by our College Data Analytics TeamCosmetology 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.
College Factual analyzed 130 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best cosmetology schools.
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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.
Leading the list is Lee College, our #1 school for cosmetology. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. About 113 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Lee College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $14,727. Lee College graduates carry a median of $10,941 in student loans. Get the full cosmetology details for Lee College
Wharton County Junior College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in cosmetology, ranking #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. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree. See the full cosmetology program report for Wharton County Junior College
A rank of #3 makes College Of The Mainland one of the top schools for cosmetology. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Texas City. College Of The Mainland awarded about 154 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from College Of The Mainland earn around $18,495 in the first couple years of their career. 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 came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. Lone Star College System awarded about 105 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Lone Star College System earn a median of $18,887 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree. See the full cosmetology program report for Lone Star College System
Texarkana College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in cosmetology, ranking #5. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Texarkana. There were roughly 65 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Texarkana College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Texarkana College generally make around $33,707. Texarkana College graduates carry a median of $5,450 in student loans. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Texarkana College
San Jacinto Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of 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. Students borrow a median of $8,791 to complete this degree. See the full cosmetology program report for San Jacinto Community College
North Central Texas College came in at #7 for cosmetology this year. Located in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public university. North Central Texas College awarded about 66 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $10,963 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,812 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in cosmetology from North Central Texas College
Navarro College came in at #8 for cosmetology this year. Set in the town of Corsicana, Navarro College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 97 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Navarro College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $20,857 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500. Read more about the cosmetology program at Navarro College
Mclennan Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Mclennan Community College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. Mclennan Community College awarded about 55 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $16,879 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,776. Get the full cosmetology details for Mclennan Community College
Lamar Institute Of Technology placed #10 among the best cosmetology schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Beaumont. Lamar Institute Of Technology awarded about 47 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Lamar Institute Of Technology generally make around $50,068. Students borrow a median of $14,278 to complete this degree. Get the full cosmetology details for Lamar Institute Of Technology
Midland College earned the #11 position for cosmetology this year. 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. Midland College graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Midland College
Grayson College came in at #12 for cosmetology this year. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 102 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Grayson College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Grayson College generally make around $18,598. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Grayson College
Howard College landed the #13 spot for cosmetology this year. 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. Howard College graduates carry a median of $14,242 in student loans. See the full cosmetology program report for Howard College
Weatherford College came in at #14 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. Weatherford College graduates carry a median of $14,099 in student loans. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Weatherford College
Odessa College landed the #15 spot for cosmetology this year. This large public university is located in the city of Odessa. There were roughly 90 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Odessa College in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Odessa College earn a median of $47,856 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete this degree. Read more about the cosmetology program at Odessa College
South Plains College earned the #16 position for cosmetology this year. This large public university is located in the town of Levelland. About 133 cosmetology degrees were awarded at South Plains College in the most recent year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from South Plains College earn around $11,557 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 South Plains College
Kilgore College landed the #17 spot for cosmetology this year. Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kilgore. Kilgore College awarded about 112 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $15,957 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500. See the full cosmetology program report for Kilgore College
Lamar State College Orange placed #18 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. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Lamar State College Orange generally make around $45,299. Typical student debt for the program is $18,506. See the full cosmetology program report for Lamar State College Orange
Palo Alto College placed #19 among the best cosmetology schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a very large public university. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $9,430. Read more about the cosmetology program at Palo Alto College
Houston Community College landed the #20 spot for cosmetology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Houston. There were roughly 132 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Houston Community College in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $16,075 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,061 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in cosmetology from Houston Community College
Trinity Valley Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree. Get the full cosmetology details for Trinity Valley Community College
Del Mar College placed #22 among the best cosmetology schools. This large public university is located in the city of Corpus Christi. Del Mar College awarded about 50 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $13,099. Del Mar College graduates carry a median of $7,476 in student loans. See the full cosmetology program report for Del Mar College
Galveston College earned the #23 position for cosmetology this year. Galveston College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Galveston. There were roughly 31 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Galveston College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Galveston College earn around $51,165 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,183. Read more about the cosmetology program at Galveston College
South Texas College earned the #24 position for cosmetology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of McAllen. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. About 52 cosmetology degrees were awarded at South Texas College in the most recent year. Cosmetology graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $30,227 early in their careers. South Texas College graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. See the full cosmetology program report for South Texas College
Northeast Texas Community College placed #25 among the best cosmetology schools. Northeast Texas Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Mount Pleasant. Northeast Texas Community College awarded about 49 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $16,036 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,089 to complete this degree. See the full cosmetology program report for Northeast Texas Community College
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s cosmetology ranking:
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 · 130 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.