Pennsylvania · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

Best institutions to study Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in Pennsylvania

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
65
offering CIP 12.04
States offered
51
with a program page
Degrees / yr
4,002
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$19,048
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
42
College Scorecard
Median net price
$18,788
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
74%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
$43,000
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Metro Beauty Academy
Allentown Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$21,22623796%$20,001$13,381
2Penn Commercial Business/Technical School
Washington Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$20,8719684%$18,412$11,318
3South Hills Beauty Academy
Pittsburgh Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$20,85216394%$6,075$7,662
4Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork
Lancaster Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$19,62414870%$13,071$7,208
5Douglas Education Center
Monessen Private for-profit · Associate degree
$19,34712288%$27,934$12,000
6The Salon Professional Academy - Altoona
Altoona Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$19,0487691%$21,213$9,936
7Empire Beauty School - Pottsville
Pottsville Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$18,6393360%$18,573$13,849
8Premier Barber Institute
Norristown Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$18,4244670%$21,154$13,583
9Altoona Beauty School Inc
Altoona Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$18,1888892%$28,134$7,544
10Barber School of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$17,8905365%$21,614$13,583

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 Pennsylvania

Jobs in Pennsylvania
19,350
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$43,000
median $36,790
Best-paying metro
$48,540
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ

Related careers

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
$43,000 avg · 19,350 jobs
Manicurists and Pedicurists
$29,550 avg · 9,610 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
$50,960 avg · 8,980 jobs
Skincare Specialists
$46,270 avg · 2,560 jobs
Shampooers
$26,880 avg · 1,000 jobs
Barbers
$37,630 avg · 530 jobs

Common questions

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

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Metro Beauty Academy tops the list at $21,226. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn in Pennsylvania?+

The average annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Pennsylvania is $43,000 (median $36,790), across about 19,350 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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