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.