2027 Best Cosmetology Schools in the The Plains States Region
Cosmetology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 87 schools to find the best for cosmetology students.
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Best Schools for Cosmetology in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall cosmetology education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Cosmetology
No school ranked higher than Johnson County Community College this year for cosmetology. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. There were roughly 10 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Johnson County Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $21,250 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $5,424 to complete this degree.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Johnson County Community College
Students looking for a strong cosmetology program will find one at Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College awarded about 187 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $32,987 in their early career. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $14,250 in student loans.
See the full cosmetology program report for Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College
A rank of #3 makes Ridgewater College one of the top schools for cosmetology. Located in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 39 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Ridgewater College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Ridgewater College earn around $21,574 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,750.
Get the full cosmetology details for Ridgewater College
Garden City Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in cosmetology, ranking #4. Set in the town of Garden City, Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 19 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Garden City Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $18,724 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
See the full cosmetology program report for Garden City Community College
A rank of #5 makes Minnesota State Community And Technical College one of the top schools for cosmetology. Set in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Minnesota State Community And Technical College awarded about 56 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Minnesota State Community And Technical College generally make around $24,367. Typical student debt for the program is $10,169.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Minnesota State Community And Technical College
Kansas City Kansas Community College placed #6 among the best cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 63 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Kansas City Kansas Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $21,091 in their early career. Kansas City Kansas Community College graduates carry a median of $8,235 in student loans.
Get the full cosmetology details for Kansas City Kansas Community College
Century College earned the #7 position for cosmetology this year. Located in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public university. Century College awarded about 86 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Century College earn around $47,502 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,332.
Get the full cosmetology details for Century College
Minnesota West Community And Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Granite Falls. There were roughly 23 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota West Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Minnesota West Community And Technical College generally make around $17,767. Typical student debt for the program is $8,730.
See the full cosmetology program report for Minnesota West Community And Technical College
Washburn Institute Of Technology ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. This small public university is located in the city of Topeka. Washburn Institute Of Technology awarded about 43 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Washburn Institute Of Technology earn a median of $22,547 early in their careers. Washburn Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Washburn Institute Of Technology
Hutchinson Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Hutchinson. There were roughly 41 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Hutchinson Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Hutchinson Community College earn around $17,437 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,148.
Get the full cosmetology details for Hutchinson Community College
Lake Area Technical Institute ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Located in the town of Watertown, Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 35 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Lake Area Technical Institute in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Lake Area Technical Institute generally make around $20,420. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Lake Area Technical Institute
Riverland Community College placed #12 among the best cosmetology schools. Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Austin. Riverland Community College awarded about 39 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Riverland Community College earn around $49,194 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,732.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Riverland Community College
Northwest Kansas Technical College placed #13 among the best cosmetology schools. This small public university is located in the town of Goodland. There were roughly 16 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Kansas Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Northwest Kansas Technical College earn around $41,638 in the first couple years of their career.
See the full cosmetology program report for Northwest Kansas Technical College
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School earned the #14 position for cosmetology this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Liberal. There were roughly 32 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Seward County Community College And Area Technical School in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $53,375 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,175.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Seward County Community College And Area Technical School
Fort Scott Community College earned the #15 position for cosmetology this year. Fort Scott Community College is a small public school located in the town of Fort Scott. There were roughly 42 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Fort Scott Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Fort Scott Community College earn around $20,691 in the first couple years of their career. Fort Scott Community College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
Get the full cosmetology details for Fort Scott Community College
Dodge City Community College placed #16 among the best cosmetology schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Dodge City. About 37 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Dodge City Community College in the most recent year.
See the full cosmetology program report for Dodge City Community College
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical earned the #17 position for cosmetology this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Winona. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical awarded about 49 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Minnesota State College Southeast Technical generally make around $50,290. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical graduates carry a median of $22,522 in student loans.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Minnesota State College Southeast Technical
Cowley County Community College earned the #18 position for cosmetology this year. Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Arkansas City. About 25 cosmetology degrees were awarded at Cowley County Community College in the most recent year. Cosmetology graduates of Cowley County Community College earn a median of $34,099 early in their careers. Cowley County Community College graduates carry a median of $9,312 in student loans.
Get the full cosmetology details for Cowley County Community College
Independence Community College earned the #19 position for cosmetology this year. This small public university is located in the rural area of Independence. Independence Community College awarded about 13 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Independence Community College earn a median of $23,620 early in their careers. Independence Community College graduates carry a median of $7,302 in student loans.
Get the full cosmetology details for Independence Community College
Aveda Institute Minneapolis landed the #20 spot for cosmetology this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Aveda Institute Minneapolis is a small private for-profit institution. Aveda Institute Minneapolis awarded about 349 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Aveda Institute Minneapolis earn around $24,230 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,941.
Get the full cosmetology details for Aveda Institute Minneapolis
Nova Academy Of Cosmetology came in at #21 for cosmetology this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Rochester. Nova Academy Of Cosmetology awarded about 272 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $25,754 in their early career. Nova Academy Of Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $9,999 in student loans.
See the full cosmetology program report for Nova Academy Of Cosmetology
Model College Of Hair Design came in at #22 for cosmetology this year. Model College Of Hair Design is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Saint Cloud. There were roughly 104 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Model College Of Hair Design in the most recent data year. Cosmetology graduates of Model College Of Hair Design earn a median of $25,814 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,778.
Get the full cosmetology details for Model College Of Hair Design
Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics came in at #23 for cosmetology this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics is a small private for-profit university. Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics awarded about 164 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the cosmetology program make about $25,942 in their early career. Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics graduates carry a median of $9,166 in student loans.
Read more about the cosmetology program at Capitol School Of Hairstyling And Esthetics
Stewart School ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. Stewart School is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Sioux Falls. There were roughly 86 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Stewart School in the most recent data year. Students who receive their cosmetology degree from Stewart School earn around $22,684 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,863 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in cosmetology from Stewart School
The Salon Professional Academy Fargo ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best cosmetology schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Fargo. The Salon Professional Academy Fargo awarded about 110 cosmetology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from The Salon Professional Academy Fargo generally make around $29,330. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
Read more about the cosmetology program at The Salon Professional Academy Fargo
Rest of the Top 50 Cosmetology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s cosmetology ranking:
Narrow Cosmetology Schools by State
More Cosmetology Rankings
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Notes and References
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 · 87 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.
