Best colleges for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in Minnesota
Ranked by graduate earnings
Saint Paul College, Model College of Hair Design and Nova Academy of Cosmetology are the top Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in Minnesota by graduate earnings. Saint Paul College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,987, College Scorecard. Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis, Nova Academy of Cosmetology and Saint Paul College award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in Minnesota: 349, 272 and 187 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 Minnesota colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services and award 1,626 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 | Saint Paul College Saint Paul Public · Certificate | $32,987 | 187 | 40% | — | $14,250 |
| 2 | Model College of Hair Design Saint Cloud Private for-profit · Certificate | $25,814 | 104 | 61% | $17,740 | $8,778 |
| 3 | Nova Academy of Cosmetology Rochester Private for-profit · Certificate | $25,754 | 272 | 77% | $29,947 | $9,999 |
| 4 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls Public · Certificate | $24,367 | 56 | 47% | — | $10,169 |
| 5 | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis Minneapolis Private for-profit · Certificate | $24,230 | 349 | 68% | $20,394 | $9,941 |
| 6 | PCI Academy - Plymouth Plymouth Private for-profit · Certificate | $24,178 | 133 | 72% | $16,251 | $10,570 |
| 7 | Hastings Beauty School Hastings Private for-profit · Certificate | $23,396 | 47 | 69% | $15,889 | — |
| 8 | Ridgewater College Willmar Public · Certificate | $21,574 | 39 | 50% | — | $9,750 |
| 9 | Empire Beauty School - Bloomington Bloomington Private for-profit · Certificate | $18,639 | 79 | 78% | $18,322 | $13,849 |
| 10 | Empire Beauty School - Spring Lake Park Spring Lake Park Private for-profit · Certificate | $18,408 | 35 | 52% | $19,849 | $15,765 |
Colleges awarding the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees in Minnesota
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 | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis Minneapolis Private for-profit | 349 | $24,230 |
| 2 | Nova Academy of Cosmetology Rochester Private for-profit | 272 | $25,754 |
| 3 | Saint Paul College Saint Paul Public | 187 | $32,987 |
| 4 | PCI Academy - Plymouth Plymouth Private for-profit | 133 | $24,178 |
| 5 | Model College of Hair Design Saint Cloud Private for-profit | 104 | $25,814 |
| 6 | Century College White Bear Lake Public | 86 | Not reported |
| 7 | Empire Beauty School - Bloomington Bloomington Private for-profit | 79 | $18,639 |
| 8 | The Salon Professional Academy Maplewood Maplewood Private for-profit | 61 | Not reported |
| 9 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls Public | 56 | $24,367 |
| 10 | Minnesota State College Southeast Winona Public | 49 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 8 Minnesota colleges offering Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hastings Beauty School | Hastings | Private for-profit | 47 |
| Riverland Community College | Austin | Public | 39 |
| Ridgewater College | Willmar | Public | 39 |
| Empire Beauty School - Spring Lake Park | Spring Lake Park | Private for-profit | 35 |
| Minnesota School of Barbering | MINNEAPOLIS | Private for-profit | 26 |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Granite Falls | Public | 23 |
| Townsend Barber Institute | Roseville | Private for-profit | 22 |
| Avalon School of Cosmetology | Worthington | Private for-profit | 19 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (SOC 39-5012).
Top skills
What Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn in Minnesota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in Minnesota.
Which Minnesota colleges award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees?+
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis (349 graduates a year), Nova Academy of Cosmetology (272 graduates a year) and Saint Paul College (187 graduates a year) award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in Minnesota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 Minnesota colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services.
What is the best college for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in Minnesota?+
By graduate earnings, Saint Paul College leads among Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in Minnesota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,987, College Scorecard. Model College of Hair Design and Nova Academy of Cosmetology follow. By degrees awarded, Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis is the largest, with 349 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program in Minnesota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Saint Paul College tops the list at $32,987. 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 Minnesota?+
The average annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Minnesota is $48,240 (median $39,170), across about 5,320 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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