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Associate Degree in Cosmetology

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Associate Degrees in Cosmetology

1,173 Yearly Graduations
$18,219 Median Salary
$15,591 Median Debt
An associate degree in cosmetology is offered at 155 colleges in the United States. Among those who recently graduated from the schools offering this degree, the majority were women, and 49% were students from underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Also, 1.9% of cosmetology graduates were international students.

Education Levels of Cosmetology Majors

In 2020-2021, 1,173 associate degrees were awarded to cosmetology majors. This earns it the #25 spot on the list of the most popular associate degree programs in the nation.

The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in cosmetology at each degree level.

Education Level Number of Grads
Undergraduate Certificate 57,805
Basic Certificate 48,917
Associate Degree 1,173

Earnings of Cosmetology Majors With Associate Degrees

The median salary for graduates holding an associate degree in cosmetology is $18,219. A lot of factors can contribute to this number, such as the location of your workplace and the availability of other perks and bonuses. A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $13,433 and the high is $19,967.

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Student Debt

The median student debt for graduates holding an associate degree in cosmetology is $15,591. The school you go to and how long it takes you to graduate, among other things, can cause this number to vary. The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $15,685 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $12,125.

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Those students who are paying back their debt on a 10-year repayment plan have a median monthly payment of $424.

Student Diversity

More women than men pursue their associate degree in cosmetology. About 96.9% of graduates with this degree are female.

Gender Number of Grads
Men 36
Women 1,137
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The racial-ethnic distribution of cosmetology associate degree students is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 44
Black or African American 175
Hispanic or Latino 289
White 543
International Students 22
Other Races/Ethnicities 100
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There are 155 colleges that offer an associate degree in cosmetology. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:

#1

Clover Park Technical College

Lakewood, Washington
94 Yearly Graduations
99% Women
45% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Clover Park Technical College tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for cosmetology majors who are seeking their associate degree. Each year, around 3,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 94 people received their associate degree in cosmetology from CPTC. Of these students, 99% were women and 45% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#2

Douglas Education Center

Monessen, Pennsylvania
57 Yearly Graduations
82% Women
12% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Douglas Education Center is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in cosmetology. Roughly 200 attend the school each year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 57 people received their associate degree in cosmetology from Douglas Education Center. Around 12% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 82% were women.

#3

Houston Community College

Houston, Texas
53 Yearly Graduations
96% Women
72% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Houston Community College comes in at #3 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in cosmetology. Roughly 48,300 attend the school each year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 53 people received their associate degree in cosmetology from Houston Community College. Around 72% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 96% were women.

#4

Citrus College

Glendora, California
30 Yearly Graduations
100% Women
77% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 4th most popular school in the country for cosmetology majors who are seeking their associate degree is Citrus College. The cosmetology program at Citrus College awarded 30 associate degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 100% were women and 77% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#5

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico
28 Yearly Graduations
96% Women
79% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Central New Mexico Community College comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in cosmetology. Roughly 21,300 attend the school each year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 28 people received their associate degree in cosmetology from CNM. Of these students, 96% were women and 79% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#6

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, California
27 Yearly Graduations
100% Women
63% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 6th most popular school in the country for cosmetology majors who are seeking their associate degree is Golden West College. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 27 people received their associate degree in cosmetology from Golden West College. Of these students, 100% were women and 63% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

26 Yearly Graduations
100% Women
27% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Gadsden State Community College comes in at #7 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in cosmetology. The cosmetology program at Gadsden State Community College awarded 26 associate degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 100% were women and 27% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#8

Northwest-Shoals Community College

Muscle Shoals, Alabama
25 Yearly Graduations
92% Women
44% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Northwest-Shoals Community College is the 8th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in cosmetology. Each year, around 3,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 25 associate degrees were handed out to cosmetology majors at NW-SCC. Around 44% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 92% were women.

#8

Shelton State Community College

Tuscaloosa, Alabama
25 Yearly Graduations
96% Women
56% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Shelton State Community College comes in at #8 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in cosmetology. Roughly 3,700 attend the school each year. The cosmetology program at Shelton State Community College awarded 25 associate degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 96% of this group were women, and 56% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#8

Palo Alto College

San Antonio, Texas
25 Yearly Graduations
100% Women
96% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 8th most popular school in the country for cosmetology majors who are seeking their associate degree is Palo Alto College. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 25 people received their associate degree in cosmetology from Palo Alto College. Of these students, 100% were women and 96% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#11

Bellingham Technical College

Bellingham, Washington
23 Yearly Graduations
100% Women
30% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Bellingham Technical College is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in cosmetology. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 23 people received their associate degree in cosmetology from Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute. Of these students, 100% were women and 30% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#12

Cerritos College

Norwalk, California
21 Yearly Graduations
95% Women
86% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Cerritos College comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in cosmetology. Roughly 20,400 attend the school each year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 21 people received their associate degree in cosmetology from Cerritos College. About 95% of this group were women, and 86% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#13

Honolulu Community College

Honolulu, Hawaii
20 Yearly Graduations
95% Women
85% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 13th most popular school in the country for cosmetology majors who are seeking their associate degree is Honolulu Community College. Each year, around 3,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 20 associate degrees were handed out to cosmetology majors at Honolulu CC. Of these students, 95% were women and 85% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#13

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, Kansas
20 Yearly Graduations
100% Women
15% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 13th most popular school in the country for cosmetology majors who are seeking their associate degree is Johnson County Community College. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 20 people received their associate degree in cosmetology from JCCC. About 100% of this group were women, and 15% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#13

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Fayetteville, North Carolina
20 Yearly Graduations
100% Women
75% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Fayetteville Technical Community College comes in at #13 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in cosmetology. The cosmetology program at Fayetteville Technical Community College awarded 20 associate degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 75% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 100% were women.

#16

Central Piedmont Community College

Charlotte, North Carolina
17 Yearly Graduations
94% Women
71% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Central Piedmont Community College comes in at #16 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in cosmetology. Each year, around 16,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 17 associate degrees were handed out to cosmetology majors at Central Piedmont Community College. About 94% of this group were women, and 71% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#17

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, Illinois
16 Yearly Graduations
100% Women
38% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

College of DuPage comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in cosmetology. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 16 people received their associate degree in cosmetology from COD. Around 38% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 100% were women.

#18

San Jacinto Community College

Pasadena, Texas
15 Yearly Graduations
100% Women
93% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

San Jacinto Community College comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in cosmetology. The cosmetology program at San Jacinto Community College awarded 15 associate degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 93% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 100% were women.

#18

Utah State University

Logan, Utah
15 Yearly Graduations
100% Women
13% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 18th most popular school in the country for cosmetology majors who are seeking their associate degree is Utah State University. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,042 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,534 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 15 associate degrees were handed out to cosmetology majors at USU. Around 13% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 100% were women.

#18

Spokane Community College

Spokane, Washington
15 Yearly Graduations
100% Women
13% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Spokane Community College is the 18th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in cosmetology. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 15 people received their associate degree in cosmetology from Spokane Community College. Around 13% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 100% were women.

Cosmetology Concentrations

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
General Cosmetology 884
Salon Management 120
Esthetician, Skin Care Specialist 66
Make-Up Artist 60
Cosmetology, Hair & Nail Instructor 30

Below are some popular majors that are similar to cosmetology that offer associate degrees.

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
Culinary Arts 6,800
Funeral & Mortuary Science 1,541
Other Personal & Culinary Services 1

References

*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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