100 Best Cosmetology schools in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 617K citations received by 19.6K academic papers made by 124 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: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Cosmetology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

3. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Cosmetology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

4. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Cosmetology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

5. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Cosmetology

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

6. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Cosmetology

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Net Price: $26,197
Receiving Aid: 37%
Average Aid: $54,233

7. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Cosmetology

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

8. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Cosmetology

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

9. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Cosmetology

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Cosmetology

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

11. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Cosmetology

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

12. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Cosmetology

#14 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

13. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Cosmetology

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

Enrollment: 364
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1941

14. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Cosmetology

#16 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

15. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Cosmetology

#17 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,253
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1963

16. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Cosmetology

#18 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

17. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Cosmetology

#19 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

18. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Cosmetology

#20 in North America

#27 in the World

Enrollment: 2,354
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1943

19. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Cosmetology

#21 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

20. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Cosmetology

#22 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

21. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Cosmetology

#23 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

22. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Cosmetology

#24 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

23. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Pennsylvania | Hershey

For Cosmetology

#25 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

24. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Cosmetology

#27 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

25. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Cosmetology

#28 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

26. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Cosmetology

#29 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

27. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Cosmetology

#30 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

28. SUNY Downstate Medical Center

New York State | New York City

For Cosmetology

#31 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 2,185
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1860

29. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Cosmetology

#33 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

30. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Cosmetology

#34 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

31. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Cosmetology

#36 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

32. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Cosmetology

#37 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,870
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

33. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Cosmetology

#38 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

34. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Cosmetology

#39 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

35. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Cosmetology

#40 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

36. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Cosmetology

#41 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

37. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Cosmetology

#42 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

38. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Cosmetology

#43 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

39. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Cosmetology

#44 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

40. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Cosmetology

#45 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

41. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Cosmetology

#46 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

42. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Cosmetology

#47 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

43. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Cosmetology

#48 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

44. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Cosmetology

#49 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

45. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Cosmetology

#50 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

46. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Cosmetology

#51 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

47. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Cosmetology

#52 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,263

48. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Cosmetology

#53 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $28,110

49. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Cosmetology

#54 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,175
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1824

50. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Cosmetology

#55 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

51. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Cosmetology

#57 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

52. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Cosmetology

#58 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

53. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Cosmetology

#59 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

54. Florida College

Florida | Temple Terrace

For Cosmetology

#60 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1065
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $21,360

55. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Cosmetology

#61 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

56. Phillips School of Nursing at Mount Sinai Beth Israel

New York State | New York City

For Cosmetology

#62 in North America

#156 in the World

Receiving Aid: 0%
Enrollment: 329
Male:Female: 13:87

57. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Cosmetology

#63 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,931
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

58. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Cosmetology

#64 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,361
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1891

59. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Cosmetology

#65 in North America

#161 in the World

Enrollment: 1,615
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

60. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Cosmetology

#66 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

61. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Cosmetology

#67 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

62. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Cosmetology

#68 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

63. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Cosmetology

#69 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

64. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Cosmetology

#70 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,518
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1959

65. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Maryland | Bethesda

For Cosmetology

#71 in North America

#175 in the World

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

66. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Cosmetology

#72 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

67. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Cosmetology

#74 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

68. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Cosmetology

#75 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

69. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Cosmetology

#76 in North America

#194 in the World

Enrollment: 5,354
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1972

70. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Cosmetology

#77 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

71. Chestnut Hill College

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Cosmetology

#82 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Net Price: $25,357
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,288

72. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Cosmetology

#83 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

73. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Cosmetology

#84 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

74. Augusta University

Georgia | Augusta

For Cosmetology

#85 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 96%

75. La Roche College

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Cosmetology

#86 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $24,233

76. Albany Medical College

New York State | Albany

For Cosmetology

#87 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 837
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1839

77. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Cosmetology

#88 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

78. Loma Linda University

California | Loma Linda

For Cosmetology

#89 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 4,280
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1905

79. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Cosmetology

#90 in North America

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

80. Saint Louis University

Missouri | St. Louis

For Cosmetology

#92 in North America

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $29,651

81. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Cosmetology

#93 in North America

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

82. New York Medical College

New York State | Valhalla

For Cosmetology

#94 in North America

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,454
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1860

83. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Cosmetology

#95 in North America

#268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

84. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Cosmetology

#96 in North America

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,352
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1962

85. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Cosmetology

#97 in North America

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

86. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Cosmetology

#98 in North America

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

87. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Cosmetology

#99 in North America

#281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

88. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Cosmetology

#100 in North America

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

89. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Arkansas | Little Rock

For Cosmetology

#101 in North America

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 3,240
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1879

90. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Cosmetology

#102 in North America

#291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

91. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Cosmetology

#103 in North America

#300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

92. University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center

Oklahoma State | Oklahoma City

For Cosmetology

#105 in North America

#304 in the World

Enrollment: 3,389
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1900

93. Howard University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Cosmetology

#106 in North America

#305 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $28,279

94. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Cosmetology

#107 in North America

#307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

95. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Cosmetology

#108 in North America

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

96. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Cosmetology

#110 in North America

#326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

97. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Cosmetology

#111 in North America

#332 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

98. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Cosmetology

#112 in North America

#336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

99. Johnson University

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Cosmetology

#113 in North America

#338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1088
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $21,012

100. CUNY City College

New York State | New York City

For Cosmetology

#115 in North America

#358 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,822
Enrollment: 14,489

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