100 Best Cosmetology schools in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 834K citations received by 22.7K 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: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Cosmetology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

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: $45,397

4. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Cosmetology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

5. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Cosmetology

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
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: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,401

7. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Cosmetology

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

8. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Cosmetology

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

9. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Cosmetology

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Cosmetology

#11 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

11. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Cosmetology

#12 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,261
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1963

12. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Cosmetology

#13 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

13. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Cosmetology

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

14. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Cosmetology

#16 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

15. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Cosmetology

#17 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

16. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Cosmetology

#18 in North America

#25 in the World

Enrollment: 359
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1941

17. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Cosmetology

#19 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

18. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Cosmetology

#20 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

19. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Cosmetology

#21 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

20. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Cosmetology

#22 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

21. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Cosmetology

#23 in North America

#36 in the World

Enrollment: 2,549
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1943

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: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

23. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Cosmetology

#25 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

24. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Cosmetology

#26 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

25. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Cosmetology

#28 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

26. SUNY Downstate Medical Center

New York State | New York City

For Cosmetology

#29 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,220
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1860

27. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Pennsylvania | Hershey

For Cosmetology

#30 in North America

#47 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: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

29. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Cosmetology

#32 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

30. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Cosmetology

#33 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

31. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Cosmetology

#34 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

32. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Cosmetology

#36 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

33. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Cosmetology

#37 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Cosmetology

#38 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

35. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Cosmetology

#39 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

36. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Cosmetology

#40 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

37. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Cosmetology

#42 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

38. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Cosmetology

#43 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,942
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

39. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Cosmetology

#44 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

40. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Cosmetology

#45 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

41. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Cosmetology

#46 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

42. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Cosmetology

#47 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

43. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Cosmetology

#48 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

44. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Cosmetology

#49 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

45. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Cosmetology

#50 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

46. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Cosmetology

#51 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

47. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Cosmetology

#52 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $29,325

48. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Cosmetology

#53 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

49. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Cosmetology

#55 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

50. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Cosmetology

#56 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,246
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1824

51. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Cosmetology

#57 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

52. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Cosmetology

#58 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

53. Phillips School of Nursing at Mount Sinai Beth Israel

New York State | New York City

For Cosmetology

#59 in North America

#133 in the World

Receiving Aid: 0%
Enrollment: 311
Male:Female: 12:88

54. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Cosmetology

#60 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

55. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Cosmetology

#61 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

56. Florida College

Florida | Temple Terrace

For Cosmetology

#62 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $24,335

57. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Cosmetology

#63 in North America

#163 in the World

Enrollment: 4,938
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

58. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Cosmetology

#64 in North America

#168 in the World

Enrollment: 1,677
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

59. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Cosmetology

#65 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,241
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1891

60. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Cosmetology

#67 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

61. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Cosmetology

#68 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

62. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Cosmetology

#69 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

63. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Cosmetology

#70 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

64. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Cosmetology

#71 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

65. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Maryland | Bethesda

For Cosmetology

#72 in North America

#199 in the World

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

66. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Cosmetology

#75 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

67. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Cosmetology

#77 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

68. Augusta University

Georgia | Augusta

For Cosmetology

#78 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1055
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 93%

69. Saint Louis University

Missouri | St. Louis

For Cosmetology

#79 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $27,749

70. Albany Medical College

New York State | Albany

For Cosmetology

#80 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 814
Male:Female: 37:63
Founded: 1839

71. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Cosmetology

#81 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,786
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1959

72. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Cosmetology

#82 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

73. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Cosmetology

#83 in North America

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

74. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Cosmetology

#85 in North America

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

75. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Cosmetology

#86 in North America

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

76. Chestnut Hill College

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Cosmetology

#87 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $28,588
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,590

77. Loma Linda University

California | Loma Linda

For Cosmetology

#88 in North America

#256 in the World

Enrollment: 4,210
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1905

78. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Cosmetology

#89 in North America

#265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

79. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Cosmetology

#90 in North America

#275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

80. La Roche College

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Cosmetology

#92 in North America

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $24,108

81. New York Medical College

New York State | Valhalla

For Cosmetology

#93 in North America

#284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,471
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1860

82. Howard University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Cosmetology

#94 in North America

#288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $33,368

83. Johnson University

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Cosmetology

#95 in North America

#291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1035
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $22,615

84. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Cosmetology

#96 in North America

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

85. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Arkansas | Little Rock

For Cosmetology

#97 in North America

#295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 3,485
Male:Female: 25:75
Founded: 1879

86. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Cosmetology

#98 in North America

#301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,210
Enrollment: 17,560

87. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Cosmetology

#99 in North America

#307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

88. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Cosmetology

#100 in North America

#310 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

89. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Cosmetology

#101 in North America

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

90. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Cosmetology

#102 in North America

#328 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

91. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Cosmetology

#104 in North America

#348 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

92. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Cosmetology

#106 in North America

#350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

93. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Cosmetology

#107 in North America

#353 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

94. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Cosmetology

#108 in North America

#363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

95. University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center

Oklahoma State | Oklahoma City

For Cosmetology

#109 in North America

#369 in the World

Enrollment: 3,680
Male:Female: 26:74
Founded: 1900

96. Eastern Virginia Medical School

Virginia | Norfolk

For Cosmetology

#110 in North America

#376 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,216
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1973

97. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Cosmetology

#111 in North America

#377 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

98. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Cosmetology

#112 in North America

#379 in the World

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

99. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Cosmetology

#114 in North America

#387 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

100. Touro University Nevada

Nevada | Henderson

For Cosmetology

#115 in North America

#398 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 1,600
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.