Best colleges for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in Kentucky
Ranked by graduate earnings
PJ's College of Cosmetology - Bowling Green, Paul Mitchell the School - Louisville and Paul Mitchell the School - Lexington are the top Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in Kentucky by graduate earnings. PJ's College of Cosmetology - Bowling Green leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $21,439, College Scorecard. Paul Mitchell the School - Louisville, PJ's College of Cosmetology - Bowling Green and Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in Kentucky: 169, 165 and 118 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 23 Kentucky colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services and award 1,338 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 | PJ's College of Cosmetology - Bowling Green Bowling Green Private for-profit · Certificate | $21,439 | 165 | 64% | $21,241 | $10,667 |
| 2 | Paul Mitchell the School - Louisville Louisville Private for-profit · Certificate | $20,033 | 169 | 73% | $28,293 | $12,583 |
| 3 | Paul Mitchell the School - Lexington Lexington Private for-profit · Certificate | $18,950 | 67 | 79% | $23,450 | $16,500 |
| 4 | Empire Beauty School - Florence Florence Private for-profit · Certificate | $18,408 | 75 | 75% | $17,082 | $15,765 |
| 5 | Summit Salon Academy - Lexington Lexington Private for-profit · Certificate | $16,679 | 103 | 55% | $14,224 | $10,667 |
| 6 | Empire Beauty School - Dixie Louisville Private for-profit · Certificate | $16,251 | 51 | 52% | $16,943 | $14,492 |
| 7 | Empire Beauty School - Chenoweth Louisville Private for-profit · Certificate | $15,679 | 45 | 57% | $15,472 | $13,583 |
| 8 | Empire Beauty School - Elizabethtown Elizabethtown Private for-profit · Certificate | $15,322 | 100 | 51% | $17,826 | $10,667 |
| 9 | American College of Barbering Louisville Private for-profit · Certificate | $15,279 | 45 | 62% | $22,663 | $14,115 |
| 10 | West Kentucky Community and Technical College Paducah Public · Certificate | $14,110 | 26 | 50% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees in Kentucky
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 | Paul Mitchell the School - Louisville Louisville Private for-profit | 169 | $20,033 |
| 2 | PJ's College of Cosmetology - Bowling Green Bowling Green Private for-profit | 165 | $21,439 |
| 3 | Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education Lexington Private not-for-profit | 118 | $13,117 |
| 4 | Summit Salon Academy - Lexington Lexington Private for-profit | 103 | $16,679 |
| 5 | Empire Beauty School - Elizabethtown Elizabethtown Private for-profit | 100 | $15,322 |
| 6 | Campbellsville University Campbellsville Private not-for-profit | 81 | $12,486 |
| 7 | Empire Beauty School - Florence Florence Private for-profit | 75 | $18,408 |
| 8 | Paul Mitchell the School - Lexington Lexington Private for-profit | 67 | $18,950 |
| 9 | Somerset Community College Somerset Public | 67 | $11,565 |
| 10 | Empire Beauty School - Dixie Louisville Private for-profit | 51 | $16,251 |
ShowHide the other 13 Kentucky colleges offering Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empire Beauty School - Chenoweth | Louisville | Private for-profit | 45 |
| American College of Barbering | Louisville | Private for-profit | 45 |
| Edge Academy of Beauty | Manchester | Private for-profit | 37 |
| Lindsey Institute of Cosmetology | Bowling Green | Private for-profit | 35 |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College | Paducah | Public | 26 |
| Ashland Community and Technical College | Ashland | Public | 24 |
| Appalachian Beauty School | Belfry | Private for-profit | 23 |
| PJ's College of Cosmetology - Glasgow | Glasgow | Private for-profit | 22 |
| Hazard Community and Technical College | Hazard | Public | 20 |
| Berea Beauty Academy | Berea | Private for-profit | 19 |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Lexington | Public | 18 |
| South Eastern Beauty Academy | Paintsville | Private for-profit | 16 |
| Regina Webb Academy | Bowling Green | Private for-profit | 12 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (SOC 39-5012).
Top skills
What Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn in Kentucky
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in Kentucky.
Which Kentucky colleges award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees?+
Paul Mitchell the School - Louisville (169 graduates a year), PJ's College of Cosmetology - Bowling Green (165 graduates a year) and Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education (118 graduates a year) award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in Kentucky, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 23 Kentucky colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services.
What is the best college for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in Kentucky?+
By graduate earnings, PJ's College of Cosmetology - Bowling Green leads among Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in Kentucky, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $21,439, College Scorecard. Paul Mitchell the School - Louisville and Paul Mitchell the School - Lexington follow. By degrees awarded, Paul Mitchell the School - Louisville is the largest, with 169 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program in Kentucky has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, PJ's College of Cosmetology - Bowling Green tops the list at $21,439. 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 Kentucky?+
The average annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Kentucky is $41,390 (median $29,840), across about 2,350 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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