Best Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Degrees in the US by ROI

Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs Analyzed

975

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$532,084

Across all programs

Average Annual Cost

$21,142

Cost of attendance

#	College	State	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics	VA	-$128,063	$36,799	$14,669	$6,944	Full ROI →
2	Johnson County Community College Grad rate: 28.4%	KS	-$248,308	$30,898	$18,946	$5,424	Full ROI →
3	Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy Grad rate: 92.1%	VA	-$258,740	$30,326	$13,763	$8,517	Full ROI →
4	Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis Grad rate: 61.5%	MN	-$266,229	$30,620	$25,209	$9,941	Full ROI →
5	Saint Paul College Grad rate: 31.9%	MN	-$279,474	$29,887	$17,977	$14,250	Full ROI →
6	San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc Grad rate: 63.6%	CA	-$306,287	$28,640	$24,837	$10,556	Full ROI →
7	Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Seattle Grad rate: 80.4%	WA	-$306,540	$29,083	$34,551	$10,111	Full ROI →
8	Moore Career College Grad rate: 29.7%	LA	-$307,716	$28,786	$21,161	$16,500	Full ROI →
9	Aveda Institute-Des Moines Grad rate: 98.5%	IA	-$308,192	$28,396	$19,912	$12,000	Full ROI →
10	Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Shoreline Grad rate: 74.3%	WA	-$310,147	$28,399	$21,463	$12,344	Full ROI →
11	Nova Academy of Cosmetology Woodbury Grad rate: 70.6%	MN	-$317,344	$27,943	$22,443	$10,194	Full ROI →
12	Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics Grad rate: 61.6%	NY	-$318,878	$27,320	$16,729	$6,333	Full ROI →
13	Model College of Hair Design Grad rate: 67.0%	MN	-$325,216	$27,355	$20,466	$8,778	Full ROI →
14	The Salon Professional Academy-Fargo Grad rate: 78.1%	ND	-$328,011	$27,326	$18,331	$12,000	Full ROI →
15	Aveda Institute-Portland Grad rate: 64.2%	OR	-$333,946	$26,846	$16,616	$10,556	Full ROI →
16	PCI Academy-Plymouth Grad rate: 72.2%	MN	-$338,016	$26,835	$20,447	$10,570	Full ROI →
17	PCI Academy-Iowa City	IA	-$339,079	$26,835	$21,510	$10,570	Full ROI →
18	Aveda Institute Portland-Vancouver Campus Grad rate: 74.0%	WA	-$339,262	$26,846	$21,932	$10,556	Full ROI →
19	Ridgewater College Grad rate: 45.0%	MN	-$339,477	$26,494	$16,195	$9,750	Full ROI →
20	PCI Academy-Ames Grad rate: 83.3%	IA	-$339,586	$26,835	$22,017	$10,570	Full ROI →
21	La James International College-Ft Dodge Grad rate: 58.3%	IA	-$340,595	$26,099	$22,575	N/A	Full ROI →
22	Phagans School of Beauty Grad rate: 71.0%	OR	-$343,224	$26,465	$16,366	$11,969	Full ROI →
23	Cinta Aveda Institute Grad rate: 64.6%	CA	-$344,015	$26,484	$19,448	$10,554	Full ROI →
24	Paul Mitchell the School-Portsmouth Grad rate: 75.0%	NH	-$345,764	$26,789	$28,270	$9,833	Full ROI →
25	Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati Grad rate: 74.7%	OH	-$345,969	$26,492	$22,535	$9,833	Full ROI →
26	Academy of Massage and Bodywork	DE	-$346,647	$25,098	N/A	$6,376	Full ROI →
27	Palm Beach State College Grad rate: 41.4%	FL	-$346,706	$26,143	$16,741	$9,500	Full ROI →
28	The Salon Professional Academy-St Charles Grad rate: 80.6%	MO	-$347,505	$26,192	$18,071	$9,833	Full ROI →
29	Lansdale School of Cosmetology Inc Grad rate: 44.7%	PA	-$352,554	$25,330	$19,154	N/A	Full ROI →
30	Lake Land College Grad rate: 50.1%	IL	-$358,343	$24,584	$10,023	N/A	Full ROI →
31	Moraine Park Technical College Grad rate: 47.2%	WI	-$359,315	$24,739	$14,095	N/A	Full ROI →
32	The Institute of Beauty and Wellness Grad rate: 87.8%	WI	-$361,915	$25,572	$19,106	$10,555	Full ROI →
33	The University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology Grad rate: 68.0%	IL	-$361,987	$25,382	$18,940	$7,917	Full ROI →
34	Aveda Institute-Denver Grad rate: 80.8%	CO	-$362,423	$25,893	$24,083	$12,000	Full ROI →
35	The Salon Professional Academy-Nashville Grad rate: 82.7%	TN	-$362,948	$25,326	$16,194	$9,833	Full ROI →
36	Aveda Institute-Madison Grad rate: 90.5%	WI	-$363,167	$25,572	$20,358	$10,555	Full ROI →
37	Skin Institute Grad rate: 97.3%	MO	-$364,475	$25,218	$18,107	$7,947	Full ROI →
38	Josef's School of Hair Skin & Body-Grand Forks Grad rate: 65.8%	ND	-$365,335	$25,413	$17,395	$12,000	Full ROI →
39	Josef's School of Hair Skin & Body-Fargo Grad rate: 63.4%	ND	-$366,050	$25,413	$18,110	$12,000	Full ROI →
40	Paul Mitchell the School-Federal Way Grad rate: 48.6%	WA	-$366,572	$25,296	$18,243	$10,555	Full ROI →
41	Stewart School Grad rate: 80.6%	SD	-$367,220	$25,138	$18,015	$8,863	Full ROI →
42	El Paso Community College Grad rate: 21.3%	TX	-$370,541	$24,110	$12,741	N/A	Full ROI →
43	Paul Mitchell the School-Milwaukee Grad rate: 40.7%	WI	-$370,606	$25,265	$21,506	$10,667	Full ROI →
44	Milwaukee Area Technical College Grad rate: 19.7%	WI	-$372,804	$24,929	$17,209	$10,500	Full ROI →
45	Bluegrass Community and Technical College Grad rate: 36.2%	KY	-$373,481	$23,990	$13,281	N/A	Full ROI →
46	Guilford Technical Community College Grad rate: 29.5%	NC	-$374,605	$25,271	$18,425	$16,000	Full ROI →
47	The Salon Professional Academy-San Jose Grad rate: 81.2%	CA	-$376,278	$24,953	$21,331	$10,376	Full ROI →
48	International Institute of Cosmetology Grad rate: 73.2%	CT	-$376,693	$24,952	$20,956	$10,946	Full ROI →
49	Blue Cliff Career College Grad rate: 73.3%	AL	-$378,736	$24,667	$18,802	$9,833	Full ROI →
50	Tulsa Technology Center Grad rate: 73.3%	OK	-$382,361	$23,447	$11,301	N/A	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.

Find Best Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Degrees by State

Browse Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.