2027 Best Cosmetology Schools in North Carolina
Cosmetology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their cosmetology programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 60 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 North Carolina
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.
Top Schools in Cosmetology
Central Piedmont Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in cosmetology. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Central Piedmont Community College awarded about 77 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $40,629. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete this degree.
Get the full cosmetology details for Central Piedmont Community College
Cape Fear Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in cosmetology, landing the #2 spot this year. Cape Fear Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. About 221 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Cape Fear Community College in the most recent year. Cosmetology graduates of Cape Fear Community College earn a median of $42,889 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,388.
See the full cosmetology program report for Cape Fear Community College
A rank of #3 makes Wake Technical Community College one of the top schools for cosmetology. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. Wake Technical Community College awarded about 39 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $23,286. Typical student debt for the program is $7,693.
See the full cosmetology program report for Wake Technical Community College
Students looking for a strong cosmetology program will find one at Gaston College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 61 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Gaston College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Gaston College generally make around $27,008. Typical student debt for the program is $10,915.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Gaston College
Students looking for a strong cosmetology program will find one at Fayetteville Technical Community College, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the city of Fayetteville. There were roughly 71 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Fayetteville Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full cosmetology details for Fayetteville Technical Community College
Mitchell Community College landed the #6 spot for cosmetology this year. Mitchell Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Statesville. There were roughly 70 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Mitchell Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $40,450 in their early career. Mitchell Community College graduates carry a median of $6,313 in student loans.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Mitchell Community College
Catawba Valley Community College placed #7 among the best cosmetology schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Hickory. About 23 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Catawba Valley Community College in the most recent 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.
Get the full cosmetology details for Catawba Valley Community College
Rowan Cabarrus Community College placed #8 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. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $22,578 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
See the full cosmetology program report for Rowan Cabarrus Community College
Central Carolina Community College placed #9 among the best cosmetology schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Sanford. There were roughly 100 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Central Carolina Community College in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Central Carolina Community College earn a median of $24,101 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,167.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Central Carolina Community College
Cleveland Community College landed the #10 spot for cosmetology this year. Set in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 50 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Cleveland Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $13,347 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,131 to complete this degree.
Get the full cosmetology details for Cleveland Community College
Sandhills Community College placed #11 among the best cosmetology schools. Located in the rural area of Pinehurst, Sandhills Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Sandhills Community College awarded about 41 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Sandhills Community College earn a median of $46,492 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,238 to complete this degree.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Sandhills Community College
Randolph Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Located in the town of Asheboro, Randolph Community College is a mid-sized public university. Randolph Community College awarded about 77 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Randolph Community College earn a median of $32,198 early in their careers.
See the full cosmetology program report for Randolph Community College
Robeson Community College earned the #13 position for cosmetology this year. Located in the town of Lumberton, Robeson Community College is a mid-sized public university. Robeson Community College awarded about 13 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Robeson Community College earn around $52,951 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,949.
See the full cosmetology program report for Robeson Community College
Stanly Community College came in at #14 for cosmetology this year. Set in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 18 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Stanly Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $41,920 in their early career.
See the full cosmetology program report for Stanly Community College
Guilford Technical Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Jamestown. About 30 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Guilford Technical Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Guilford Technical Community College generally make around $17,193. Students borrow a median of $16,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Guilford Technical Community College
Davidson County Community College came in at #16 for cosmetology this year. Set in the rural area of Thomasville, Davidson County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 71 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Davidson County Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $19,024 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,693 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Davidson County Community College
Alamance Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Graham. Alamance Community College awarded about 71 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Alamance Community College earn a median of $37,585 early in their careers. Alamance Community College graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans.
Get the full cosmetology details for Alamance Community College
Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Located in the suburb of Flat Rock, Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock is a mid-sized public university. Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock awarded about 64 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $42,443 in their early career. Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock graduates carry a median of $16,252 in student loans.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock
Sampson Community College earned the #19 position for cosmetology this year. Located in the town of Clinton, Sampson Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 32 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Sampson Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Sampson Community College generally make around $45,929. Sampson Community College graduates carry a median of $12,596 in student loans.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Sampson Community College
Haywood Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Haywood Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Clyde. There were roughly 15 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Haywood Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $35,767 in their early career.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Haywood Community College
Johnston Community College landed the #21 spot for cosmetology this year. Set in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Johnston Community College awarded about 34 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Johnston Community College earn a median of $37,472 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,490 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Johnston Community College
Beaufort County Community College came in at #22 for cosmetology this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Washington. Beaufort County Community College awarded about 29 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Beaufort County Community College earn around $38,009 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,947.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Beaufort County Community College
Brunswick Community College landed the #23 spot for cosmetology this year. Located in the rural area of Bolivia, Brunswick Community College is a mid-sized public university. Brunswick Community College awarded about 43 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Brunswick Community College earn a median of $47,493 early in their careers. Brunswick Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Brunswick Community College
Western Piedmont Community College earned the #24 position for cosmetology this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Morganton. There were roughly 32 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Western Piedmont Community College in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Western Piedmont Community College earn a median of $46,883 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,999 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Western Piedmont Community College
Southwestern Community College Sylva earned the #25 position for cosmetology this year. Located in the town of Sylva, Southwestern Community College Sylva is a mid-sized public university. Southwestern Community College Sylva awarded about 36 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Southwestern Community College Sylva earn around $14,354 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,708.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Southwestern Community College Sylva
Rest of the Top 50 Cosmetology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s cosmetology ranking:
More Cosmetology Rankings
View All Cosmetology Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 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.
