2027 Best Cosmetology Associate’s Degree Schools
Cosmetology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 60 schools to find the best for cosmetology students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Cosmetology in the United States
See the highest-ranked cosmetology schools offering a associate’s degree below.
Top Schools in Cosmetology
Central Piedmont Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in cosmetology. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 26 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Central Piedmont Community College earn around $40,629 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete this degree.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Central Piedmont Community College
A rank of #2 makes Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College one of the top schools for cosmetology. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College awarded about 30 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College generally make around $32,987. Typical student debt for the program is $14,250.
Get the full cosmetology details for Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College
Eastern Wyoming College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in cosmetology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Torrington, Eastern Wyoming College is a small public institution. There were roughly 22 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Wyoming College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Eastern Wyoming College earn around $24,995 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,690.
See the full cosmetology program report for Eastern Wyoming College
College Of Dupage came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. College Of Dupage awarded about 10 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,492.
Get the full cosmetology details for College Of Dupage
Students looking for a strong cosmetology program will find one at Spokane Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a large public institution. About 102 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Spokane Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Spokane Community College generally make around $17,869. Spokane Community College graduates carry a median of $7,980 in student loans.
See the full cosmetology program report for Spokane Community College
Clover Park Technical College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Clover Park Technical College awarded about 85 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Clover Park Technical College earn around $19,389 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Clover Park Technical College
Walla Walla Community College placed #7 among the best cosmetology schools. Walla Walla Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Walla Walla. Walla Walla Community College awarded about 24 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Walla Walla Community College generally make around $46,131. Walla Walla Community College graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Walla Walla Community College
Golden West College earned the #8 position for cosmetology this year. Set in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public institution. About 22 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Golden West College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Golden West College generally make around $82,984. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Golden West College
Mesa Community College landed the #9 spot for cosmetology this year. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. About 46 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Mesa Community College in the most recent year. Cosmetology graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. Mesa Community College graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
See the full cosmetology program report for Mesa Community College
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #10 position for cosmetology this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. About 85 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Central New Mexico Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Central New Mexico Community College earn around $16,496 in the first couple years of their career. Central New Mexico Community College graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Central New Mexico Community College
Wake Technical Community College landed the #11 spot for cosmetology this year. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. There were roughly 24 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Wake Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $23,286. Wake Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $7,693 in student loans.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Wake Technical Community College
Lone Star College System earned the #12 position for cosmetology this year. Located in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public university. There were roughly 12 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Lone Star College System in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Lone Star College System earn around $18,887 in the first couple years of their career. Lone Star College System graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Lone Star College System
Hutchinson Community College earned the #13 position for cosmetology this year. Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hutchinson. About 12 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Hutchinson Community College in the most recent year. Cosmetology graduates of Hutchinson Community College earn a median of $17,437 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,148 to complete this degree.
See the full cosmetology program report for Hutchinson Community College
Santa Monica College came in at #14 for cosmetology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Monica. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Santa Monica College in the most recent data year.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Santa Monica College
Fullerton College placed #15 among the best cosmetology schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. Fullerton College awarded about 23 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Fullerton College
Sacramento City College landed the #16 spot for cosmetology this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public university. There were roughly 13 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Sacramento City College in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Sacramento City College earn a median of $18,184 early in their careers. Sacramento City College graduates carry a median of $13,180 in student loans.
Get the full cosmetology details for Sacramento City College
Citrus College landed the #17 spot for cosmetology this year. Citrus College is a large public school located in the suburb of Glendora. There were roughly 45 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Citrus College in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Citrus College
Barstow Community College placed #18 among the best cosmetology schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Barstow. Barstow Community College awarded about 18 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Barstow Community College earn around $22,398 in the first couple years of their career. Barstow Community College graduates carry a median of $5,588 in student loans.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Barstow Community College
Vincennes University earned the #19 position for cosmetology this year. Set in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public institution. About 3% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Vincennes University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $45,976 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,506 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Vincennes University
Fayetteville Technical Community College came in at #20 for cosmetology this year. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Fayetteville Technical Community College awarded about 68 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $40,584 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Fayetteville Technical Community College
George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville landed the #21 spot for cosmetology this year. Set in the rural area of Hanceville, George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville is a moderately-sized public institution. George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville awarded about 23 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville generally make around $40,017. Typical student debt for the program is $13,146.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville
Helena College University Of Montana ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Helena, Helena College University Of Montana is a mid-sized public university. About 14 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Helena College University Of Montana in the most recent year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Helena College University Of Montana earn around $47,160 in the first couple years of their career. Helena College University Of Montana graduates carry a median of $19,906 in student loans.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Helena College University Of Montana
Cerritos College came in at #23 for cosmetology this year. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. About 28 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Cerritos College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $13,133. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete this degree.
See the full cosmetology program report for Cerritos College
San Jacinto Community College came in at #24 for cosmetology this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. San Jacinto Community College awarded about 175 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $15,655 early in their careers. San Jacinto Community College graduates carry a median of $8,791 in student loans.
See the full cosmetology program report for San Jacinto Community College
Sandhills Community College landed the #25 spot for cosmetology this year. Set in the rural area of Pinehurst, Sandhills Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 10 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Sandhills Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $46,492 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,238.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Sandhills Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Cosmetology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s cosmetology ranking:
Other Cosmetology Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Cosmetology rankings across degree levels:
View All Cosmetology Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 60 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
