Missouri · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

Best colleges for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in Missouri

Ranked by graduate earnings

Summit Salon Academy Kansas City, House of Heavilin Beauty College - Blue Springs and The Salon Professional Academy - St Charles are the top Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in Missouri by graduate earnings. Summit Salon Academy Kansas City leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $27,878, College Scorecard. Paul Mitchell the School - Springfield, Paul Mitchell the School - Missouri Columbia and Academy of Hair Design - Springfield award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in Missouri: 271, 195 and 189 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 26 Missouri colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services and award 1,790 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…

Institutions
26
offering CIP 12.04
States offered
51
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,790
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$22,267
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
17
College Scorecard
Median net price
$15,336
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
78%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
$40,240
BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Summit Salon Academy Kansas City
Independence Private for-profit · Certificate
$27,8788161%$19,431$11,981
2House of Heavilin Beauty College - Blue Springs
Blue Springs Private for-profit · Certificate
$23,30910778%$22,229$8,049
3The Salon Professional Academy - St Charles
St. Charles Private for-profit · Certificate
$23,20411692%$13,643$9,833
4Grabber School of Hair Design
St. Louis Private for-profit · Certificate
$22,62615873%$13,825$12,465
5Paul Mitchell the School - Missouri Columbia
Columbia Private for-profit · Certificate
$22,26719569%$17,586$9,833
6Paul Mitchell the School - St Louis
St. Louis Private for-profit · Certificate
$22,1479159%$21,649$9,833
7Academy of Hair Design - Springfield
Springfield Private for-profit · Certificate
$21,57418964%$17,700$10,667
8Paul Mitchell the School - Springfield
Springfield Private for-profit · Certificate
$20,36827180%$16,487$9,833
9Skin Institute
Saint Louis Private for-profit · Certificate
$19,9639293%$15,336$7,947
10Missouri College of Cosmetology and Esthetics
Jefferson City Private for-profit · Certificate
$19,8187379%$18,879$9,793

Colleges awarding the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees in Missouri

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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Paul Mitchell the School - Springfield
Springfield Private for-profit
271$20,368
2Paul Mitchell the School - Missouri Columbia
Columbia Private for-profit
195$22,267
3Academy of Hair Design - Springfield
Springfield Private for-profit
189$21,574
4Grabber School of Hair Design
St. Louis Private for-profit
158$22,626
5The Salon Professional Academy - St Charles
St. Charles Private for-profit
116$23,204
6House of Heavilin Beauty College - Blue Springs
Blue Springs Private for-profit
107$23,309
7Skin Institute
Saint Louis Private for-profit
92$19,963
8Paul Mitchell the School - St Louis
St. Louis Private for-profit
91$22,147
9Summit Salon Academy Kansas City
Independence Private for-profit
81$27,878
10Missouri College of Cosmetology and Esthetics
Jefferson City Private for-profit
73$19,818
Show the other 16 Missouri colleges offering Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
SPBK Enterprises IncWebb CityPrivate for-profit54
Renaissance Beauty AcademyCape GirardeauPrivate for-profit53
Trend Setters SchoolCape GirardeauPrivate for-profit47
Central College of CosmetologySaint RobertPrivate for-profit36
Academy of Salon ProfessionalsSedaliaPrivate for-profit36
Aesthetics InstituteSt. LouisPrivate for-profit28
House of Heavilin Beauty College - Kansas CityKansas CityPrivate for-profit23
Neosho Beauty and Barber CollegeNeoshoPrivate for-profit22
New Dimensions SchoolJoplinPrivate for-profit22
Midwest Technical Institute - MissouriSpringfieldPrivate for-profit20
Academy of Beauty ProfessionalsRaymorePrivate for-profit18
Ea La Mar's Cosmetology & Barber CollegeKansas CityPrivate for-profit17
Warrensburg Area Career CenterWarrensburgPublic16
Evolve Beauty AcademyWashingtonPrivate for-profit14
Salem College of HairstylingRollaPrivate for-profit9
Waynesville Career CenterWaynesvillePublic2

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 Missouri

Jobs in Missouri
5,430
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$40,240
median $30,750
Best-paying metro
$42,640
St. Louis, MO-IL

Related careers

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
$40,240 avg · 5,430 jobs
Manicurists and Pedicurists
$41,710 avg · 1,630 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
$47,250 avg · 1,600 jobs
Skincare Specialists
$52,800 avg · 1,390 jobs
Barbers
$55,900 avg · 580 jobs
Personal Service Managers, All Other
—

Common questions

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

Which Missouri colleges award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees?+

Paul Mitchell the School - Springfield (271 graduates a year), Paul Mitchell the School - Missouri Columbia (195 graduates a year) and Academy of Hair Design - Springfield (189 graduates a year) award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 26 Missouri colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services.

What is the best college for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in Missouri?+

By graduate earnings, Summit Salon Academy Kansas City leads among Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in Missouri, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $27,878, College Scorecard. House of Heavilin Beauty College - Blue Springs and The Salon Professional Academy - St Charles follow. By degrees awarded, Paul Mitchell the School - Springfield is the largest, with 271 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Summit Salon Academy Kansas City tops the list at $27,878. 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 Missouri?+

The average annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Missouri is $40,240 (median $30,750), across about 5,430 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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