2027 Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Southwest Region
[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong cosmetology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 191 schools to find the best return on investment for cosmetology students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in cosmetology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Cosmetology Schools
College Of The Mainland tops our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,140. Students borrow a median of $5,711 to complete the cosmetology program here. Cosmetology graduates of College Of The Mainland earn a median of $18,495 early in their careers. Set against $5,711 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in cosmetology will find it at Wharton County Junior College, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,192, while out-of-state students pay about $5,904. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Wharton County Junior College generally make around $19,087. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Lamar State College Orange is a great value for students pursuing a degree in cosmetology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,832, with out-of-state students paying around $13,824. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $18,506. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $45,299. That is a strong return on a $18,506 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Central New Mexico Community College one of the best values for cosmetology. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the cosmetology program here. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $16,496. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
Midland College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Midland College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Midland. Students from in state pay about $3,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,180. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the cosmetology program here. Cosmetology graduates of Midland College earn a median of $43,454 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mclennan Community College landed the #6 spot for cosmetology value this year. Mclennan Community College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $5,910. Students borrow a median of $5,776 to complete the cosmetology program here. Cosmetology graduates of Mclennan Community College earn a median of $16,879 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Students borrow a median of $6,868 to complete the cosmetology program here. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $30,227. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lee College earned the #8 position for value in cosmetology this year. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,520, with out-of-state students paying around $5,045. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $10,941 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $14,727. That is a strong return on a $10,941 median debt.
Del Mar College landed the #9 spot for cosmetology value this year. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. In-state tuition and fees average $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $7,476. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $13,099. That is a strong return on a $7,476 median debt.
Lamar State College Port Arthur came in at #10 for value in cosmetology this year. Lamar State College Port Arthur is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Port Arthur. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,770, while out-of-state students pay about $8,070. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $33,385. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Lamar State College Port Arthur generally make around $78,580. That is a strong return on a $33,385 median debt.
Trinity Valley Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Located in the town of Athens, Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,640, with out-of-state students paying around $5,970. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $11,544. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Palo Alto College earned the #12 position for value in cosmetology this year. Palo Alto College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $9,430 to complete the cosmetology program here. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $29,062. That is a strong return on a $9,430 median debt.
Grayson College landed the #13 spot for cosmetology value this year. Located in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,000, compared with $6,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete the cosmetology program here. Cosmetology graduates of Grayson College earn a median of $18,598 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Howard College placed #14 among the best values for cosmetology. Located in the town of Big Spring, Howard College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,766 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,716. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $14,242. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $13,529. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Paso Community College came in at #15 for value in cosmetology this year. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the cosmetology program here. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $29,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kilgore College earned the #16 position for value in cosmetology this year. Located in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,160 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,256. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the cosmetology program here. Cosmetology graduates of Kilgore College earn a median of $15,957 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
North Central Texas College earned the #17 position for value in cosmetology this year. North Central Texas College is a large public school located in the town of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $3,600, compared with $5,739 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,812 to complete the cosmetology program here. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $10,963. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clovis Community College earned the #18 position for value in cosmetology this year. Located in the town of Clovis, Clovis Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,592 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $3,344. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $11,082. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $44,390. Set against $11,082 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Houston Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $23,061. Cosmetology graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $16,075 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,061 median debt.
Odessa College placed #20 among the best values for cosmetology. Located in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,688, while out-of-state students pay about $4,926. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $9,087. Cosmetology graduates of Odessa College earn a median of $47,856 early in their careers. Set against $9,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Located in the town of Gallup, University Of New Mexico Gallup Campus is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,906 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,682 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $10,986. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $35,132. Set against $10,986 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Juan College placed #22 among the best values for cosmetology. San Juan College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Farmington. In-state tuition and fees average $1,910, while out-of-state students pay about $5,393. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $16,150 in student loans. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from San Juan College generally make around $41,697. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texarkana College came in at #23 for value in cosmetology this year. Texarkana College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texarkana. In-state tuition and fees average $2,476, with out-of-state students paying around $5,332. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $5,450. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Texarkana College generally make around $33,707. That is a strong return on a $5,450 median debt.
Coastal Bend College earned the #24 position for value in cosmetology this year. Set in the town of Beeville, Coastal Bend College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,916 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,226. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $14,609 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,086. That is a strong return on a $14,609 median debt.
South Plains College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools. South Plains College is a large public school located in the town of Levelland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,733, compared with $5,157 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $11,000. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $11,557. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Cosmetology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in cosmetology:
Narrow Cosmetology Schools by State
More Cosmetology Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 191 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 191 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
