New York · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

Best colleges for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in New York

Ranked by graduate earnings

Aesthetic Science Institute, Schuyler Steuben Chemung Tioga Allegany BOCES and Continental School of Beauty Culture-West Seneca are the top Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in New York by graduate earnings. Aesthetic Science Institute leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $22,638, College Scorecard. Christine Valmy International School for Esthetics, Skin Care & Makeup, Capri Cosmetology Learning Centers and Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in New York: 691, 332 and 302 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 43 New York colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services and award 5,234 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
43
offering CIP 12.04
States offered
51
with a program page
Degrees / yr
5,234
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$19,470
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
34
College Scorecard
Median net price
$18,107
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
80%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
$50,040
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
1Aesthetic Science Institute
Latham Private for-profit · Certificate
$22,63818894%$11,353$6,333
2Schuyler Steuben Chemung Tioga Allegany BOCES
Elmira Public · Certificate
$22,2214775%—$9,500
3Continental School of Beauty Culture-West Seneca
West Seneca Private for-profit · Certificate
$22,0928978%$17,134$9,847
4Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics
New York Private for-profit · Certificate
$21,51630258%$14,914$6,333
5New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa
white plains Private for-profit · Certificate
$20,53112698%$16,616$6,625
6Barber & Beauty Institute of New York
Hempstead Private for-profit · Certificate
$19,4703877%$15,947$4,848
7Christine Valmy International School for Esthetics, Skin Care & Makeup
New York Private for-profit · Certificate
$19,39669194%$14,382$6,197
8ARROJO Academy
New York Private for-profit · Certificate
$18,52810498%$22,811$10,666
9New York Institute of Beauty
Islandia Private for-profit · Certificate
$18,36517587%$34,723$6,062
10Continental School of Beauty Culture-Rochester
Rochester Private for-profit · Certificate
$18,20823670%$16,795$9,617

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

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. * Campuses that share a federal aid ID report one College Scorecard figure.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Christine Valmy International School for Esthetics, Skin Care & Makeup
New York Private for-profit
691$19,396
2Capri Cosmetology Learning Centers
Nanuet Private for-profit
332$17,982
3Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics
New York Private for-profit
302$21,516
4Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute
Bethpage Private for-profit
281$15,644
5Continental School of Beauty Culture-Rochester
Rochester Private for-profit
236$18,208*
6Empire Beauty School - Manhattan
New York Private for-profit
220$15,322
7Continental School of Beauty Culture-Mattydale
Mattydale Private for-profit
216$18,208*
8Shear Ego International School of Hair Design
Rochester Private for-profit
192$17,747
9Long Island Beauty School - Hauppauge
Hauppauge Private for-profit
190$14,931
10Aesthetic Science Institute
Latham Private for-profit
188$22,638
Show the other 33 New York colleges offering Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute - New YorkNew YorkPrivate for-profit185
New York Institute of BeautyIslandiaPrivate for-profit175
Erie 1 BOCESWest SenecaPublic151
The Salon Professional Academy - TonawandaTonawandaPrivate for-profit137
Brittany Beauty AcademyLevittownPrivate for-profit128
New York School of Esthetics & Day Spawhite plainsPrivate for-profit126
ARROJO AcademyNew YorkPrivate for-profit104
Empire Beauty School - QueensAstoriaPrivate for-profit102
Brittany Beauty AcademyBronxPrivate for-profit96
Paul Mitchell the School - SchenectadySchenectadyPrivate for-profit96
Continental School of Beauty Culture-West SenecaWest SenecaPrivate for-profit89
American Beauty SchoolBronxPrivate for-profit88
Empire Beauty School - BrooklynBrooklynPrivate for-profit85
Paul Mitchell the School - NYCStaten IslandPrivate for-profit79
Sharp Edgez Barber InstituteRochesterPrivate for-profit78
Brittany Beauty AcademyBrooklynPrivate for-profit62
Long Island Beauty School - HempsteadHempsteadPrivate for-profit61
Berkowits School of ElectrolysisForest HillsPrivate for-profit54
Empire Beauty School - BuffaloCheektowagaPrivate for-profit54
Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care TrainingNew YorkPrivate for-profit49
Schuyler Steuben Chemung Tioga Allegany BOCESElmiraPublic47
Orlo School of Hair Design and CosmetologyAlbanyPrivate for-profit45
Empire Beauty School - RochesterRochesterPrivate for-profit44
Westchester School of Beauty CultureMount VernonPrivate for-profit40
Barber & Beauty Institute of New YorkHempsteadPrivate for-profit38
Empire Beauty School - PeekskillPeekskillPrivate for-profit37
Western Suffolk BOCESNorthportPublic31
Career School of NYStaten IslandPrivate not-for-profit30
Eastern Suffolk BOCESOakdalePublic27
Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCESLiverpoolPublic19
Leon Studio One School of Beauty KnowledgeWilliamsvillePrivate for-profit16
Eastern Suffolk BOCESRiverheadPublic12
Clinton Essex Warren Washington BOCESPlattsburghPublic1

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 New York

Jobs in New York
20,740
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$50,040
median $35,760
Best-paying metro
$57,880
Syracuse, NY

Related careers

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
$50,040 avg · 20,740 jobs
Manicurists and Pedicurists
$35,280 avg · 19,710 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
$59,560 avg · 8,580 jobs
Skincare Specialists
$50,960 avg · 3,510 jobs
Shampooers
$36,730 avg · 1,210 jobs
Personal Service Managers, All Other
$81,520 avg · 410 jobs

Common questions

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

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

Christine Valmy International School for Esthetics, Skin Care & Makeup (691 graduates a year), Capri Cosmetology Learning Centers (332 graduates a year) and Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics (302 graduates a year) award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 43 New York colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services.

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

By graduate earnings, Aesthetic Science Institute leads among Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $22,638, College Scorecard. Schuyler Steuben Chemung Tioga Allegany BOCES and Continental School of Beauty Culture-West Seneca follow. By degrees awarded, Christine Valmy International School for Esthetics, Skin Care & Makeup is the largest, with 691 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Aesthetic Science Institute tops the list at $22,638. 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 York?+

The average annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in New York is $50,040 (median $35,760), across about 20,740 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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