Best colleges for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in New Hampshire
Ranked by graduate earnings
Empire Beauty School - Hooksett, Paul Mitchell the School - Portsmouth and Empire Beauty School - Somersworth are the top Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in New Hampshire by graduate earnings. Empire Beauty School - Hooksett leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $24,089, College Scorecard. Empire Beauty School - Hooksett, Empire Beauty School - Somersworth and Empire Beauty School - Laconia award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in New Hampshire: 235, 105 and 48 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 New Hampshire colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services and award 469 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 4 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 | Empire Beauty School - Hooksett Hooksett Private for-profit · Certificate | $24,089 | 235 | 83% | $11,906 | $9,833 |
| 2 | Paul Mitchell the School - Portsmouth Portsmouth Private for-profit · Certificate | $23,332 | 48 | 95% | $26,009 | $9,833 |
| 3 | Empire Beauty School - Somersworth Somersworth Private for-profit · Certificate | $20,596 | 105 | 67% | $8,797 | $9,833 |
| 4 | Keene Beauty Academy Keene Private for-profit · Certificate | $17,164 | 33 | 62% | $15,720 | $11,966 |
Colleges awarding the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees in New Hampshire
Top 5 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 | Empire Beauty School - Hooksett Hooksett Private for-profit | 235 | $24,089* |
| 2 | Empire Beauty School - Somersworth Somersworth Private for-profit | 105 | $20,596 |
| 3 | Empire Beauty School - Laconia Laconia Private for-profit | 48 | $24,089* |
| 4 | Paul Mitchell the School - Portsmouth Portsmouth Private for-profit | 48 | $23,332 |
| 5 | Keene Beauty Academy Keene Private for-profit | 33 | $17,164 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (SOC 39-5012).
Top skills
What Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn in New Hampshire
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in New Hampshire.
Which New Hampshire colleges award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees?+
Empire Beauty School - Hooksett (235 graduates a year), Empire Beauty School - Somersworth (105 graduates a year) and Empire Beauty School - Laconia (48 graduates a year) award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in New Hampshire, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 New Hampshire colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services.
What is the best college for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in New Hampshire?+
By graduate earnings, Empire Beauty School - Hooksett leads among Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in New Hampshire, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $24,089, College Scorecard. Paul Mitchell the School - Portsmouth and Empire Beauty School - Somersworth follow. By degrees awarded, Empire Beauty School - Hooksett is the largest, with 235 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program in New Hampshire has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Empire Beauty School - Hooksett tops the list at $24,089. 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 New Hampshire?+
The average annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in New Hampshire is $39,180 (median $34,650), across about 1,950 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.
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