100 Best Cosmetology schools in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Cosmetology. A graph of 788K citations received by 22K academic papers made by 121 universities in the United States 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

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Cosmetology

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Cosmetology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Cosmetology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Cosmetology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Cosmetology

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

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

6. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Cosmetology

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

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

7. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Cosmetology

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

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

8. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Cosmetology

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

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

9. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Cosmetology

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

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

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Cosmetology

#11 in North America

#13 in the World

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

11. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Cosmetology

#12 in North America

#16 in the World

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

12. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Cosmetology

#13 in North America

#17 in the World

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

13. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Cosmetology

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

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

14. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Cosmetology

#16 in North America

#21 in the World

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

15. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Cosmetology

#17 in North America

#24 in the World

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

16. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Cosmetology

#18 in North America

#25 in the World

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

17. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Cosmetology

#19 in North America

#26 in the World

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

18. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Cosmetology

#20 in North America

#27 in the World

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

19. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Cosmetology

#21 in North America

#32 in the World

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

20. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Cosmetology

#22 in North America

#35 in the World

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

21. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Cosmetology

#23 in North America

#36 in the World

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

22. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Cosmetology

#24 in North America

#37 in the World

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

23. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Cosmetology

#25 in North America

#39 in the World

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

24. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Cosmetology

#26 in North America

#40 in the World

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

25. SUNY Downstate Medical Center

New York State | New York City

For Cosmetology

#28 in North America

#43 in the World

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

26. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Cosmetology

#29 in North America

#44 in the World

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

27. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Pennsylvania | Hershey

For Cosmetology

#30 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

28. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Cosmetology

#31 in North America

#49 in the World

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

29. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Cosmetology

#32 in North America

#52 in the World

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

30. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Cosmetology

#33 in North America

#53 in the World

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

31. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Cosmetology

#34 in North America

#55 in the World

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

32. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Cosmetology

#36 in North America

#60 in the World

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

33. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Cosmetology

#37 in North America

#61 in the World

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

34. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Cosmetology

#38 in North America

#62 in the World

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

35. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Cosmetology

#39 in North America

#63 in the World

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

36. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Cosmetology

#41 in North America

#66 in the World

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

37. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Cosmetology

#42 in North America

#68 in the World

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

38. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Cosmetology

#43 in North America

#69 in the World

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

39. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Cosmetology

#44 in North America

#71 in the World

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

40. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Cosmetology

#45 in North America

#77 in the World

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

41. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Cosmetology

#46 in North America

#80 in the World

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

42. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Cosmetology

#47 in North America

#84 in the World

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

43. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Cosmetology

#48 in North America

#87 in the World

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

44. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Cosmetology

#49 in North America

#90 in the World

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

45. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Cosmetology

#50 in North America

#91 in the World

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

46. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Cosmetology

#51 in North America

#96 in the World

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

47. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Cosmetology

#52 in North America

#102 in the World

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

48. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Cosmetology

#53 in North America

#108 in the World

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

49. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Cosmetology

#54 in North America

#112 in the World

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

50. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Cosmetology

#55 in North America

#120 in the World

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

51. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Cosmetology

#57 in North America

#124 in the World

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

52. Phillips School of Nursing at Mount Sinai Beth Israel

New York State | New York City

For Cosmetology

#58 in North America

#129 in the World

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

53. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Cosmetology

#59 in North America

#132 in the World

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

54. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Cosmetology

#60 in North America

#138 in the World

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

55. Florida College

Florida | Temple Terrace

For Cosmetology

#61 in North America

#145 in the World

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

56. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Cosmetology

#62 in North America

#150 in the World

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

57. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Cosmetology

#63 in North America

#157 in the World

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

58. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Cosmetology

#64 in North America

#163 in the World

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

59. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Cosmetology

#65 in North America

#167 in the World

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

60. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Cosmetology

#67 in North America

#173 in the World

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

61. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Cosmetology

#68 in North America

#181 in the World

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

62. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Cosmetology

#69 in North America

#182 in the World

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

63. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Cosmetology

#70 in North America

#184 in the World

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

64. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Cosmetology

#71 in North America

#187 in the World

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

65. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Maryland | Bethesda

For Cosmetology

#72 in North America

#198 in the World

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

66. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Cosmetology

#74 in North America

#209 in the World

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

67. Augusta University

Georgia | Augusta

For Cosmetology

#75 in North America

#217 in the World

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

68. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Cosmetology

#77 in North America

#221 in the World

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

69. Saint Louis University

Missouri | St. Louis

For Cosmetology

#78 in North America

#223 in the World

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

70. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Cosmetology

#79 in North America

#224 in the World

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

71. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Cosmetology

#80 in North America

#225 in the World

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

72. Albany Medical College

New York State | Albany

For Cosmetology

#81 in North America

#226 in the World

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

73. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Cosmetology

#83 in North America

#233 in the World

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

74. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Cosmetology

#84 in North America

#235 in the World

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

75. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Cosmetology

#85 in North America

#237 in the World

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

76. Chestnut Hill College

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Cosmetology

#87 in North America

#248 in the World

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

77. Loma Linda University

California | Loma Linda

For Cosmetology

#88 in North America

#252 in the World

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

78. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Cosmetology

#89 in North America

#256 in the World

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

79. La Roche College

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Cosmetology

#90 in North America

#266 in the World

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

80. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Cosmetology

#91 in North America

#270 in the World

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

81. New York Medical College

New York State | Valhalla

For Cosmetology

#93 in North America

#279 in the World

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

82. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Arkansas | Little Rock

For Cosmetology

#94 in North America

#289 in the World

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

83. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Cosmetology

#95 in North America

#292 in the World

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

84. Howard University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Cosmetology

#96 in North America

#295 in the World

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

85. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Cosmetology

#97 in North America

#296 in the World

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

86. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Cosmetology

#98 in North America

#300 in the World

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

87. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Cosmetology

#99 in North America

#302 in the World

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

88. Johnson University

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Cosmetology

#100 in North America

#315 in the World

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

89. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Cosmetology

#101 in North America

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

90. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Cosmetology

#103 in North America

#335 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

91. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Cosmetology

#104 in North America

#336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

92. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Cosmetology

#106 in North America

#342 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

93. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Cosmetology

#107 in North America

#351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

94. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Cosmetology

#108 in North America

#355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

95. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Cosmetology

#109 in North America

#360 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

96. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Cosmetology

#110 in North America

#370 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

97. University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center

Oklahoma State | Oklahoma City

For Cosmetology

#111 in North America

#371 in the World

Enrollment: 3,563
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1900

98. Eastern Virginia Medical School

Virginia | Norfolk

For Cosmetology

#112 in North America

#375 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,235
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1973

99. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Cosmetology

#113 in North America

#382 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

100. Touro University Nevada

Nevada | Henderson

For Cosmetology

#114 in North America

#388 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 1,625
Male:Female: 40:60

The best cities to study Cosmetology in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Philadelphia, Cambridge, Coral Gables, and San Diego.