Iowa · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

Best institutions to study Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in Iowa

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…

Institutions
19
offering CIP 12.04
States offered
51
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,276
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$22,161
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
14
College Scorecard
Median net price
$14,239
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
73%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
$40,410
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Aveda Institute - Des Moines
West Des Moines Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$27,08118688%$15,384$12,000
2PCI Academy - Ames
Ames Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$24,17812777%$18,518$10,570
3PCI Academy - Iowa City
Iowa City Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$24,1788071%$18,336$10,570
4Capri College - Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$23,5869665%$14,239$11,681
5La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology
Mason City Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$23,3133876%$10,069$8,582
6Capri College - Davenport
Davenport Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$22,1619982%$12,631$11,019
7Iowa School of Beauty - Des Moines
Des Moines Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$20,3556081%$10,335$9,130
8Faust Institute of Cosmetology - Spirit Lake
Spirit Lake Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$20,0981392%$5,488$12,000
9Iowa School of Beauty - Sioux City
Sioux City Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$20,0005672%$10,184$16,811
10Capri College - Dubuque
Dubuque Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$19,65111974%$14,156$11,000

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (SOC 39-5012).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+5.6%
Faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~75,800
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$35,250
typically Postsecondary nondegree award

Top skills

Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive LearningReading ComprehensionMonitoring

What Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn in Iowa

Jobs in Iowa
2,930
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$40,410
median $35,700
Best-paying metro
$42,960
Iowa City, IA

Related careers

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
$40,410 avg · 2,930 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
$42,390 avg · 770 jobs
Skincare Specialists
$59,230 avg · 710 jobs
Personal Service Managers, All Other
$72,280 avg · 230 jobs
Manicurists and Pedicurists
$42,300 avg · 190 jobs
Barbers
$54,470 avg · 130 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in Iowa.

Which Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Aveda Institute - Des Moines tops the list at $27,081. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn in Iowa?+

The average annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Iowa is $40,410 (median $35,700), across about 2,930 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).

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in other statesNorth DakotaWyomingMinnesotaVermontNew HampshireNebraskaSouth DakotaWashington

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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