Best colleges for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in New Mexico
Ranked by graduate earnings
Aveda Institute - New Mexico, Paul Mitchell the School - Albuquerque and Vogue College of Cosmetology - Santa Fe are the top Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in New Mexico by graduate earnings. Aveda Institute - New Mexico leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $18,842, College Scorecard. Avenue Academy, A Cosmetology Institute, Paul Mitchell the School - Albuquerque and Clovis Community College award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in New Mexico: 115, 111 and 109 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 14 New Mexico colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services and award 808 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 6 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 | Aveda Institute - New Mexico Albuquerque Private for-profit · Certificate | $18,842 | 96 | 88% | $18,463 | $9,862 |
| 2 | Paul Mitchell the School - Albuquerque Albuquerque Private for-profit · Certificate | $16,872 | 111 | 78% | $14,118 | $13,000 |
| 3 | Vogue College of Cosmetology - Santa Fe Santa Fe Private for-profit · Certificate | $16,854 | 36 | 75% | $23,313 | $9,500 |
| 4 | Avenue Academy, A Cosmetology Institute Albuquerque Private for-profit · Certificate | $16,841 | 115 | 94% | $16,658 | $6,416 |
| 5 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque Public · Associate degree | $16,496 | 85 | 31% | — | — |
| 6 | Glitz School of Cosmetology Las Cruces Private for-profit · Certificate | $16,178 | 45 | 69% | $8,927 | $12,766 |
Colleges awarding the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees in New Mexico
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 | Avenue Academy, A Cosmetology Institute Albuquerque Private for-profit | 115 | $16,841 |
| 2 | Paul Mitchell the School - Albuquerque Albuquerque Private for-profit | 111 | $16,872 |
| 3 | Clovis Community College Clovis Public | 109 | Not reported |
| 4 | Aveda Institute - New Mexico Albuquerque Private for-profit | 96 | $18,842 |
| 5 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque Public | 85 | $16,496 |
| 6 | New Mexico Junior College Hobbs Public | 48 | Not reported |
| 7 | Glitz School of Cosmetology Las Cruces Private for-profit | 45 | $16,178 |
| 8 | Glitz School of Cosmetology - Santa Fe Campus Santa Fe Private for-profit | 45 | Not reported |
| 9 | San Juan College Farmington Public | 40 | Not reported |
| 10 | A Better U Beauty Barber Academy Albuquerque Private for-profit | 38 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 4 New Mexico colleges offering Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vogue College of Cosmetology - Santa Fe | Santa Fe | Private for-profit | 36 |
| Luna Community College | Las Vegas | Public | 23 |
| University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus | Gallup | Public | 11 |
| Northern New Mexico College | Espanola | Public | 6 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (SOC 39-5012).
Top skills
What Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn in New Mexico
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in New Mexico.
Which New Mexico colleges award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees?+
Avenue Academy, A Cosmetology Institute (115 graduates a year), Paul Mitchell the School - Albuquerque (111 graduates a year) and Clovis Community College (109 graduates a year) award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in New Mexico, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 14 New Mexico colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services.
What is the best college for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in New Mexico?+
By graduate earnings, Aveda Institute - New Mexico leads among Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in New Mexico, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $18,842, College Scorecard. Paul Mitchell the School - Albuquerque and Vogue College of Cosmetology - Santa Fe follow. By degrees awarded, Avenue Academy, A Cosmetology Institute is the largest, with 115 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program in New Mexico has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Aveda Institute - New Mexico tops the list at $18,842. 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 Mexico?+
The average annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in New Mexico is $39,550 (median $37,750), across about 1,230 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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