Best Cosmetology Schools in North America

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Cosmetology. A graph of 873K citations received by 24.3K academic papers made by 137 universities in North America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Cosmetology

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

2. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Cosmetology

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

3. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Cosmetology

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

4. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Cosmetology

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

5. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Cosmetology

#5 in the United States

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

6. Wake Forest University

United States | North Carolina

For Cosmetology

#6 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,790

7. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Cosmetology

#1 in Canada

#7 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

8. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Cosmetology

#7 in the United States

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

9. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Cosmetology

#8 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

10. New York University

United States | New York State

For Cosmetology

#9 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

11. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Cosmetology

#10 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

12. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

United States | New York State

For Cosmetology

#11 in the United States

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,234
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1963

13. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Cosmetology

#12 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

14. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Cosmetology

#2 in Canada

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 71,201
Founded: 1908

15. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Cosmetology

#13 in the United States

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

16. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Cosmetology

#14 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

17. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

United States | Texas

For Cosmetology

#15 in the United States

#24 in the World

Enrollment: 355
Male:Female: 21:79
Founded: 1941

18. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Cosmetology

#16 in the United States

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

19. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Cosmetology

#17 in the United States

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

20. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Cosmetology

#18 in the United States

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

21. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Cosmetology

#19 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

22. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

United States | Texas

For Cosmetology

#20 in the United States

#35 in the World

Enrollment: 2,501
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1943

23. Baylor College of Medicine

United States | Texas

For Cosmetology

#21 in the United States

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,699
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1900

24. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States | Minnesota

For Cosmetology

#22 in the United States

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

25. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Cosmetology

#23 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

26. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Cosmetology

#24 in the United States

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

27. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Cosmetology

#3 in Canada

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

28. SUNY Downstate Medical Center

United States | New York State

For Cosmetology

#25 in the United States

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,204
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1860

29. Stanford University

United States | California

For Cosmetology

#26 in the United States

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

30. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

United States | Pennsylvania

For Cosmetology

#27 in the United States

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

31. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Cosmetology

#28 in the United States

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

32. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Cosmetology

#29 in the United States

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

33. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Cosmetology

#30 in the United States

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

34. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Cosmetology

#31 in the United States

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

35. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Cosmetology

#4 in Canada

#58 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

36. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Cosmetology

#32 in the United States

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

37. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Cosmetology

#33 in the United States

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

38. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Cosmetology

#34 in the United States

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

39. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Cosmetology

#35 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

40. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Cosmetology

#5 in Canada

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

41. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Cosmetology

#36 in the United States

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

42. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Cosmetology

#37 in the United States

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

43. Oregon Health & Science University

United States | Oregon

For Cosmetology

#38 in the United States

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,877
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

44. University of Alabama at Birmingham

United States | Alabama

For Cosmetology

#39 in the United States

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

45. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Cosmetology

#40 in the United States

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

46. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

United States | Colorado

For Cosmetology

#41 in the United States

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

47. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Cosmetology

#42 in the United States

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

48. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Cosmetology

#43 in the United States

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

49. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Cosmetology

#44 in the United States

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

50. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Cosmetology

#45 in the United States

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

51. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Cosmetology

#46 in the United States

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

52. Tulane University of Louisiana

United States | Louisiana

For Cosmetology

#47 in the United States

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,631

53. Thomas Jefferson University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Cosmetology

#48 in the United States

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $29,097

54. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Cosmetology

#49 in the United States

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

55. University of Louisville

United States | Kentucky

For Cosmetology

#50 in the United States

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

56. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Cosmetology

#6 in Canada

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

57. Medical University of South Carolina

United States | South Carolina

For Cosmetology

#51 in the United States

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,117
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1824

58. Phillips School of Nursing at Mount Sinai Beth Israel

United States | New York State

For Cosmetology

#52 in the United States

#129 in the World

Receiving Aid: 0%
Enrollment: 273
Male:Female: 12:88

59. George Washington University

United States | District of Columbia

For Cosmetology

#53 in the United States

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

60. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Cosmetology

#54 in the United States

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

61. Florida College

United States | Florida

For Cosmetology

#55 in the United States

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $23,885

62. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Cosmetology

#56 in the United States

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

63. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

United States | Texas

For Cosmetology

#57 in the United States

#157 in the World

Enrollment: 5,048
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

64. Medical College of Wisconsin

United States | Wisconsin

For Cosmetology

#58 in the United States

#163 in the World

Enrollment: 1,661
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1893

65. University of Texas Medical Branch

United States | Texas

For Cosmetology

#59 in the United States

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,315
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1891

66. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Cosmetology

#7 in Canada

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

67. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Cosmetology

#60 in the United States

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

68. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Cosmetology

#61 in the United States

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

69. University of Maryland, Baltimore

United States | Maryland

For Cosmetology

#62 in the United States

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,667
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

70. Dartmouth College

United States | New Hampshire

For Cosmetology

#63 in the United States

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

71. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

United States | Indiana

For Cosmetology

#64 in the United States

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

72. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

United States | Maryland

For Cosmetology

#65 in the United States

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 1972

73. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Cosmetology

#8 in Canada

#206 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

74. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Cosmetology

#66 in the United States

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

75. Augusta University

United States | Georgia

For Cosmetology

#67 in the United States

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

76. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Cosmetology

#9 in Canada

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

77. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Cosmetology

#68 in the United States

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

78. Saint Louis University

United States | Missouri

For Cosmetology

#69 in the United States

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $30,911

79. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

United States | Texas

For Cosmetology

#70 in the United States

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,640
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1959

80. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Cosmetology

#71 in the United States

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

81. Albany Medical College

United States | New York State

For Cosmetology

#72 in the United States

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 834
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1839

82. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Cosmetology

#10 in Canada

#227 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

83. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Cosmetology

#73 in the United States

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

84. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Cosmetology

#74 in the United States

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

85. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Cosmetology

#75 in the United States

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

86. University of Windsor

Canada | Ontario

For Cosmetology

#11 in Canada

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 16,092
Founded: 1857

87. Chestnut Hill College

United States | Pennsylvania

For Cosmetology

#76 in the United States

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Net Price: $28,583
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,744

88. Loma Linda University

United States | California

For Cosmetology

#77 in the United States

#252 in the World

Enrollment: 4,202
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1905

89. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Cosmetology

#78 in the United States

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

90. La Roche College

United States | Pennsylvania

For Cosmetology

#79 in the United States

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1145
Net Price: $24,638
Receiving Aid: 100%

91. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Cosmetology

#80 in the United States

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

92. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Cosmetology

#12 in Canada

#271 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

93. New York Medical College

United States | New York State

For Cosmetology

#81 in the United States

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,470
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1860

94. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

United States | Arkansas

For Cosmetology

#82 in the United States

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 3,275
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1879

95. SUNY at Albany

United States | New York State

For Cosmetology

#83 in the United States

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,747
Enrollment: 16,880

96. Howard University

United States | District of Columbia

For Cosmetology

#84 in the United States

#295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Average SAT: 1199
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $30,028

97. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Cosmetology

#85 in the United States

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

98. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Cosmetology

#86 in the United States

#300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

99. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

United States | Massachusetts

For Cosmetology

#87 in the United States

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,394
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1962

100. Johnson University

United States | Tennessee

For Cosmetology

#88 in the United States

#315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 990
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $20,713

Medicine subfields in North America

Anatomy and Physiology916

Anesthesiology582

Bioethics/Medical Ethics316

Biomedical Engineering312

Clinical Psychology870

Critical Care Nursing472

Epidemiology254

Family medicine686

Forensic Science233

Gastroenterology and Hepatology361

Health Science1068

Healthcare Management (MHA)702

Medical Physics240

Neurosurgery208

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN)449

Occupational Therapy308

Oncology and Cancer research623

Ophthalmology375

Orthodontics442

Paramedicine and Emergency medicine645

Pharmacology632

Physical Therapy841

Plastic Surgery247

Public Health1126

Radiation Therapy325

Radiology and Nuclear medicine881

Respiratory Therapy228

Sonography and Ultrasound210

Sports / Exercise science337

Sports Medicine586