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 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying cosmetology schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send cosmetology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics the top school for cosmetology graduate earnings in Nebraska. Located in the city of Omaha, Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics typically earn about $28,725 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Xenon International Academy Omaha earned it the #2 place for cosmetology. Located in the city of Omaha, Xenon International Academy Omaha is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from Xenon International Academy Omaha typically earn about $30,271 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Wisconsin Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner Group Pmts Lincoln earned it the #3 place for cosmetology. Wisconsin Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner Group Pmts Lincoln is a private for-profit school located in the city of Lincoln. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $23,574.
Josephs College Cosmetology came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Lincoln, Josephs College Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the cosmetology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $23,593.
College Of Hair Design Downtown came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Lincoln, College Of Hair Design Downtown is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from College Of Hair Design Downtown typically earn about $24,380 annually.
College Of Hair Design East Campus placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Lincoln, College Of Hair Design East Campus is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients from College Of Hair Design East Campus typically earn about $24,380 annually.
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 · 6 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.