Bright outlook
Personal care and service
Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
- Median pay
- $97,150
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Postsecondary certificate
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
ProgramsCulinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
CIP12.04
311 colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 311
- at its most common level
- Certificate earnings
- $25,012
- median, 4 years after
- Certificate debt
- $6,704
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 311
- Associate's
- 168
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 1
What it covers
About Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
A program that generally prepares individuals to cut, trim, and style scalp, facial, and body hair; apply cosmetic preparations; perform manicures and pedicures; massage the head and extremities; and prepare for practice as licensed cosmetologists in specialized or full-service salons. Includes instruction in hair cutting and styling, manicuring, pedicuring, facial treatments, shampooing, chemical applications, esthetics, shop management, sanitation and safety, customer service, and applicable professional and labor laws and regulations.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 12.04.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 12.04.
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General
- Barbering/Barber
- Electrolysis/Electrology and Electrolysis Technician
- Make-Up Artist/Specialist
- Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design
- Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist
- Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist
- Nail Technician/Specialist and Manicurist
- Permanent Cosmetics/Makeup and Tattooing
- Salon/Beauty Salon Management/Manager
- Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, and Nail Instructor
- Master Aesthetician/Esthetician
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 311 | $25,0124 yrs after · 117 colleges | $6,70477 colleges |
| Associate's | 168 | $24,8184 yrs after · 8 colleges | $15,3134 colleges |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Associate's programs
Where Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Lakewood, WA · Public · 81 graduates
$33,290
debt not reported
- 2
Monessen, PA · — · 50 graduates
$32,245
debt $12,000
- 3
Central New Mexico Community College
Albuquerque, NM · Public · 31 graduates
$27,398
debt not reported
- 4
Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte, NC · Public · 18 graduates
$26,550
debt not reported
- 5
Bevill State Community College
Jasper, AL · Public · 12 graduates
$23,086
debt not reported
- 6
Clarksdale, MS · Public · 12 graduates
$22,918
debt not reported
- 7
Houston, TX · Public · 35 graduates
$22,631
debt $18,626
- 8
Gadsden State Community College
Gadsden, AL · Public · 29 graduates
$18,504
debt not reported
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Fitness and Wellness Coordinators
- Median pay
- $69,770
- Outlook
- Faster than average
High school diploma
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Coordination
- Bright outlook
Management
Personal Service Managers, All Other
- Median pay
- $69,770
- Outlook
- Faster than average
High school diploma
- Bright outlook
Management
Spa Managers
- Median pay
- $69,770
- Outlook
- Faster than average
High school diploma
- Coordination
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Bright outlook
Personal care and service
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
- Median pay
- $48,590
- Outlook
- Faster than average
High school diploma
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Coordination
- Bright outlook
Personal care and service
Skincare Specialists
- Median pay
- $45,330
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Postsecondary certificate
- Speaking
- Service Orientation
- Active Listening
Personal care and service
Barbers
- Median pay
- $38,210
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Postsecondary certificate
- Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Personal care and service
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
- Median pay
- $35,790
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Postsecondary certificate
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Service Orientation
More in Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
How many colleges offer Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services at these degree levels: certificate (311 colleges), associate's (168 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (1 college). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services graduates earn?
At the median college, certificate graduates in Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services earn $25,012 a year four years after finishing, across 117 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services graduates earn the most?
Clover Park Technical College reports the highest median earnings for associate's graduates in Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services: $33,290 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.