2026 Best Cosmetology Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Cosmetology associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 1613 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Cosmetology Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
No school ranked higher than Clover Park Technical College this year in the United States. Based in Lakewood, WA, Clover Park Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,634. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete their Cosmetology program here. More on Clover Park Technical College
The strong Cosmetology programs at Douglas Education Center earned it the #2 place in the United States. This private for-profit school is set in Monessen, PA. Students from in state pay about $19,450 in tuition and fees. Douglas Education Center Cosmetology students take on a median of $11,823 in debt. Read more about Douglas Education Center
Johnson County Community College came in at #3 on this year's Cosmetology ranking in the United States. Located in Overland Park, KS, Johnson County Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, while out-of-state students pay about $5,688. Students borrow a median of $5,424 to complete their Cosmetology program here. Get the full Johnson County Community College report
Out of the 1613 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Cerritos College landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Norwalk, CA. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Typical Cosmetology student debt is $11,306. More on Cerritos College
You'll be in good company at Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College, which ranked #5 this year. Based in Saint Paul, MN, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,326. Graduates carry a median of $14,250 in student loans. Read more about Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College
Waukesha County Technical College landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Located in Pewaukee, WI, Waukesha County Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,803, compared with $7,046 for out-of-state students. Waukesha County Technical College Cosmetology students take on a median of $9,750 in debt. See the full Waukesha County Technical College profile
Ridgewater College did well this year, earning the #7 position. This public school is set in Willmar, MN. Students from in state pay about $6,121 in tuition and fees. The median Cosmetology program debt is $9,750. More on Ridgewater College
Remington College North Houston Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Cosmetology schools. Remington College North Houston Campus is a private not-for-profit school based in Houston, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,373. Students borrow a median of $14,750 to complete their Cosmetology program here. More on Remington College North Houston Campus
Central Piedmont Community College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Based in Charlotte, NC, Central Piedmont Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. The median Cosmetology program debt is $11,861. More on Central Piedmont Community College
Central New Mexico Community College placed #12 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. Central New Mexico Community College is a public school based in Albuquerque, NM. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. The median Cosmetology program debt is $10,112. See the full Central New Mexico Community College profile
Central Carolina Community College landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Located in Sanford, NC, Central Carolina Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,711, compared with $8,855 for out-of-state students. Central Carolina Community College Cosmetology students take on a median of $12,167 in debt. Read the full report on Central Carolina Community College
Wake Technical Community College did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Raleigh, NC, Wake Technical Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,254, with out-of-state students paying around $6,862. The median Cosmetology program debt is $7,693. Read more about Wake Technical Community College
Houston Community College placed #15 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. This public school is set in Houston, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Houston Community College Cosmetology students take on a median of $23,061 in debt. More on Houston Community College
Riverside City College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Riverside City College is a public school based in Riverside, CA. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,428, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Graduates carry a median of $7,736 in student loans. Read more about Riverside City College
Citrus College landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Set in Glendora, CA, Citrus College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,204, compared with $10,636 for out-of-state students. See the full Citrus College profile
Lone Star College System ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Cosmetology schools. Set in The Woodlands, TX, Lone Star College System is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,512. The median Cosmetology program debt is $5,500. Read more about Lone Star College System
Golden West College landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Set in Huntington Beach, CA, Golden West College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,380, with out-of-state students paying around $11,628. Graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Get the full Golden West College report
Weatherford College landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Weatherford College is a public school based in Weatherford, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,250, compared with $10,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,099 to complete their Cosmetology program here. More on Weatherford College
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College placed #22 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. Based in Asheville, NC, Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,882, with out-of-state students paying around $9,026. Typical Cosmetology student debt is $18,883. See the full Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College profile
Schoolcraft College placed #23 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. This public school is set in Livonia, MI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,799, while out-of-state students pay about $6,501. Typical Cosmetology student debt is $15,677. Get the full Schoolcraft College report
Lee College landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Baytown, TX. Students from in state pay about $2,520 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. The median Cosmetology program debt is $10,941. Read more about Lee College
Los Angeles Trade Technical College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Set in Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,238, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Typical Cosmetology student debt is $14,833. Read the full report on Los Angeles Trade Technical College
San Jacinto Community College did well this year, earning the #27 position. Located in Pasadena, TX, San Jacinto Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,490, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Students borrow a median of $8,791 to complete their Cosmetology program here. Read the full report on San Jacinto Community College
San Diego City College did well this year, earning the #28 position. Located in San Diego, CA, San Diego City College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Typical Cosmetology student debt is $9,514. See the full San Diego City College profile
Fayetteville Technical Community College did well this year, earning the #29 position. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a public school based in Fayetteville, NC. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,628, with out-of-state students paying around $8,772. The median Cosmetology program debt is $5,500. Read the full report on Fayetteville Technical Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Cosmetology Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Vincennes University did well this year, earning the #30 position. Located in Vincennes, IN, Vincennes University is a public institution. Roughly 3% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,126, compared with $16,858 for out-of-state students. The median Cosmetology program debt is $14,506. Read the full report on Vincennes University
Robeson Community College came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Set in Lumberton, NC, Robeson Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,604 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,748. Typical Cosmetology student debt is $9,949. More on Robeson Community College
Navarro College did well this year, earning the #32 position. Located in Corsicana, TX, Navarro College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,008, while out-of-state students pay about $6,578. Graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Read more about Navarro College
Southwestern Community College Sylva came in at #33 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Sylva, NC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,112, while out-of-state students pay about $13,184. Typical Cosmetology student debt is $13,708. See the full Southwestern Community College Sylva profile
Trinidad State Junior College came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Set in Trinidad, CO, Trinidad State Junior College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,608, with out-of-state students paying around $7,318. Trinidad State Junior College Cosmetology students take on a median of $10,502 in debt. Read more about Trinidad State Junior College
Advanced Barber College And Hair Design placed #31 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. See the full Advanced Barber College And Hair Design profile
Aveda Institute Baton Rouge came in at #32 in this year's ranking. Read more about Aveda Institute Baton Rouge
Charlies Guard Detective Bureau And Academy Inc came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Charlies Guard Detective Bureau And Academy Inc
Citrus Heights Beauty College placed #34 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Citrus Heights Beauty College
Cloyds Beauty School 3 Inc placed #35 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. See the full Cloyds Beauty School 3 Inc profile
Greenville Technical College did well this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on Greenville Technical College
Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center came in at #37 in this year's ranking. See the full Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center profile
Southern School Of Beauty Inc landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. More on Southern School Of Beauty Inc
World Class Academy Of Beauty Careers came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on World Class Academy Of Beauty Careers
Cortiva Institute Florida Texas Center For Massage Therapy ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Cosmetology schools. Get the full Cortiva Institute Florida Texas Center For Massage Therapy report
Paul Mitchell The School Rhode Island placed #41 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Paul Mitchell The School Rhode Island
Skin Science Institute placed #42 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. Get the full Skin Science Institute report
South Texas Barber College Inc came in at #43 in this year's ranking. Read more about South Texas Barber College Inc
Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Irving landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Tint School Of Makeup And Cosmetology Irving
Upper Kutz Barber Style College placed #45 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Upper Kutz Barber Style College
Evans Hairstyling College Cedar City ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Cosmetology schools. Read the full report on Evans Hairstyling College Cedar City
Mti College
Mti College did well this year, earning the #47 position. See the full Mti College profile
Rockingham Community College came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Read more about Rockingham Community College
Cameo Beauty Academy placed #49 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Cameo Beauty Academy
College Of Hair Design Downtown did well this year, earning the #50 position. More on College Of Hair Design Downtown
Related Cosmetology Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Cosmetology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Cosmetology Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Cosmetology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Cosmetology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Cosmetology Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Cosmetology Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1613 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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