omaha is a private for-profit institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Xenon International Academy Omaha make a median of around $30,271 per year.
The Salon Professional Academy St Charles placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of St. Charles, The Salon Professional Academy St Charles is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of The Salon Professional Academy St Charles earn a median of about $30,002 a year early in their careers.
La James International College Cedar Falls landed the #18 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, La James International College Cedar Falls is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from La James International College Cedar Falls typically earn about $25,491 annually.
Johnson County Community College earned the #19 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Johnson County Community College is a public school located in the city of Overland Park. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Johnson County Community College typically earn about $31,476 annually.
Capri College Cedar Rapids earned the #20 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Capri College Cedar Rapids is a private for-profit school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Cosmetology graduates of Capri College Cedar Rapids earn a median of about $27,452 a year early in their careers.
Nova Academy Of Cosmetology ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Rochester, Nova Academy Of Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $23,889.
Stewart School ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Stewart School is a private for-profit school located in the city of Sioux Falls. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Stewart School make a median of around $28,344 per year.
Black Hills Beauty College came in at #23 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Rapid City, Black Hills Beauty College is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $26,073.
Skin Institute placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Skin Institute is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $32,174.
Capri College Davenport placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Capri College Davenport is a private for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Capri College Davenport make a median of around $28,743 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid cosmetology ranking:
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 · 79 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.