by our College Data Analytics TeamCosmetology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 203 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for cosmetology students pursuing a degree.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall cosmetology education in the Southwest Region.
Lee College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in cosmetology. This large public university is located in the city of Baytown. There were roughly 113 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Lee College in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Lee College earn a median of $14,727 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete this degree. Read more about the cosmetology program at Lee College
Students looking for a strong cosmetology program will find one at Wharton County Junior College, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 44 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Wharton County Junior College in the most recent year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Wharton County Junior College earn around $19,087 in the first couple years of their career. Wharton County Junior College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Get the full cosmetology details for Wharton County Junior College
A rank of #3 makes Mesa Community College one of the top schools for cosmetology. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public institution. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750. Get the full cosmetology details for Mesa Community College
College Of The Mainland is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in cosmetology, landing the #4 spot this year. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. College Of The Mainland awarded about 154 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from College Of The Mainland generally make around $18,495. Typical student debt for the program is $5,711. More information about a degree in cosmetology from College Of The Mainland
Lone Star College System is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in cosmetology, landing the #5 spot this year. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. Lone Star College System awarded about 105 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $18,887 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree. See the full cosmetology program report for Lone Star College System
Texarkana College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Texarkana, Texarkana College is a moderately-sized public institution. Texarkana College awarded about 65 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $33,707 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $5,450 to complete this degree. See the full cosmetology program report for Texarkana College
San Jacinto Community College placed #7 among the best cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. About 371 cosmetology degrees were awarded at San Jacinto Community College in the most recent 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. Read more about the cosmetology program at San Jacinto Community College
Central New Mexico Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. 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. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Central New Mexico Community College
North Central Texas College earned the #9 position for cosmetology this year. North Central Texas College is a large public school located in the town of Gainesville. North Central Texas College awarded about 66 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of North Central Texas College earn a median of $10,963 early in their careers. North Central Texas College graduates carry a median of $6,812 in student loans. See the full cosmetology program report for North Central Texas College
Navarro College earned the #10 position for cosmetology this year. Located in the town of Corsicana, Navarro College is a moderately-sized public university. Navarro College awarded about 97 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Navarro College earn a median of $20,857 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Navarro College
Mclennan Community College placed #11 among the best cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 55 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Mclennan Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $16,879 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $5,776 to complete this degree. Read more about the cosmetology program at Mclennan Community College
Lamar Institute Of Technology placed #12 among the best cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. About 47 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Lamar Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Lamar Institute Of Technology earn around $50,068 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,278 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Lamar Institute Of Technology
Gateway Community College Central City earned the #13 position for cosmetology this year. Gateway Community College Central City is a small public school located in the city of Phoenix. There were roughly 174 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Gateway Community College Central City in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Gateway Community College Central City earn around $45,781 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,037. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Gateway Community College Central City
Midland College placed #14 among the best cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 48 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Midland College in the most recent year. Cosmetology graduates of Midland College earn a median of $43,454 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,000. Get the full cosmetology details for Midland College
Grayson College came in at #15 for cosmetology this year. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. Grayson College awarded about 102 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Grayson College earn around $18,598 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Grayson College
Howard College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Howard College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Big Spring. There were roughly 60 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Howard College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Howard College earn around $13,529 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,242 to complete this degree. See the full cosmetology program report for Howard College
Weatherford College earned the #17 position for cosmetology this year. Located in the town of Weatherford, Weatherford College is a moderately-sized public university. About 67 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Weatherford College in the most recent year. Cosmetology graduates of Weatherford College earn a median of $48,208 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,099 to complete this degree. Get the full cosmetology details for Weatherford College
Odessa College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. This large public university is located in the city of Odessa. Odessa College awarded about 90 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $47,856 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete this degree. Get the full cosmetology details for Odessa College
South Plains College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. This large public university is located in the town of Levelland. South Plains College awarded about 133 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from South Plains College generally make around $11,557. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree. Get the full cosmetology details for South Plains College
Kilgore College placed #20 among the best cosmetology schools. Set in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 112 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Kilgore College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $15,957 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree. See the full cosmetology program report for Kilgore College
Lamar State College Orange placed #21 among the best cosmetology schools. Located in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 94 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Lamar State College Orange in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $45,299 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,506. See the full cosmetology program report for Lamar State College Orange
Palo Alto College came in at #22 for cosmetology this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a very large public institution. Palo Alto College awarded about 118 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $29,062 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,430 to complete this degree. See the full cosmetology program report for Palo Alto College
Northland Pioneer College placed #23 among the best cosmetology schools. Northland Pioneer College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Holbrook. Northland Pioneer College awarded about 119 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Northland Pioneer College generally make around $44,117. Typical student debt for the program is $8,680. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Northland Pioneer College
Houston Community College came in at #24 for cosmetology this year. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. Houston Community College awarded about 132 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $16,075 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,061 to complete this degree. Get the full cosmetology details for Houston Community College
Trinity Valley Community College landed the #25 spot for cosmetology this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Athens. There were roughly 213 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Trinity Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $11,544 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Trinity Valley Community College
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong cosmetology education:
These schools earned honorable mentions for cosmetology:
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 · 203 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.