by our College Data Analytics Team
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2021-2022, 124,611 people earned their degree in cosmetology, making the major the 226th most popular in the United States. In , cosmetology graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $17,032 and had an average of $9,008 in loans still to pay off.
At the associate degree level specifically, there were 1,192 cosmetology graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,431 and $15,731 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major” ranking, we looked at 157 colleges that offer a degree in cosmetology. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their cosmetology program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
The cosmetology school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major”.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
The colleges and universities below are the best for associate degree cosmetology students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Douglas Education Center. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major list. Douglas Education Center is a private for-profit institution located in Monessen, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 63 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 157 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Remington College - Houston Southeast Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Webster, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 degrees to qualified associates’s cosmetology students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Cosmetology at Remington College - Houston Southeast Campus
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Remington College - Cleveland Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major. Remington College - Cleveland Campus is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 24 associates’s cosmetology degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Remington College - Cleveland Campus
Out of the 157 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern Wyoming College landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Torrington, Wyoming, this small public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified associates’s cosmetology students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Remington College - North Houston Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major. Remington College - North Houston Campus is located in Houston, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9 associates’s cosmetology degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Remington College - North Houston Campus
Clover Park Technical College ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major list. CPTC is a small school located in Lakewood, Washington that handed out 46 associates’s cosmetology degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Shelton State Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major ranking, coming in at #7. Tuscaloosa, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s cosmetology degrees to 26 students in 2021-2022.
Read more about Cosmetology at Shelton State Community College
With a ranking of #8, Central Wyoming College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major list. CWC is a small school located in Riverton, Wyoming that handed out 10 associates’s cosmetology degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
With a ranking of #9, Independence Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major list. This small school is located in Independence, Kansas, and it awarded 4 associates’s cosmetology degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Honolulu Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major ranking. Honolulu CC is a small public school situated in Honolulu, Hawaii. It awarded 21 associates’s cosmetology degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Gadsden State Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major ranking, coming in at #11. Gadsden, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s cosmetology degrees to 37 students in 2021-2022.
Robeson Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major ranking. Located in Lumberton, North Carolina, this small public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified associates’s cosmetology students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
James Sprunt Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major ranking, coming in at #13. Kenansville, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s cosmetology degrees to 5 students in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Northland Pioneer College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major ranking. Holbrook, Arizona is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s cosmetology degrees to 4 students in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Northland Pioneer College
Bellingham Technical College ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major list. Bellingham Technical College is a public institution located in Bellingham, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Cosmetology at Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute
Western Piedmont Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major list. Western Piedmont Community College is a small public school situated in Morganton, North Carolina. It awarded 19 associates’s cosmetology degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Fort Scott Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major ranking. Located in Fort Scott, Kansas, this small public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified associates’s cosmetology students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #18, Haywood Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major list. Located in Clyde, North Carolina, this small public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified associates’s cosmetology students in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
With a ranking of #19, Southeastern Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major list. This small school is located in Whiteville, North Carolina, and it awarded 6 associates’s cosmetology degrees in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Cosmetology at Southeastern Community College
Palo Alto College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major ranking, coming in at #20. Palo Alto College is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 27 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #21, Walla Walla Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major list. Walla Walla Community College is a public institution located in Walla Walla, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Cosmetology at Walla Walla Community College
Central Carolina Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major list. This medium-sized school is located in Sanford, North Carolina, and it awarded 3 associates’s cosmetology degrees in 2021-2022.
Read more about Cosmetology at Central Carolina Community College
With a ranking of #23, Northwest-Shoals Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major list. Muscle Shoals, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s cosmetology degrees to 22 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
With a ranking of #24, J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major list. Located in Huntsville, Alabama, this small public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified associates’s cosmetology students in 2021-2022.
With a ranking of #25, Halifax Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Cosmetology Major list. Located in Weldon, North Carolina, this small public school handed out 5 degrees to qualified associates’s cosmetology students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Halifax Community College
Read more about our data sources and methodologies