by our College Data Analytics Team
[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a cosmetology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the early-career earnings of their cosmetology graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send cosmetology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Johnson County Community College the top school for cosmetology graduate earnings in Kansas. Located in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a public institution. Cosmetology graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of about $31,476 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Paul Mitchell The School Overland Park earned it the #2 place for cosmetology. Located in the city of Overland Park, Paul Mitchell The School Overland Park is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Overland Park typically earn about $28,065 annually.
Crave Beauty Academy came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Crave Beauty Academy is a private for-profit school located in the city of Wichita. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Crave Beauty Academy typically earn about $25,693 annually.
Washburn Institute Of Technology came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Washburn Institute Of Technology make a median of around $22,547 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Eric Fisher Academy earned it the #5 place for cosmetology. Set in the city of Wichita, Eric Fisher Academy is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $25,094.
Mitsu Sato Hair Academy came in at #6 for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Overland Park, Mitsu Sato Hair Academy is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Mitsu Sato Hair Academy typically earn about $29,029 annually.
Z Hair Academy earned the #7 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Overland Park, Z Hair Academy is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Z Hair Academy typically earn about $20,933 annually.
Kansas City Kansas Community College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a public institution. Early-career cosmetology graduates from Kansas City Kansas Community College make a median of around $21,091 per year.
Hays Academy Of Hair Design Hays earned the #9 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Hays, Hays Academy Of Hair Design Hays is a private for-profit institution. Cosmetology graduates of Hays Academy Of Hair Design Hays earn a median of about $24,121 a year early in their careers.
Hays Academy Of Hair Design Salina ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Hays Academy Of Hair Design Salina is a private for-profit school located in the town of Salina. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Hays Academy Of Hair Design Salina typically earn about $24,121 annually.
Bellus Academy ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Manhattan, Bellus Academy is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,442.
Paul Mitchell The School Wichita landed the #12 spot for cosmetology salaries this year. Located in the city of Wichita, Paul Mitchell The School Wichita is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Paul Mitchell The School Wichita typically earn about $22,213 annually.
Garden City Community College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Garden City Community College is a public school located in the town of Garden City. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Garden City Community College typically earn about $18,724 annually.
Fort Scott Community College placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the town of Fort Scott, Fort Scott Community College is a public institution. Cosmetology graduates of Fort Scott Community College earn a median of about $13,723 a year early in their careers.
Hutchinson Community College placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a public institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Hutchinson Community College typically earn about $17,437 annually.
Old Town Barber College Wichita earned the #16 position for cosmetology graduate earnings this year. Old Town Barber College Wichita is a private for-profit school located in the city of Wichita. Cosmetology graduates of Old Town Barber College Wichita earn a median of about $13,515 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled 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 · 16 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.