Best degree programs for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists, ranked by enrollment
8 college programs and 1,422 schools train Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $35,790 median wage, 305,710 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
8 college programs at 1,422 schools train hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists, graduating 63,483 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General. The job pays a median of $35,790 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists
Provide beauty services, such as cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp. May shampoo hair, apply makeup, dress wigs, remove hair, and provide nail and skincare services.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
8 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, Generalmain feeder CIP 12.0401 | 56,828 | 89.5% | 1,353 | $17,113 | $10,000 |
| 2 | CIP 12.0499 | 2,592 | 4.1% | 99 | $17,113 | $10,000 |
| 3 | Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Designmain feeder CIP 12.0407 | 1,479 | 2.3% | 88 | $17,113 | $10,000 |
| 4 | CIP 12.0413 | 1,259 | 2.0% | 319 | $17,113 | $10,000 |
| 5 | Salon/Beauty Salon Management/Managermain feeder CIP 12.0412 | 546 | 0.9% | 17 | $17,113 | $10,000 |
| 6 | Make-Up Artist/Specialistmain feeder CIP 12.0406 | 374 | 0.6% | 20 | $17,113 | $10,000 |
| 7 | CIP 12.0404 | 314 | 0.5% | 13 | $17,113 | $10,000 |
| 8 | Permanent Cosmetics/Makeup and Tattooingmain feeder CIP 12.0411 | 91 | 0.1% | 2 | $17,113 | $10,000 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute - Covington Covington, LA Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 863 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 80% | $24,644 | — |
| 2 | NUC University Bayamon, PR Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 474 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 54% | $9,377 | — |
| 3 | Celebrity School of Beauty Miami, FL Private for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 420 | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other | 71% | $6,774 | — |
| 4 | Evergreen Beauty and Barber College - Everett Everett, WA Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 308 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 83% | $18,663 | — |
| 5 | West Georgia Technical College Waco, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 284 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 35% | — | — |
| 6 | Aveda Institute - South Florida Davie, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 278 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 73% | $27,329 | — |
| 7 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 276 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 50% | — | — |
| 8 | Douglas J Aveda Institute East Lansing, MI Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 260 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 83% | $26,406 | — |
| 9 | Parisian Beauty School Hackensack, NJ Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 248 | Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design | 88% | $22,332 | — |
| 10 | Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 246 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 47% | — | — |
| 11 | Century College San Juan, PR Private for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 244 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 90% | — | — |
| 12 | Beauty Academy of South Florida Hialeah Gardens, FL Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 243 | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other | 72% | $13,226 | — |
| 13 | Futura Career Institute Hialeah, FL Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 242 | Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design | 89% | $22,298 | — |
| 14 | Paul Mitchell the School - Temecula Temecula, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 232 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 69% | $34,228 | — |
| 15 | Asian - American International Beauty College Westminster, CA Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 231 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 90% | — | — |
| 16 | Coastal Pines Technical College Waycross, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 230 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 48% | — | — |
| 17 | Empire Beauty School - Manhattan New York, NY Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 220 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 51% | $21,646 | — |
| 18 | Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 217 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 35% | — | — |
| 19 | San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 211 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 30% | — | — |
| 20 | Ogle School Hair Skin Nails - Ft Worth Fort Worth, TX Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 210 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 82% | $20,903 | — |
| 21 | Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 209 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 43% | — | — |
| 22 | Aveda Institute - Tampa Bay Clearwater, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 207 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 71% | $23,585 | — |
| 23 | Brillare Beauty Institute Cleveland, TN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 197 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 84% | $27,451 | — |
| 24 | COLLECTIV Academy - Worcester Worcester, MA Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 182 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 81% | $36,401 | — |
| 25 | Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 181 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 31% | — | — |
| 26 | Riverside City College Riverside, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 179 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 37% | — | — |
| 27 | Cerritos College Norwalk, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 178 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 31% | — | — |
| 28 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 178 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 36% | — | — |
| 29 | Milan Institute - Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 177 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 59% | $30,443 | — |
| 30 | Z Hair Academy Overland Park, KS Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 175 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 74% | $15,958 | 100% |
| 31 | Paul Mitchell the School - Houston Houston, TX Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 171 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 81% | $22,605 | — |
| 32 | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis Minneapolis, MN Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 165 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 68% | $20,394 | — |
| 33 | Mountainland Technical College Lehi, UT Public · 2 feeder programs | 165 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 84% | — | — |
| 34 | Ogle School Hair Skin Nails - Dallas Dallas, TX Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 165 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 69% | $22,117 | — |
| 35 | Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 165 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 58% | — | — |
| 36 | IBMC College Fort Collins, CO Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 162 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 86% | $23,751 | — |
| 37 | Paul Mitchell the School - Costa Mesa Costa Mesa, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 162 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 82% | $12,448 | — |
| 38 | Citrus College Glendora, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 159 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 41% | — | — |
| 39 | Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona, LLC Chandler, AZ Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 158 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 77% | $20,967 | — |
| 40 | Ogle School Hair Skin Nails - Stafford Stafford, TX Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 157 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 81% | $22,650 | — |
| 41 | Golden West College Huntington Beach, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 152 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 49% | — | — |
| 42 | Ogle School Hair Skin Nails - San Antonio San Antonio, TX Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 152 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 76% | $21,751 | — |
| 43 | Fullerton College Fullerton, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 149 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 34% | — | — |
| 44 | Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville Inc Knoxville, TN Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 147 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 82% | $12,788 | — |
| 45 | Summit Salon Academy Tampa, FL Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 145 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 82% | $20,233 | — |
| 46 | Paul Mitchell the School - Charlotte Charlotte, NC Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 144 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 56% | $15,034 | — |
| 47 | Delta Technical College - Mississippi Horn Lake, MS Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 143 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 71% | $18,202 | — |
| 48 | Total Image Beauty Academy Union City, NJ Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 143 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 99% | $14,121 | — |
| 49 | Nouvelle Institute Miami, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 141 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 87% | $12,910 | — |
| 50 | Penrose Academy Scottsdale, AZ Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 141 | Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 90% | $24,186 | — |
What hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $38,660 | 27,080 | 0.76× | 120 | 7,072 |
| Texas | $30,680 | 22,440 | 0.81× | 134 | 7,005 |
| Florida | $29,530 | 23,530 | 1.21× | 110 | 6,027 |
| Georgia | $34,560 | 7,910 | 0.82× | 44 | 3,789 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,790 | 19,350 | 1.62× | 55 | 2,254 |
| North Carolina | $38,410 | 8,490 | 0.87× | 65 | 2,019 |
| Illinois | $34,040 | 13,190 | 1.10× | 65 | 1,986 |
| New York | $35,760 | 20,740 | 1.09× | 35 | 1,913 |
| Louisiana | $26,030 | 2,720 | 0.71× | 29 | 1,720 |
| Tennessee | $31,310 | 6,080 | 0.94× | 42 | 1,699 |
| Ohio | $36,260 | 12,890 | 1.18× | 47 | 1,640 |
| Michigan | $34,820 | 8,970 | 1.04× | 42 | 1,543 |
| New Jersey | $36,150 | 15,500 | 1.84× | 22 | 1,531 |
| Colorado | $37,690 | 6,820 | 1.21× | 26 | 1,430 |
| Oklahoma | $29,650 | 1,920 | 0.57× | 45 | 1,375 |
| Arizona | $36,810 | 7,840 | 1.23× | 24 | 1,372 |
| Utah | $35,140 | 2,810 | 0.82× | 28 | 1,249 |
| Alabama | $29,150 | 3,300 | 0.79× | 27 | 1,094 |
| Indiana | $32,830 | 5,920 | 0.94× | 31 | 984 |
| Wisconsin | $36,230 | 6,260 | 1.08× | 29 | 970 |
| Washington | $59,510 | 6,930 | 0.99× | 20 | 942 |
| South Carolina | $33,700 | 3,570 | 0.79× | 24 | 916 |
| Kansas | $29,710 | 2,190 | 0.77× | 21 | 890 |
| Kentucky | $29,840 | 2,350 | 0.60× | 22 | 884 |
| Minnesota | $39,170 | 5,320 | 0.92× | 16 | 786 |
| Missouri | $30,750 | 5,430 | 0.94× | 24 | 776 |
| Mississippi | $27,560 | 1,040 | 0.45× | 26 | 743 |
| Nevada | $33,840 | 1,940 | 0.64× | 12 | 723 |
| Arkansas | $28,830 | 1,410 | 0.55× | 30 | 689 |
| Oregon | $57,580 | 1,860 | 0.48× | 16 | 654 |
| Iowa | $35,700 | 2,930 | 0.96× | 18 | 631 |
| Virginia | — | 10,200 | 1.26× | 15 | 578 |
| Idaho | $35,480 | 2,250 | 1.34× | 16 | 576 |
| Maryland | $36,420 | 5,860 | 1.08× | 16 | 565 |
| Massachusetts | $37,290 | 9,600 | 1.34× | 16 | 550 |
| Connecticut | $44,620 | 4,090 | 1.23× | 9 | 335 |
| New Mexico | $37,750 | 1,230 | 0.72× | 13 | 322 |
| Nebraska | $34,320 | 1,890 | 0.94× | 5 | 307 |
| New Hampshire | $34,650 | 1,950 | 1.45× | 5 | 259 |
| West Virginia | $34,480 | 1,020 | 0.74× | 14 | 244 |
| Rhode Islandmoderate | $31,200 | 1,470 | 1.49× | 3 | 179 |
| South Dakota | $49,800 | 690 | 0.77× | 5 | 148 |
| Montana | $38,000 | 690 | 0.68× | 5 | 138 |
| Mainemoderate | $44,000 | 970 | 0.77× | 3 | 135 |
| Delawaremoderate | $34,350 | 1,270 | 1.33× | 4 | 121 |
| North Dakotamoderate | $34,850 | 870 | 1.03× | 4 | 111 |
| District of Columbialimited | $54,570 | 870 | 0.63× | 2 | 57 |
| Hawaiimoderate | $35,040 | 930 | 0.76× | 3 | 48 |
| Wyomingmoderate | $29,170 | 360 | 0.65× | 3 | 42 |
| Vermontlimited | $48,650 | 440 | 0.73× | 1 | 33 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
- Bleach, dye, or tint hair, using applicator or brush.
- Cut, trim and shape hair or hairpieces, based on customers' instructions, hair type, and facial features, using clippers, scissors, trimmers and razors.
- Schedule client appointments.
- Update and maintain customer information records, such as beauty services provided.
- Demonstrate and sell hair care products and cosmetics.
- Analyze patrons' hair and other physical features to determine and recommend beauty treatment or suggest hair styles.
- Shampoo, rinse, condition, and dry hair and scalp or hairpieces with water, liquid soap, or other solutions.
Skills
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.8
- Critical Thinking3.4
- Active Learning3.3
- Monitoring3.0
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Writing2.9
- Learning Strategies2.9
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.4
- Sales and Marketing3.7
- Administration and Management3.0
- Education and Training3.0
- English Language2.9
- Chemistry2.8
Abilities
- Near Vision4.0
- Finger Dexterity3.9
- Arm-Hand Steadiness3.9
- Manual Dexterity3.9
- Oral Comprehension3.8
- Oral Expression3.8
Core activities
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public4.3
- Selling or Influencing Others4.0
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.0
- Assisting and Caring for Others3.9
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge3.9
- Thinking Creatively3.8
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Hairdresser
Job zone 3 of 5 · SVP 6.0 to < 7.0- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 8 majors mapped to Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists8 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 12.0401Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General
- 12.0404Electrolysis/Electrology and Electrolysis Technician
- 12.0406Make-Up Artist/Specialist
- 12.0407Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design
- 12.0411Permanent Cosmetics/Makeup and Tattooing
- 12.0412Salon/Beauty Salon Management/Manager
- 12.0413Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, and Nail Instructor
- 12.0499Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Hairdresser?+
Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General, which awarded 56,828 degrees in 2024-25, 89.5% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Hairdresser?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 8 programs to this occupation. The largest are Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services. Together they graduate about 63,483 people a year.
How much do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn?+
The median is $35,790 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $27,040 at the 10th percentile to $71,190 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists growing?+
BLS projects a +5.6% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, faster than average, with roughly 75,800 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
1,422 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 8 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Hairdresser, Hairstylist, Hair Stylist, Cosmetologist among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 39-5012.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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