Find Trade Colleges
2026 Best Cosmetology Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Cosmetology associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 1613 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Trade College evaluated 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
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Our analysis found Clover Park Technical College to be the best Cosmetology school in the United States. This public school is set in Lakewood, WA. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,634. The median Cosmetology program debt is $11,000. More on Clover Park Technical College
You'll be in good company at Douglas Education Center, which ranked #2 this year. Set in Monessen, PA, Douglas Education Center is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,450. Douglas Education Center Cosmetology students take on a median of $11,823 in debt. Read more about Douglas Education Center
You'll be in good company at Johnson County Community College, which ranked #3 this year. Johnson County Community College is a public school based in Overland Park, KS. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,688. Students borrow a median of $5,424 to complete their Cosmetology program here. More on Johnson County Community College
You'll be in good company at Cerritos College, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Norwalk, CA, Cerritos College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete their Cosmetology program here. Read the full report on Cerritos College
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College came in at #5 on this year's Cosmetology ranking in the United States. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a public school based in Saint Paul, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,326. The median Cosmetology program debt is $14,250. More on Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College
Waukesha County Technical College placed #6 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. Set in Pewaukee, WI, Waukesha County Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,803, with out-of-state students paying around $7,046. Waukesha County Technical College Cosmetology students take on a median of $9,750 in debt. Read more about Waukesha County Technical College
Ridgewater College placed #7 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. Based in Willmar, MN, Ridgewater College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,121 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $9,750 to complete their Cosmetology program here. Read more about Ridgewater College
Remington College North Houston Campus placed #10 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. Based in Houston, TX, Remington College North Houston Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,373. Students borrow a median of $14,750 to complete their Cosmetology program here. Get the full Remington College North Houston Campus report
Central Piedmont Community College landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Charlotte, NC. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Central Piedmont Community College Cosmetology students take on a median of $11,861 in debt. Read the full report on Central Piedmont Community College
Central New Mexico Community College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Albuquerque, NM, Central New Mexico Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. The median Cosmetology program debt is $10,112. Read more about Central New Mexico Community College
Central Carolina Community College landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Set in Sanford, NC, Central Carolina Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,711, compared with $8,855 for out-of-state students. Typical Cosmetology student debt is $12,167. More on Central Carolina Community College
Wake Technical Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Cosmetology schools. Wake Technical Community College is a public school based in Raleigh, NC. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,254, while out-of-state students pay about $6,862. Students borrow a median of $7,693 to complete their Cosmetology program here. See the full Wake Technical Community College profile
Houston Community College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Located in Houston, TX, Houston Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Houston Community College Cosmetology students take on a median of $23,061 in debt. More on Houston Community College
Riverside City College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Cosmetology schools. Located in Riverside, CA, Riverside City College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Riverside City College Cosmetology students take on a median of $7,736 in debt. Read the full report on Riverside City College
Citrus College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Based in Glendora, CA, Citrus College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,204, with out-of-state students paying around $10,636. More on Citrus College
Lone Star College System ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Cosmetology schools. Located in The Woodlands, TX, Lone Star College System is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,512. Lone Star College System Cosmetology students take on a median of $5,500 in debt. Read more about Lone Star College System
Golden West College placed #20 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. Located in Huntington Beach, CA, Golden West College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,380, compared with $11,628 for out-of-state students. Typical Cosmetology student debt is $21,500. Read more about Golden West College
Weatherford College landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Based in Weatherford, TX, Weatherford College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,250, compared with $10,860 for out-of-state students. The median Cosmetology program debt is $14,099. More on Weatherford College
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Set 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. Graduates carry a median of $18,883 in student loans. See the full Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College profile
Schoolcraft College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Cosmetology schools. Schoolcraft College is a public school based in Livonia, MI. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,799, compared with $6,501 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,677 to complete their Cosmetology program here. Read more about Schoolcraft College
Lee College landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Lee College is a public school based in Baytown, TX. Students from in state pay about $2,520 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. Typical Cosmetology student debt is $10,941. See the full Lee College profile
Los Angeles Trade Technical College landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Based in Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,238, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. The median Cosmetology program debt is $14,833. More on Los Angeles Trade Technical College
San Jacinto Community College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Cosmetology schools. This public school is set in Pasadena, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,791 to complete their Cosmetology program here. See the full San Jacinto Community College profile
San Diego City College did well this year, earning the #28 position. Set in San Diego, CA, San Diego City College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. San Diego City College Cosmetology students take on a median of $9,514 in debt. More on San Diego City College
Fayetteville Technical Community College placed #29 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. Located in Fayetteville, NC, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. See the full Fayetteville Technical Community College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Cosmetology Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Vincennes University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Cosmetology schools. Based in Vincennes, IN, Vincennes University is a public institution. Roughly 3% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $7,126, compared with $16,858 for out-of-state students. Typical Cosmetology student debt is $14,506. Read more about Vincennes University
Robeson Community College placed #31 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. Robeson Community College is a public school based in Lumberton, NC. In-state tuition and fees average $2,604, while out-of-state students pay about $8,748. Robeson Community College Cosmetology students take on a median of $9,949 in debt. Read more about Robeson Community College
Navarro College did well this year, earning the #32 position. Set in Corsicana, TX, Navarro College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,008 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,578 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Read the full report on Navarro College
Southwestern Community College Sylva came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Southwestern Community College Sylva is a public school based in Sylva, NC. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,112, with out-of-state students paying around $13,184. Southwestern Community College Sylva Cosmetology students take on a median of $13,708 in debt. Read the full report on Southwestern Community College Sylva
Trinidad State Junior College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Cosmetology schools. Based in Trinidad, CO, Trinidad State Junior College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,608, compared with $7,318 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,502 to complete their Cosmetology program here. See the full Trinidad State Junior College profile
Advance Beauty Techs Academy placed #31 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. Read more about Advance Beauty Techs Academy
Bennett Career Institute did well this year, earning the #32 position. Read more about Bennett Career Institute
Empire Beauty School Lebanon placed #33 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. See the full Empire Beauty School Lebanon profile
Hogan Institute Of Cosmetology And Esthetics placed #34 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. See the full Hogan Institute Of Cosmetology And Esthetics profile
Texas College Of Cosmetology San Angelo landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Texas College Of Cosmetology San Angelo
The Professional Hair Design Academy placed #36 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. More on The Professional Hair Design Academy
The Salon Professional Academy St Charles landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. More on The Salon Professional Academy St Charles
Top Of The Line Barber College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Cosmetology schools. More on Top Of The Line Barber College
Victoria Beauty College Inc did well this year, earning the #39 position. Read more about Victoria Beauty College Inc
W Academy Of Salon And Spa placed #40 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. See the full W Academy Of Salon And Spa profile
Aveda Institute Tucson came in at #41 in this year's ranking. See the full Aveda Institute Tucson profile
Empire Beauty School Reading placed #42 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. See the full Empire Beauty School Reading profile
Empire Beauty School Union did well this year, earning the #43 position. More on Empire Beauty School Union
Liceo De Arte Dise O Y Comercio landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Liceo De Arte Dise O Y Comercio
Montgomery Beauty School did well this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Montgomery Beauty School
Skyline College
Skyline College placed #46 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. More on Skyline College
Southeastern Institute Columbia did well this year, earning the #47 position. More on Southeastern Institute Columbia
Southern Arkansas University Tech came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Read more about Southern Arkansas University Tech
Walla Walla Community College landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. More on Walla Walla Community College
Douglas J Aveda Institute placed #50 among Cosmetology schools in the United States. Get the full Douglas J Aveda Institute report
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 Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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).
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.