2026 Most Popular Cosmetology Schools
There are 1,613 colleges that offer a degree in Cosmetology. The most popular schools, by student demand, are below:
Finding the Best Cosmetology School for You
With all the Cosmetology programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you’re no longer limited to schools in your local area.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular Cosmetology Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 1,613 schools in the United States offering Cosmetology programs. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school’s program.
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2026 Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in the United States
Check out the Cosmetology programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.
Top 25 Most Popular Cosmetology Schools
The most popular school in the United States for Cosmetology students is NUC University. Located in Bayamon, PR, this is a private for-profit institution. This school awarded 2,869 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $18,183. Read More…
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington comes in at #2 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington is a private for-profit school located in Covington, LA. This school awarded 1,941 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $18,620. Read full report on Cosmetology at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington
Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett comes in at #3 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett is a private for-profit school located in Everett, WA. This school awarded 994 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $23,416. Read More…
Douglas J Aveda Institute comes in at #4 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Located in East Lansing, MI, this is a private for-profit institution. This school awarded 832 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $18,358. Full Cosmetology at Douglas J Aveda Institute Report
Christine Valmy International School for Esthetics, Skin Care & Makeup comes in at #5 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Located in New York, NY, this is a private for-profit institution. This school awarded 786 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $19,495. Read full report on Cosmetology at Christine Valmy International School for Esthetics, Skin Care & Makeup
Aveda Institute-South Florida landed the #6 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Cosmetology Schools ranking. Aveda Institute-South Florida is a private for-profit school located in Davie, FL. This school awarded 746 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $17,966. Read full report on Cosmetology at Aveda Institute-South Florida
Celebrity School of Beauty comes in at #7 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Celebrity School of Beauty is a private for-profit school located in Miami, FL. During the most recent year for which we have data, 582 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $13,627. Full Cosmetology at Celebrity School of Beauty Report
Aveda Institute-Tallahassee comes in at #8 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Located in Clearwater, FL, this is a private for-profit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 557 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $19,044. Read More…
Asian-American International Beauty College landed the #9 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Cosmetology Schools ranking. Located in Westminster, CA, this is a private for-profit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 548 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $9,647. Read More…
Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts & Sciences-Summerlin comes in at #10 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts & Sciences-Summerlin is a private for-profit school located in Las Vegas, NV. This school awarded 544 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $34,545. Read More…
Studio Academy of Beauty comes in at #11 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Studio Academy of Beauty is a private for-profit school located in Chandler, AZ. This school awarded 539 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $22,576. Read More…
Advance Beauty College comes in at #12 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Advance Beauty College is a private for-profit school located in Garden Grove, CA. During the most recent year for which we have data, 483 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $10,847. Read More…
Milan Institute-Clovis landed the #13 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Cosmetology Schools ranking. Located in Clovis, CA, this is a private for-profit institution. This school awarded 434 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $19,660. Read full report on Cosmetology at Milan Institute-Clovis
Penrose Academy landed the #14 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Cosmetology Schools ranking. Penrose Academy is a private for-profit school located in Scottsdale, AZ. During the most recent year for which we have data, 419 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $23,715. Full Cosmetology at Penrose Academy Report
IBMC College comes in at #15 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. IBMC College is a private for-profit school located in Fort Collins, CO. During the most recent year for which we have data, 414 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $29,268. Read More…
Century College comes in at #16 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Century College is a private for-profit school located in San Juan, PR. During the most recent year for which we have data, 401 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $7,090. Full Cosmetology at Century College Report
Elaine Sterling Institute landed the #17 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Cosmetology Schools ranking. Elaine Sterling Institute is a private for-profit school located in Atlanta, GA. This school awarded 401 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $15,436. Full Cosmetology at Elaine Sterling Institute Report
Health And Style Institute comes in at #18 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Health And Style Institute is a private for-profit school located in Greensboro, NC. This school awarded 387 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $19,975. Read More…
Paul Mitchell the School-Sacramento comes in at #19 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Located in Sacramento, CA, this is a private for-profit institution. This school awarded 387 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $14,858. Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School-Sacramento
Southeastern Esthetics Institute landed the #20 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Cosmetology Schools ranking. Southeastern Esthetics Institute is a private for-profit school located in Elgin, SC. During the most recent year for which we have data, 387 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $21,606. Full Cosmetology at Southeastern Esthetics Institute Report
Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Stafford comes in at #21 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Stafford is a private for-profit school located in Stafford, TX. During the most recent year for which we have data, 382 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $18,860. Read More…
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College landed the #22 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Cosmetology Schools ranking. Located in Valdosta, GA, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 381 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $37,483. Full Cosmetology at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Report
G Skin & Beauty Institute landed the #23 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Cosmetology Schools ranking. Located in Schaumburg, IL, this is a private for-profit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 380 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $21,268. Read full report on Cosmetology at G Skin & Beauty Institute
Georgia Career Institute comes in at #24 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Located in Conyers, GA, this is a private for-profit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 368 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $16,080. Read full report on Cosmetology at Georgia Career Institute
Olympian Academy of Cosmetology comes in at #25 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Olympian Academy of Cosmetology is a private for-profit school located in LAS CRUCES, NM. During the most recent year for which we have data, 362 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $16,397. Read More…
Rest of the Top Most Popular Cosmetology Schools
Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great schools for this major that just missed the list above.
Cosmetology by Region
See the most popular Cosmetology schools in a specific region of the United States.
| Region |
|---|
| New England |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Great Lakes |
| Plains States |
| Southeast |
| Southwest |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Far Western US |
More Cosmetology Rankings
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the Most Popular Cosmetology Schools ranking, along with other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
Majors Related to Cosmetology
Cosmetology Concentrations
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Cosmetology | 55,875 |
| Esthetician, Skin Care Specialist | 42,738 |
| Nail Technician & Manicurist | 14,442 |
| Barbering | 12,398 |
| Facial Treatment Specialist | 2,901 |
| Other Cosmetology | 2,497 |
| Master Aesthetician/Esthetician | 1,882 |
| Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor | 1,436 |
| Hair Styling & Design | 1,386 |
| Salon Management | 514 |
| Make-Up Artist | 426 |
| Electrolysis Technician | 351 |
| Permanent Cosmetics & Tattooing | 90 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Culinary Arts | 24,487 |
| Funeral & Mortuary Science | 2,676 |
| Casino Operations and Services | 564 |
| Other Personal & Culinary Services | 101 |
References
*The average salary above is for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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