2027 Best Value Cosmetology Schools in Texas
[Cosmetology](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/cosmetology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong cosmetology education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 127 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value cosmetology schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Cosmetology Schools in Texas
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the cosmetology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Cosmetology Schools
College Of The Mainland earned the #1 spot for value among cosmetology schools in Texas. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. In-state tuition and fees average $2,310, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $5,711. Cosmetology graduates of College Of The Mainland earn a median of $18,495 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wharton County Junior College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wharton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,192, with out-of-state students paying around $5,904. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $19,087. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lamar State College Orange earned it the #3 place for cosmetology. Set in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,832, with out-of-state students paying around $13,824. Students borrow a median of $18,506 to complete the cosmetology program here. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Lamar State College Orange generally make around $45,299. Set against $18,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in cosmetology will find it at Midland College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public institution. 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. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Midland College generally make around $43,454. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in cosmetology will find it at Mclennan Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $5,910. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $5,776. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $16,879. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College earned the #6 position for value in cosmetology this year. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $6,868. Cosmetology graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $30,227 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lee College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,520, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete the cosmetology program here. Cosmetology graduates of Lee College earn a median of $14,727 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,941 median debt.
Del Mar College landed the #8 spot for cosmetology value this year. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, with out-of-state students paying around $6,050. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $7,476. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $13,099. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grayson College came in at #9 for value in cosmetology this year. Located in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,000 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,300. Students borrow a median of $11,627 to complete the cosmetology program here. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Grayson College generally make around $18,598. That is a strong return on a $11,627 median debt.
Trinity Valley Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,640, while out-of-state students pay about $5,970. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $5,500. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $11,544. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar State College Port Arthur placed #11 among the best values for cosmetology. Lamar State College Port Arthur is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Port Arthur. In-state tuition and fees average $1,770, while out-of-state students pay about $8,070. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $33,385 in student loans. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $78,580. Set against $33,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Howard College came in at #12 for value in cosmetology this year. Howard College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Big Spring. Students from in state pay about $2,766 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,716. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $14,242. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Howard College generally make around $13,529. That is a strong return on a $14,242 median debt.
Palo Alto College earned the #13 position for value in cosmetology this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $9,430. Cosmetology graduates of Palo Alto College earn a median of $29,062 early in their careers. Set against $9,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kilgore College landed the #14 spot for cosmetology value this year. Set in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,160, while out-of-state students pay about $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.
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. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $8,542. Cosmetology graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central Texas College earned the #16 position for value in cosmetology this year. North Central Texas College is a large public school located in the town of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $5,739. Students borrow a median of $6,812 to complete the cosmetology program here. Cosmetology graduates of North Central Texas College earn a median of $10,963 early in their careers. Set against $6,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Houston Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $23,061. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $16,075. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Odessa College landed the #18 spot for cosmetology value this year. Odessa College is a large public school located in the city of Odessa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,688, compared with $4,926 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete the cosmetology program here. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $47,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texarkana College came in at #19 for value in cosmetology this year. Texarkana College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texarkana. Students from in state pay about $2,476 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,332. Students borrow a median of $5,450 to complete the cosmetology program here. Cosmetology graduates of Texarkana College earn a median of $33,707 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Panola College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Located in the town of Carthage, Panola College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,352 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,232. Median earnings reach $36,072 ten years out.
Coastal Bend College came in at #21 for value in cosmetology this year. Located in the town of Beeville, Coastal Bend College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,916 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,226. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $14,609. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,086 ten years after entry. Set against $14,609 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Plains College placed #22 among the best values for cosmetology. Set in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,733 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,157 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $11,000. Cosmetology graduates of South Plains College earn a median of $11,557 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Lone Star College System placed #23 among the best values for cosmetology. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, compared with $7,512 for out-of-state students. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $18,887. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Ranger College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value cosmetology schools. Ranger College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Ranger. Students from in state pay about $2,766 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,066. Cosmetology graduates carry a median of $12,749 in student loans. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $13,252. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Laredo Community College earned the #25 position for value in cosmetology this year. Located in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $5,748. Typical student debt for cosmetology graduates is $6,000. Early-career cosmetology graduates make about $41,354. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Cosmetology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s cosmetology value ranking:
More Cosmetology Rankings
View All Cosmetology Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 127 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 127 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.
