COSMETOLOGY SCHOOLS IN FLORIDA — Federal Data, September 2026
Cosmetology Schools in Florida, Ranked On What Graduates Owe And Earn
64 accredited institutions in Florida report enough federal data on this program to be compared. They are ranked here on a single measure: how many months of gross pay it takes a graduate to cover the median debt.
See The RankingU.S. Department of Education data. No school paid to be listed.
Across the 64 ranked programs in Florida, the median graduate needs 6.2 months of gross pay to cover a median federal debt of $9,458, against median earnings of $16,882 one year after completion.
That is faster than the national median of 6.8 months for this field, measured across the 987 institutions in our national cosmetology schools ranking. The best performer in the state is Pensacola State College in Pensacola, at 2.8 months.
Every figure on this page is recalculated on Florida institutions only. Nothing is carried over from the national page.
At A Glance
What the federal data says about cosmetology schools in Florida
The Ranking
64 cosmetology schools in Florida, ranked by months of gross pay to cover the debt
Lower is better.
| # | School | Type | Award | Months | Debt | Earnings | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pensacola State CollegePensacola, FL | Public | Certificate | 2.8 | $5,500 | $23,911 | 36% |
| 2 | American Beauty and Trade SchoolMiami, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 3.3 | $3,200 | $11,693 | 98% |
| 3 | Daytona State CollegeDaytona Beach, FL | Public | Certificate | 3.4 | $5,807 | $20,212 | 43% |
| 4 | Cortiva InstituteSt. Petersburg, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 3.5 | $6,333 | $21,812 | 79% |
| 5 | Manatee Technical CollegeBradenton, FL | Public | Certificate | 4.0 | $7,242 | $21,731 | 64% |
| 6 | Cortiva InstituteMaitland, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 4.3 | $7,797 | $21,856 | 79% |
| 7 | Cortiva InstituteMaitland, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 4.3 | $7,797 | $21,856 | 70% |
| 8 | Daytona CollegeOrmond Beach, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 4.5 | $7,798 | $20,872 | 86% |
| 9 | Florida Academy of Health & BeautyOakland Park, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 4.6 | $5,743 | $15,023 | 83% |
| 10 | Florida Gateway CollegeLake City, FL | Public | Certificate | 4.7 | $6,400 | $16,195 | 54% |
| 11 | Lively Technical CollegeTallahassee, FL | Public | Certificate | 4.7 | $5,520 | $14,031 | 51% |
| 12 | Palm Beach State CollegeLake Worth, FL | Public | Certificate | 4.7 | $9,500 | $24,361 | 41% |
| 13 | Florida AcademyFort Myers, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 4.7 | $6,404 | $16,245 | 71% |
| 14 | Prestige Health & Beauty Sciences AcademyHallandale Beach, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 4.8 | $6,333 | $15,773 | 89% |
| 15 | Academy of Career TrainingKissimmee, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 4.9 | $6,249 | $15,256 | 82% |
| 16 | New Concept Massage and Beauty SchoolMiami, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 5.0 | $5,700 | $13,613 | 85% |
| 17 | Boca Beauty AcademyBoca Raton, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 5.0 | $6,920 | $16,730 | 90% |
| 18 | Boca Beauty Academy-ParklandParkland, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 5.0 | $6,920 | $16,730 | 86% |
| 19 | Paul Mitchell the School-Fort LauderdalePlantation, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 5.1 | $7,407 | $17,570 | 71% |
| 20 | Loraines Academy & SpaSaint Petersburg, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 5.2 | $7,208 | $16,482 | 61% |
| 21 | Florida State College at JacksonvilleJacksonville, FL | Public | Certificate | 5.5 | $13,577 | $29,668 | 37% |
| 22 | Fort Pierce Beauty AcademyFort Pierce, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 5.5 | $9,500 | $20,902 | 88% |
| 23 | Hollywood InstituteMargate, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 5.6 | $7,937 | $17,033 | 78% |
| 24 | Jones Technical InstituteJacksonville, FL | nonprofit | Certificate | 5.7 | $9,500 | $20,024 | 71% |
| 25 | Aveda Institute-Tampa BayClearwater, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 5.8 | $9,416 | $19,456 | 71% |
| 26 | Summit Salon AcademyTampa, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 5.9 | $9,833 | $20,153 | 82% |
| 27 | Parisian Spa InstituteJacksonville, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 5.9 | $7,917 | $16,072 | 93% |
| 28 | Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-TampaTampa, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 6.1 | $9,500 | $18,766 | 77% |
| 29 | The Salon Professional Academy-MelbourneMelbourne, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 6.1 | $9,250 | $18,275 | 86% |
| 30 | Aveda Institute-South FloridaDavie, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 6.1 | $9,000 | $17,806 | 73% |
| 31 | Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-LakelandLakeland, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 6.1 | $9,500 | $18,766 | 76% |
| 32 | Salon Professional Academy-Elevate Salon InstituteMiami Beach, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 6.1 | $9,250 | $18,275 | 68% |
| 33 | Indian River State CollegeFort Pierce, FL | Public | Certificate | 6.2 | $9,540 | $18,411 | 45% |
| 34 | American Institute of BeautyLargo, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 6.2 | $9,500 | $18,327 | 60% |
| 35 | Celebrity School of BeautyMiami, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 6.3 | $7,000 | $13,305 | 71% |
| 36 | Aveda Institute-Fort MyersFort Myers, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 6.4 | $10,001 | $18,752 | 68% |
| 37 | Beauty Academy of South FloridaHialeah Gardens, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 6.4 | $7,386 | $13,866 | 72% |
| 38 | Paul Mitchell the School-Fort MyersFort Myers, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 6.4 | $9,833 | $18,580 | 81% |
| 39 | Erwin Technical CollegeTampa, FL | Public | Certificate | 6.5 | $10,633 | $19,607 | 80% |
| 40 | Robert Fiance Beauty SchoolsBoynton Beach, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 6.8 | $8,898 | $15,736 | 71% |
| 41 | American Academy of CosmetologyOrange Park, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 6.8 | $9,000 | $15,903 | 67% |
| 42 | Meridian CollegeSarasota, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 6.9 | $12,545 | $21,848 | 51% |
| 43 | Sheridan Technical CollegeHollywood, FL | Public | Certificate | 7.1 | $9,105 | $15,338 | 69% |
| 44 | Hollywood Institute of Beauty CareersHollywood, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 7.3 | $9,500 | $15,540 | 79% |
| 45 | Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-West Palm BeachWest Palm Beach, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 7.3 | $9,500 | $15,540 | 83% |
| 46 | Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-CasselberryCasselberry, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 7.3 | $9,500 | $15,540 | 73% |
| 47 | Shear Excellence Hair AcademyTampa, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 7.5 | $9,500 | $15,287 | 50% |
| 48 | Academy of CosmetologyMerritt Island, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 7.6 | $9,500 | $14,988 | 39% |
| 49 | Tenaj Salon InstituteThe Villages, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 7.7 | $11,020 | $17,077 | 62% |
| 50 | La Belle Beauty SchoolHialeah, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 7.9 | $8,149 | $12,402 | 89% |
| 51 | La Belle Beauty AcademyMiami, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 8.1 | $8,149 | $12,087 | 98% |
| 52 | Latin Beauty Academygreenacres, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 8.3 | $9,500 | $13,773 | 75% |
| 53 | World Class Academy of Beauty CareersTallahassee, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 8.3 | $13,867 | $20,087 | 100% |
| 54 | Paul Mitchell the School-JacksonvilleJacksonville, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 8.4 | $13,433 | $19,234 | 79% |
| 55 | Summit Salon Academy-GainesvilleGainesville, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 8.6 | $13,000 | $18,067 | 76% |
| 56 | Paul Mitchell the School-OrlandoOviedo, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 8.7 | $12,000 | $16,464 | 61% |
| 57 | Paul Mitchell the School-TampaTampa, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 8.7 | $12,000 | $16,464 | 74% |
| 58 | International AcademySouth Daytona, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 8.8 | $13,000 | $17,714 | 48% |
| 59 | Empire Beauty School-LakelandLakeland, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 8.9 | $13,849 | $18,639 | 59% |
| 60 | Bene’s Career AcademyNew Port Richey, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 9.1 | $11,666 | $15,325 | 63% |
| 61 | Empire Beauty School-West PalmWest Palm Beach, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 9.9 | $13,583 | $16,429 | 60% |
| 62 | North Florida Cosmetology InstituteTallahassee, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 10.2 | $13,000 | $15,361 | 67% |
| 63 | Empire Beauty School-TampaTampa, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 10.4 | $13,583 | $15,679 | 54% |
| 64 | UR Beauty & Barber AcademySebring, FL | for-profit | Certificate | 11.2 | $13,000 | $13,951 | 81% |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Cohorts by Field of Study and by Institution (published 9 June 2026). Debt is the median federal Stafford and Grad PLUS loan debt of completers in this program; earnings are median earnings one year after completion. Where a school offers the program at both certificate and associate level, the shorter payback is shown. Completion is the institution’s published rate, not the program’s.
The Top Five, In Detail
The five fastest payback programs in Florida, one by one
Pensacola State College
Pensacola, FL
Pensacola State College is a public institution in Pensacola. Its cosmetology graduates leave with a median federal debt of $5,500 and report median earnings of $23,911 a year after completing, so the debt is covered by 2.8 months of gross pay: the fastest payback in the state, and 3.4 months faster than the Florida state median of 6.2. The award measured here is a certificate. The institution reports a 36% completion rate.
American Beauty and Trade School
Miami, FL
American Beauty and Trade School is a private for-profit institution in Miami. Its cosmetology graduates leave with a median federal debt of $3,200 and report median earnings of $11,693 a year after completing, so the debt is covered by 3.3 months of gross pay: the second fastest in the state, and 2.9 months faster than the Florida state median of 6.2. The award measured here is a certificate. The institution reports a 98% completion rate.
Daytona State College
Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona State College is a public institution in Daytona Beach. Its cosmetology graduates leave with a median federal debt of $5,807 and report median earnings of $20,212 a year after completing, so the debt is covered by 3.4 months of gross pay: the third fastest in the state, and 2.8 months faster than the Florida state median of 6.2. The award measured here is a certificate. The institution reports a 43% completion rate.
Cortiva Institute
St. Petersburg, FL
Cortiva Institute is a private for-profit institution in St. Petersburg. Its cosmetology graduates leave with a median federal debt of $6,333 and report median earnings of $21,812 a year after completing, so the debt is covered by 3.5 months of gross pay: fourth in the state, and 2.7 months faster than the Florida state median of 6.2. The award measured here is a certificate. The institution reports a 79% completion rate.
Manatee Technical College
Bradenton, FL
Manatee Technical College is a public institution in Bradenton. Its cosmetology graduates leave with a median federal debt of $7,242 and report median earnings of $21,731 a year after completing, so the debt is covered by 4.0 months of gross pay: fifth in the state, and 2.2 months faster than the Florida state median of 6.2. The award measured here is a certificate. The institution reports a 64% completion rate.
Read It Carefully
What this ranking does not measure
Absence from this page is not a verdict. The Department of Education suppresses figures for programs with small cohorts, so a small, excellent school will often have no publishable data at all. Schools that enroll no students on federal aid are outside this dataset entirely.
The measure is a ratio, not a repayment plan, and it counts federal loan debt only. Cash payments, private loans and employer sponsorship are invisible here. Local wages shape earnings as much as the school does, which is exactly why comparing inside one state, as this page does, is more informative than comparing across the country.
Other States
The same program, another state
Other Programs in Florida
Comparing a different trade in Florida
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