Kentucky · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

Best Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services institutions in Kentucky, ranked by earnings

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
25
offering CIP 12.04
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,345
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$16,679
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
19
College Scorecard
Median net price
$17,826
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
61%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
$48,910
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

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

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1PJ's College of Cosmetology - Bowling Green
Bowling Green Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$21,43920264%$21,241$10,667
2Paul Mitchell the School - Louisville
Louisville Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$20,03313373%$28,293$12,583
3Ideal Beauty Academy
Louisville Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$19,5131795%$22,571$8,401
4Paul Mitchell the School - Lexington
Lexington Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$18,9507179%$23,450$16,500
5Empire Beauty School - Florence
Florence Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$18,4086775%$17,082$15,765
6Summit Salon Academy - Lexington
Lexington Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$16,67913355%$14,224$10,667
7Empire Beauty School - Dixie
Louisville Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$16,2513752%$16,943$14,492
8Regina Webb Academy
Bowling Green Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$15,7577100%$17,412
9Empire Beauty School - Chenoweth
Louisville Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$15,6794457%$15,472$13,583
10Empire Beauty School - Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$15,3227751%$17,826$10,667

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 Kentucky

Jobs in Kentucky
2,030
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$48,910
median $32,170
Best-paying metro
$51,530
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN

Related careers

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
$48,910 avg · 2,030 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
$45,560 avg · 790 jobs
Skincare Specialists
$38,120 avg · 720 jobs
Manicurists and Pedicurists
$53,630 avg · 150 jobs
Barbers
$48,730
Personal Service Managers, All Other
$75,280

Common questions

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

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), PJ's College of Cosmetology - Bowling Green tops the list at $21,439. Compare it against completions, 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 $48,910 (median $32,170), across about 2,030 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

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

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card