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2026 Most Popular Cosmetology Schools
There are 1,613 colleges that offer a degree in Cosmetology. Learn more about the most popular schools 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. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendance, there are many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this 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.
2026 Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in the United States
The colleges and universities below are the most popular for Cosmetology majors.
Top 25 Most Popular Cosmetology Schools
The most popular school in the United States for Cosmetology students is NUC University. NUC University is a private for-profit school located in Bayamon, PR. During the most recent year for which we have data, 2,869 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $18,183. Read full report on Cosmetology at NUC University
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington landed the #2 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Cosmetology Schools ranking. 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 of this program go on to 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. Located in Everett, WA, this is a private for-profit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 994 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $23,416. Full Cosmetology at Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett Report
Douglas J Aveda Institute comes in at #4 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Douglas J Aveda Institute is a private for-profit school located in East Lansing, MI. This school awarded 832 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $18,358. Read More…
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. Christine Valmy International School for Esthetics, Skin Care & Makeup is a private for-profit school located in New York, NY. During the most recent year for which we have data, 786 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $19,495. Read More…
Aveda Institute-South Florida comes in at #6 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Aveda Institute-South Florida is a private for-profit school located in Davie, FL. During the most recent year for which we have data, 746 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. Graduates of this program go on to 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. Located in Miami, FL, this is a private for-profit institution. 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 landed the #8 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Cosmetology Schools ranking. Aveda Institute-Tallahassee is a private for-profit school located in Clearwater, FL. This school awarded 557 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $19,044. Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute-Tallahassee Report
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 who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $9,647. Read full report on Cosmetology at Asian-American International Beauty College
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. During the most recent year for which we have data, 544 people earned their degree in Cosmetology from this school. 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. Located in Chandler, AZ, this is a private for-profit institution. 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 full report on Cosmetology at Studio Academy of Beauty
Advance Beauty College comes in at #12 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Located in Garden Grove, CA, this is a private for-profit institution. 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 full report on Cosmetology at Advance Beauty College
Milan Institute-Clovis landed the #13 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Cosmetology Schools ranking. Milan Institute-Clovis is a private for-profit school located in Clovis, CA. This school awarded 434 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $19,660. Read More…
Penrose Academy comes in at #14 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Penrose Academy is a private for-profit school located in Scottsdale, AZ. This school awarded 419 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $23,715. Read full report on Cosmetology at Penrose Academy
IBMC College landed the #15 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Cosmetology Schools ranking. Located in Fort Collins, CO, this is a private for-profit institution. 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 full report on Cosmetology at IBMC College
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 of this program go on to a median salary of $7,090. Read More…
Elaine Sterling Institute comes in at #17 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Located in Atlanta, GA, this is a private for-profit institution. This school awarded 401 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to 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. 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 $19,975. Full Cosmetology at Health And Style Institute Report
Paul Mitchell the School-Sacramento comes in at #19 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Paul Mitchell the School-Sacramento is a private for-profit school located in Sacramento, CA. 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. Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School-Sacramento Report
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. This school awarded 387 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $21,606. Read full report on Cosmetology at Southeastern Esthetics Institute
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 full report on Cosmetology at Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Stafford
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 who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $37,483. Full Cosmetology at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Report
G Skin & Beauty Institute comes in at #23 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Located in Schaumburg, IL, this is a private for-profit institution. This school awarded 380 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $21,268. Full Cosmetology at G Skin & Beauty Institute Report
Georgia Career Institute comes in at #24 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Georgia Career Institute is a private for-profit school located in Conyers, GA. This school awarded 368 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $16,080. Full Cosmetology at Georgia Career Institute Report
Olympian Academy of Cosmetology comes in at #25 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Cosmetology majors. Located in LAS CRUCES, NM, this is a private for-profit institution. This school awarded 362 degrees in Cosmetology in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to 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
View the Most Popular Cosmetology Schools ranking for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| New England |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Great Lakes |
| Plains States |
| Southeast |
| Southwest |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Far Western US |
More Cosmetology Rankings
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this Most Popular Cosmetology Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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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