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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 423 schools to find the best for cosmetology students.
Best Schools for Cosmetology in the Southeast Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the cosmetology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Palm Beach State College the best school in the country for a degree in cosmetology. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Lake Worth. About 244 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Palm Beach State College in the most recent year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Palm Beach State College earn around $24,361 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Palm Beach State College
Daytona State College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public institution. Daytona State College awarded about 139 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Daytona State College earn around $20,212 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,807.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Daytona State College
A rank of #3 makes Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins one of the top schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Warner Robins, Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins is a large public institution. Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins awarded about 389 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins generally make around $39,765. Typical student debt for the program is $7,217.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins
Florida State College At Jacksonville is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in cosmetology, ranking #4. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. About 234 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Florida State College At Jacksonville in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $29,668. Typical student debt for the program is $13,577.
See the full cosmetology program report for Florida State College At Jacksonville
Pensacola State College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in cosmetology, ranking #5. This large public university is located in the city of Pensacola. Pensacola State College awarded about 200 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Pensacola State College generally make around $23,911. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Pensacola State College
Trident Technical College earned the #6 position for cosmetology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Charleston. About 49 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Trident Technical College in the most recent year. Cosmetology graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $50,166 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete this degree.
See the full cosmetology program report for Trident Technical College
South Georgia Technical College placed #7 among the best cosmetology schools. South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Americus. There were roughly 95 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at South Georgia Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from South Georgia Technical College generally make around $20,501. Students borrow a median of $10,423 to complete this degree.
Read more about the cosmetology program at South Georgia Technical College
Ogeechee Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Located in the town of Statesboro, Ogeechee Technical College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 94 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Ogeechee Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $17,660 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,894.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Ogeechee Technical College
Central Piedmont Community College landed the #9 spot for cosmetology this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. About 77 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $40,629 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,861.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Central Piedmont Community College
Cape Fear Community College came in at #10 for cosmetology this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 221 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Cape Fear Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Cape Fear Community College earn around $42,889 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,388.
See the full cosmetology program report for Cape Fear Community College
Indian River State College landed the #11 spot for cosmetology this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. About 253 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Indian River State College in the most recent year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Indian River State College earn around $18,411 in the first couple years of their career. Indian River State College graduates carry a median of $9,540 in student loans.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Indian River State College
Athens Technical College came in at #12 for cosmetology this year. Set in the city of Athens, Athens Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 164 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Athens Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Athens Technical College earn around $16,178 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full cosmetology details for Athens Technical College
Southern Crescent Technical College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Griffin. There were roughly 200 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Southern Crescent Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Southern Crescent Technical College generally make around $45,062. Typical student debt for the program is $17,619.
Get the full cosmetology details for Southern Crescent Technical College
Georgia Northwestern Technical College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Rome. There were roughly 210 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Northwestern Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Georgia Northwestern Technical College generally make around $41,229. Georgia Northwestern Technical College graduates carry a median of $8,492 in student loans.
Get the full cosmetology details for Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Lanier Technical College placed #15 among the best cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Gainesville, Lanier Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Lanier Technical College awarded about 130 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $22,686 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,278 to complete this degree.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Lanier Technical College
Wake Technical Community College landed the #16 spot for cosmetology this year. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. Wake Technical Community College awarded about 39 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $23,286 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,693 to complete this degree.
See the full cosmetology program report for Wake Technical Community College
East Central Community College landed the #17 spot for cosmetology this year. East Central Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Decatur. There were roughly 18 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at East Central Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from East Central Community College earn around $32,981 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from East Central Community College
Gaston College earned the #18 position for cosmetology this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public university. About 61 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Gaston College in the most recent year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $27,008 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,915 to complete this degree.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Gaston College
Fayetteville Technical Community College placed #19 among the best cosmetology schools. This large public university is located in the city of Fayetteville. Fayetteville Technical Community College awarded about 71 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Fayetteville Technical Community College
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College earned the #20 position for cosmetology this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Valdosta. There were roughly 384 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $19,659 in their early career. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College graduates carry a median of $10,864 in student loans.
See the full cosmetology program report for Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Chattahoochee Technical College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Set in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 140 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Chattahoochee Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $16,767 in their early career. Chattahoochee Technical College graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Chattahoochee Technical College
Mitchell Community College came in at #22 for cosmetology this year. Set in the town of Statesville, Mitchell Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 70 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Mitchell Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Mitchell Community College generally make around $40,450. Students borrow a median of $6,313 to complete this degree.
Get the full cosmetology details for Mitchell Community College
Catawba Valley Community College earned the #23 position for cosmetology this year. Set in the city of Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 23 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Catawba Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Catawba Valley Community College earn around $16,506 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,842 to complete this degree.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Catawba Valley Community College
Northwest Mississippi Community College placed #24 among the best cosmetology schools. Located in the town of Senatobia, Northwest Mississippi Community College is a large public university. Northwest Mississippi Community College awarded about 37 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $17,660 in their early career. Northwest Mississippi Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
Get the full cosmetology details for Northwest Mississippi Community College
Rowan Cabarrus Community College placed #25 among the best cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 201 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Rowan Cabarrus Community College in the most recent year. Cosmetology graduates of Rowan Cabarrus Community College earn a median of $22,578 early in their careers. Rowan Cabarrus Community College graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Rowan Cabarrus Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Cosmetology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for cosmetology this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 423 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).
