2027 Best Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania
Cosmetology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 48 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for cosmetology students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Cosmetology in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall cosmetology education in Pennsylvania.
Top Schools in Cosmetology
Leading the list is Community College Of Allegheny County, our #1 school for cosmetology. This large public university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Community College Of Allegheny County awarded about 13 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $47,420 in their early career. Community College Of Allegheny County graduates carry a median of $15,263 in student loans.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Community College Of Allegheny County
South Hills Beauty Academy Inc is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in cosmetology, landing the #2 spot this year. South Hills Beauty Academy Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Pittsburgh. About 163 cosmetology degrees were awarded at South Hills Beauty Academy Inc in the most recent year. Cosmetology graduates of South Hills Beauty Academy Inc earn a median of $20,852 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,662.
Read more about the cosmetology program at South Hills Beauty Academy Inc
A rank of #3 makes Lancaster School Of Cosmetology And Therapeutic Bodywork one of the top schools for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Lancaster, Lancaster School Of Cosmetology And Therapeutic Bodywork is a small private for-profit university. There were roughly 148 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Lancaster School Of Cosmetology And Therapeutic Bodywork in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Lancaster School Of Cosmetology And Therapeutic Bodywork earn a median of $19,624 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $7,208.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Lancaster School Of Cosmetology And Therapeutic Bodywork
Douglas Education Center is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in cosmetology, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Monessen, Douglas Education Center is a small private for-profit institution. About 122 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Douglas Education Center in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Douglas Education Center generally make around $19,940. Students borrow a median of $11,823 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Douglas Education Center
Students looking for a strong cosmetology program will find one at Fountain Of Youth Academy Of Cosmetology, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Fountain Of Youth Academy Of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit institution. Fountain Of Youth Academy Of Cosmetology awarded about 59 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Fountain Of Youth Academy Of Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $12,386 in student loans.
See the full cosmetology program report for Fountain Of Youth Academy Of Cosmetology
The Salon Professional Academy Altoona came in at #6 for cosmetology this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the suburb of Altoona. About 76 cosmetology degrees were awarded at The Salon Professional Academy Altoona in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from The Salon Professional Academy Altoona generally make around $19,048. Students borrow a median of $9,936 to complete this degree.
Get the full cosmetology details for The Salon Professional Academy Altoona
Metro Beauty Academy ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Set in the suburb of Allentown, Metro Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit institution. There were roughly 237 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Metro Beauty Academy in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $21,226 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,381.
See the full cosmetology program report for Metro Beauty Academy
Penn Commercial Business Technical School landed the #8 spot for cosmetology this year. Located in the suburb of Washington, Penn Commercial Business Technical School is a small private for-profit university. There were roughly 96 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Penn Commercial Business Technical School in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Penn Commercial Business Technical School earn a median of $20,871 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,318 to complete this degree.
Get the full cosmetology details for Penn Commercial Business Technical School
The Beauty Institute Ambler placed #9 among the best cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of Ambler, The Beauty Institute Ambler is a small private for-profit university. About 237 cosmetology degrees were awarded at The Beauty Institute Ambler in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from The Beauty Institute Ambler generally make around $15,977. The Beauty Institute Ambler graduates carry a median of $11,705 in student loans.
See the full cosmetology program report for The Beauty Institute Ambler
Bella Capelli Academy landed the #10 spot for cosmetology this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the suburb of Monroeville. There were roughly 127 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Bella Capelli Academy in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Bella Capelli Academy earn a median of $16,192 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,400 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Bella Capelli Academy
York County School Of Technology Adult And Continuing Education landed the #11 spot for cosmetology this year. Located in the suburb of York, York County School Of Technology Adult And Continuing Education is a small public university. There were roughly 24 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at York County School Of Technology Adult And Continuing Education in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $47,870 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,894 to complete this degree.
Read more about the cosmetology program at York County School Of Technology Adult And Continuing Education
Jean Madeline Aveda Institute came in at #12 for cosmetology this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Jean Madeline Aveda Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Jean Madeline Aveda Institute awarded about 193 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $14,081 in their early career. Jean Madeline Aveda Institute graduates carry a median of $12,028 in student loans.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Jean Madeline Aveda Institute
Lansdale School Of Cosmetology Inc placed #13 among the best cosmetology schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the suburb of Lansdale. Lansdale School Of Cosmetology Inc awarded about 35 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $17,234 in their early career.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Lansdale School Of Cosmetology Inc
The Beauty Institute Allentown placed #14 among the best cosmetology schools. The Beauty Institute Allentown is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Whitehall. The Beauty Institute Allentown awarded about 164 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from The Beauty Institute Allentown generally make around $15,063. The Beauty Institute Allentown graduates carry a median of $11,234 in student loans.
See the full cosmetology program report for The Beauty Institute Allentown
Empire Beauty School Ne Philadelphia ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Empire Beauty School Ne Philadelphia is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 100 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Empire Beauty School Ne Philadelphia in the most recent year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Empire Beauty School Ne Philadelphia earn around $17,113 in the first couple years of their career. Empire Beauty School Ne Philadelphia graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
Get the full cosmetology details for Empire Beauty School Ne Philadelphia
The Beauty School Stroudsburg came in at #16 for cosmetology this year. Set in the town of Stroudsburg, The Beauty School Stroudsburg is a small private for-profit institution. The Beauty School Stroudsburg awarded about 93 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $15,101 in their early career. The Beauty School Stroudsburg graduates carry a median of $12,696 in student loans.
See the full cosmetology program report for The Beauty School Stroudsburg
Great Lakes Institute Of Technology placed #17 among the best cosmetology schools. Great Lakes Institute Of Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Erie. About 36 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Great Lakes Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Great Lakes Institute Of Technology earn around $16,280 in the first couple years of their career. Great Lakes Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $12,253 in student loans.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Great Lakes Institute Of Technology
Laurel Technical Institute earned the #18 position for cosmetology this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the rural area of Hermitage. Laurel Technical Institute awarded about 33 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Laurel Technical Institute generally make around $17,251. Students borrow a median of $13,600 to complete this degree.
Get the full cosmetology details for Laurel Technical Institute
Butler Beauty Academy earned the #19 position for cosmetology this year. Located in the town of Butler, Butler Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit university. Butler Beauty Academy awarded about 32 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Butler Beauty Academy earn around $13,502 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,028 to complete this degree.
Get the full cosmetology details for Butler Beauty Academy
Altoona Beauty School Inc ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Altoona Beauty School Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Altoona. About 88 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Altoona Beauty School Inc in the most recent year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $18,188 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,544 to complete this degree.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Altoona Beauty School Inc
Susquehanna County Career And Technology Center came in at #21 for cosmetology this year. This small public university is located in the rural area of Springville. There were roughly 12 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Susquehanna County Career And Technology Center in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Susquehanna County Career And Technology Center earn a median of $42,238 early in their careers. Susquehanna County Career And Technology Center graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Susquehanna County Career And Technology Center
Empire Beauty School North Hills earned the #22 position for cosmetology this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the suburb of Pittsburgh. Empire Beauty School North Hills awarded about 41 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Empire Beauty School North Hills earn a median of $16,062 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,583 to complete this degree.
Get the full cosmetology details for Empire Beauty School North Hills
Empire Beauty School Center City Philadelphia ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Empire Beauty School Center City Philadelphia is a small private for-profit institution. About 94 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Empire Beauty School Center City Philadelphia in the most recent year. Cosmetology graduates of Empire Beauty School Center City Philadelphia earn a median of $16,062 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,583 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Empire Beauty School Center City Philadelphia
Laurel Business Institute placed #24 among the best cosmetology schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the town of Uniontown. Laurel Business Institute awarded about 88 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Laurel Business Institute earn around $15,447 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
See the full cosmetology program report for Laurel Business Institute
Empire Beauty School West Mifflin ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Empire Beauty School West Mifflin is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of West Mifflin. There were roughly 44 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Empire Beauty School West Mifflin in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Empire Beauty School West Mifflin earn around $16,429 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,583.
See the full cosmetology program report for Empire Beauty School West Mifflin
Rest of the Top 48 Cosmetology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s cosmetology ranking:
More Cosmetology Rankings
View All Cosmetology Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 48 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.
