[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 411 schools to find the best return on investment for cosmetology students.
Trident Technical College tops our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools in the Southeast Region. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. In-state tuition and fees average $4,546, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $18,116 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes South Georgia Technical College one of the best values for cosmetology. Set in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,992, while out-of-state students pay about $7,202. Students borrow a median of $10,423 to complete the cosmetology program here. Cosmetology graduates of South Georgia Technical College earn a median of $20,501 early in their careers. Set against $10,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Valdosta. In-state tuition and fees average $3,480, compared with $6,048 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $10,864. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College generally make around $19,659. That is a strong return on a $10,864 median debt.
Pensacola State College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,361, compared with $9,463 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the cosmetology program here. Cosmetology graduates of Pensacola State College earn a median of $23,911 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Florida State College At Jacksonville one of the best values for cosmetology. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $13,577 in student loans. Cosmetology graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $29,668 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Piedmont Community College placed #6 among the best values for cosmetology. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $40,629. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Regional Technical College came in at #7 for value in cosmetology this year. Located in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,007, while out-of-state students pay about $5,575. Students borrow a median of $9,086 to complete the cosmetology program here. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Southern Regional Technical College generally make around $15,168. That is a strong return on a $9,086 median debt.
Indian River State College earned the #8 position for value in cosmetology this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,764, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $9,540. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $18,411. Set against $9,540 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan came in at #9 for value in cosmetology this year. Located in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,980, while out-of-state students pay about $8,850. Students borrow a median of $9,942 to complete the cosmetology program here. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $19,828. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Coastal Pines Technical College landed the #10 spot for cosmetology value this year. Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Waycross. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,268, while out-of-state students pay about $5,836. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $5,812 in student loans. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $39,090. That is a strong return on a $5,812 median debt.
Chattahoochee Technical College placed #11 among the best values for cosmetology. Located in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, compared with $6,108 for out-of-state students. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Cosmetology graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $16,767 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fayetteville Technical Community College landed the #12 spot for cosmetology value this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,628, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the cosmetology program here. Cosmetology graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $40,584 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cleveland Community College placed #13 among the best values for cosmetology. Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Shelby. Students from in state pay about $2,602 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,746. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $7,131 in student loans. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $13,347. Set against $7,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coahoma Community College landed the #14 spot for cosmetology value this year. Located in the rural area of Clarksdale, Coahoma Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,490. Students borrow a median of $11,745 to complete the cosmetology program here. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Coahoma Community College generally make around $13,154. That is a strong return on a $11,745 median debt.
West Georgia Technical College earned the #15 position for value in cosmetology this year. Located in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,410, with out-of-state students paying around $5,978. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $8,500 in student loans. Cosmetology graduates of West Georgia Technical College earn a median of $11,925 early in their careers. Set against $8,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gadsden State Community College landed the #16 spot for cosmetology value this year. Located in the city of Gadsden, Gadsden State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,272, while out-of-state students pay about $7,368. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $9,312. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Gadsden State Community College generally make around $19,107. Set against $9,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Atlanta Technical College landed the #17 spot for cosmetology value this year. Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Atlanta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,382, compared with $5,950 for out-of-state students. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $16,324 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Atlanta Technical College generally make around $17,157. Set against $16,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Virginia University At Parkersburg earned the #18 position for value in cosmetology this year. Set in the rural area of Parkersburg, West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,476, compared with $9,424 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $15,595. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from West Virginia University At Parkersburg generally make around $45,400. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Crescent Technical College earned the #19 position for value in cosmetology this year. Located in the town of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,516, compared with $6,084 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $17,619. Cosmetology graduates of Southern Crescent Technical College earn a median of $45,062 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,619 median debt.
Northeast Alabama Community College placed #20 among the best values for cosmetology. Located in the rural area of Rainsville, Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,910. Students borrow a median of $7,459 to complete the cosmetology program here. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $35,119. Set against $7,459 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College came in at #21 for value in cosmetology this year. Located in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $5,868. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $8,492. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $41,229. That is a strong return on a $8,492 median debt.
East Central Community College earned the #22 position for value in cosmetology this year. East Central Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Decatur. Students from in state pay about $3,990 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,090 for out-of-state students. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans. Cosmetology graduates of East Central Community College earn a median of $32,981 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,382 median debt.
Columbus Technical College earned the #23 position for value in cosmetology this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,052, compared with $7,262 for out-of-state students. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $15,845 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Columbus Technical College generally make around $19,094. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chipola College came in at #24 for value in cosmetology this year. Chipola College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marianna. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,950 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $9,097. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $43,599. Set against $9,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Daytona State College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,106, compared with $11,994 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,807 to complete the cosmetology program here. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $20,212. Set against $5,807 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Cosmetology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in cosmetology:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 411 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 411 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
