Best colleges for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
The Salon Professional Academy - Nashville, Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Murfreesboro and Image Maker Beauty Institute are the top Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. The Salon Professional Academy - Nashville leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $25,878, College Scorecard. Brillare Beauty Institute, Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville Inc and Genesis Career College - Cookeville award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in Tennessee: 424, 239 and 170 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 44 Tennessee colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services and award 3,142 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 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Salon Professional Academy - Nashville Nashville Private for-profit · Certificate | $25,878 | 29 | 97% | $13,347 | $9,833 |
| 2 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Murfreesboro Murfreesboro Public · Certificate | $22,176 | 100 | 76% | — | — |
| 3 | Image Maker Beauty Institute Hendersonville Private for-profit · Certificate | $21,451 | 40 | 77% | $13,381 | $11,580 |
| 4 | Austin's Beauty College Inc Clarksville Private for-profit · Certificate | $20,977 | 80 | 68% | $18,313 | $9,833 |
| 5 | Brillare Beauty Institute Cleveland Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $20,885 | 424 | 84% | $27,451 | $7,917 |
| 6 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville Nashville Public · Certificate | $20,870 | 104 | 70% | — | $9,300 |
| 7 | Paul Mitchell the School - Murfreesboro-Nashville Hendersonville Private for-profit · Certificate | $20,606 | 152 | 74% | $21,925 | $12,087 |
| 8 | Gould's Academy Memphis Private for-profit · Certificate | $20,194 | 140 | 80% | $13,280 | $10,149 |
| 9 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Harriman Harriman Public · Certificate | $19,479 | 23 | 69% | — | — |
| 10 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Dickson Dickson Public · Certificate | $18,956 | 52 | 74% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees in Tennessee
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 | Brillare Beauty Institute Cleveland Private not-for-profit | 424 | $20,885 |
| 2 | Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville Inc Knoxville Private for-profit | 239 | $17,506 |
| 3 | Genesis Career College - Cookeville Cookeville Private for-profit | 170 | $16,552 |
| 4 | Paul Mitchell the School - Murfreesboro-Nashville Hendersonville Private for-profit | 152 | $20,606* |
| 5 | Gould's Academy Memphis Private for-profit | 140 | $20,194* |
| 6 | Paul Mitchell the School - Murfreesboro Murfreesboro Private for-profit | 112 | $20,606* |
| 7 | Gould's Academy Bartlett Private for-profit | 112 | $20,194* |
| 8 | Empire Beauty School - E Memphis Memphis Private for-profit | 111 | $16,062 |
| 9 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville Nashville Public | 104 | $20,870 |
| 10 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Murfreesboro Murfreesboro Public | 100 | $22,176 |
ShowHide the other 34 Tennessee colleges offering Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists (SOC 39-5012).
Top skills
What Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees?+
Brillare Beauty Institute (424 graduates a year), Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville Inc (239 graduates a year) and Genesis Career College - Cookeville (170 graduates a year) award the most Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services degrees and certificates in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 44 Tennessee colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services.
What is the best college for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, The Salon Professional Academy - Nashville leads among Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $25,878, College Scorecard. Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Murfreesboro and Image Maker Beauty Institute follow. By degrees awarded, Brillare Beauty Institute is the largest, with 424 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, The Salon Professional Academy - Nashville tops the list at $25,878. 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 Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists in Tennessee is $38,100 (median $31,310), across about 6,080 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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