North Dakota · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

Best colleges for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in North Dakota

Ranked by graduate earnings

The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo, The Hair Academy and Josef's School of Hair, Skin & Body-Fargo are the top Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in North Dakota by graduate earnings. The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $29,330, College Scorecard. The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo, Josef's School of Hair, Skin & Body-Fargo and The Hair Academy award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in North Dakota: 110, 60 and 34 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 4 North Dakota colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services and award 235 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
4
offering CIP 12.04
States offered
51
with a program page
Degrees / yr
235
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$28,331
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
4
College Scorecard
Median net price
$14,869
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
78%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
$43,810
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 3 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
1The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo
Fargo Private for-profit · Certificate
$29,33011060%$14,714$12,000
2The Hair Academy
Bismarck Private for-profit · Certificate
$29,3273495%$16,814$11,809
3Josef's School of Hair, Skin & Body-Fargo
Fargo Private for-profit · Certificate
$28,3316073%$14,869$12,000

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

Top 4 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)
1The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo
Fargo Private for-profit
110$29,330
2Josef's School of Hair, Skin & Body-Fargo
Fargo Private for-profit
60$28,331*
3The Hair Academy
Bismarck Private for-profit
34$29,327
4Josef's School of Hair, Skin & Body-Grand Forks
Grand Forks Private for-profit
31$28,331*

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 North Dakota

Jobs in North Dakota
870
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$43,810
median $34,850
Best-paying metro
$43,430
Fargo, ND-MN

Related careers

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
$43,810 avg · 870 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
$50,160 avg · 360 jobs
Manicurists and Pedicurists
$43,070 avg · 270 jobs
Skincare Specialists
$55,450 avg · 190 jobs
Barbers
$46,770 avg · 80 jobs
Personal Service Managers, All Other
—

Common questions

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

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

The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo (110 graduates a year), Josef's School of Hair, Skin & Body-Fargo (60 graduates a year) and The Hair Academy (34 graduates a year) award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in North Dakota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 4 North Dakota colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services.

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

By graduate earnings, The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo leads among Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in North Dakota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $29,330, College Scorecard. The Hair Academy and Josef's School of Hair, Skin & Body-Fargo follow. By degrees awarded, The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo is the largest, with 110 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo tops the list at $29,330. 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 North Dakota?+

The average annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in North Dakota is $43,810 (median $34,850), across about 870 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 statesWyomingMinnesotaVermontNew HampshireNebraskaSouth DakotaWashingtonWisconsin

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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