Best colleges for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
The Salon Professional Academy - San Jose, San Jose City College and MTI College are the top Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in California by graduate earnings. The Salon Professional Academy - San Jose leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $24,660, College Scorecard. Asian-American International Beauty College, Milan Institute - Clovis and Milan Institute - Bakersfield award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in California: 596, 426 and 383 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 129 California colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services and award 16,210 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program prepares students for a diverse career in the beauty and personal care industry. This program is ideal for individuals interested in hair, skin, and nail care, offering various…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Salon Professional Academy - San Jose San Jose Private for-profit · Certificate | $24,660 | 164 | 95% | $19,590 | $10,376 |
| 2 | San Jose City College San Jose Public · Certificate | $23,253 | 106 | 34% | — | — |
| 3 | MTI College Sacramento Private for-profit · Certificate | $21,371 | 122 | 77% | $22,079 | $10,550 |
| 4 | Institute of Technology Clovis Private for-profit · Certificate | $21,184 | 43 | 73% | $24,518 | $13,341 |
| 5 | Shasta School of Cosmetology Redding Private for-profit · Certificate | $20,144 | 108 | 78% | $25,810 | — |
| 6 | California College of Barbering and Cosmetology Stockton Private for-profit · Certificate | $20,065 | 207 | 79% | $16,966 | $9,344 |
| 7 | Paul Mitchell the School - Modesto Modesto Private for-profit · Certificate | $20,060 | 218 | 80% | $18,062 | $7,381 |
| 8 | Hoss Lee Academy Roseville Private for-profit · Certificate | $19,797 | 149 | 92% | $24,798 | $6,333 |
| 9 | San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc San Francisco Private for-profit · Certificate | $19,002 | 132 | 87% | $18,448 | $10,556 |
| 10 | Sacramento City College Sacramento Public · Certificate | $18,184 | 52 | 33% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asian-American International Beauty College Westminster Private for-profit | 596 | $9,647 |
| 2 | Milan Institute - Clovis Clovis Private for-profit | 426 | $13,386* |
| 3 | Milan Institute - Bakersfield Bakersfield Private for-profit | 383 | $13,386* |
| 4 | Paul Mitchell the School - Costa Mesa Costa Mesa Private for-profit | 362 | $16,464 |
| 5 | Advance Beauty College Garden Grove Private for-profit | 348 | $10,981 |
| 6 | Milan Institute - Visalia Visalia Private for-profit | 346 | $15,635 |
| 7 | Paul Mitchell the School - Temecula Temecula Private for-profit | 345 | $14,507 |
| 8 | Paul Mitchell the School - Sacramento Sacramento Private for-profit | 332 | $15,322 |
| 9 | Bellus Academy - Poway Poway Private for-profit | 319 | $17,745 |
| 10 | Bellus Academy - Chula Vista Chula Vista Private for-profit | 300 | $14,996 |
ShowHide the other 119 California colleges offering Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (SOC 39-5012).
Top skills
What Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees?+
Asian-American International Beauty College (596 graduates a year), Milan Institute - Clovis (426 graduates a year) and Milan Institute - Bakersfield (383 graduates a year) award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 129 California colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services.
What is the best college for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in California?+
By graduate earnings, The Salon Professional Academy - San Jose leads among Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $24,660, College Scorecard. San Jose City College and MTI College follow. By degrees awarded, Asian-American International Beauty College is the largest, with 596 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, The Salon Professional Academy - San Jose tops the list at $24,660. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in California is $48,290 (median $38,660), across about 27,080 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program?+
The Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program prepares students for a diverse career in the beauty and personal care industry. This program is ideal for individuals interested in hair, skin, and nail care, offering various…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, speaking, critical thinking, active learning, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists?+
The national job outlook is about +5.6% growth with around 75,800 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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