COSMETOLOGY SCHOOLS IN TEXAS — Federal Data, September 2026
Cosmetology Schools in Texas, Ranked On What Graduates Owe And Earn
92 accredited institutions in Texas 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 92 ranked programs in Texas, the median graduate needs 6.0 months of gross pay to cover a median federal debt of $8,450, against median earnings of $16,920 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 Dallas Barber & Stylist College in Dallas, at 3.3 months.
Every figure on this page is recalculated on Texas institutions only. Nothing is carried over from the national page.
At A Glance
What the federal data says about cosmetology schools in Texas
The Ranking
92 cosmetology schools in Texas, ranked by months of gross pay to cover the debt
Lower is better.
| # | School | Type | Award | Months | Debt | Earnings | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas Barber & Stylist CollegeDallas, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 3.3 | $5,125 | $18,506 | 81% |
| 2 | Lone Star College SystemThe Woodlands, TX | Public | Certificate | 3.5 | $5,500 | $18,887 | 21% |
| 3 | Wharton County Junior CollegeWharton, TX | Public | Certificate | 3.5 | $5,500 | $19,087 | 27% |
| 4 | Nuvani InstituteSan Antonio, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 3.5 | $4,450 | $15,416 | 88% |
| 5 | DuVall’s School of CosmetologyBedford, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 3.6 | $7,917 | $26,435 | 57% |
| 6 | College of the MainlandTexas City, TX | Public | Certificate | 3.7 | $5,711 | $18,495 | 31% |
| 7 | Tint School of Makeup & CosmetologyIrving, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 4.0 | $7,698 | $23,225 | 67% |
| 8 | Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-DallasGrand Prairie, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 4.0 | $7,698 | $23,225 | 50% |
| 9 | Manuel and Theresa’s School of Hair Design-BryanBryan, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 4.0 | $6,993 | $20,768 | 85% |
| 10 | Manuel and Theresa’s School of Hair Design-VictoriaVictoria, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 4.0 | $6,993 | $20,768 | 86% |
| 11 | Manuel and Theresa’s School of Hair DesignBrenham, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 4.0 | $6,993 | $20,768 | 100% |
| 12 | McLennan Community CollegeWaco, TX | Public | Certificate | 4.1 | $5,776 | $16,879 | 39% |
| 13 | Avenue Five InstituteAustin, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 4.1 | $7,917 | $23,144 | 77% |
| 14 | Avenue Five Institute-South Austin CampusAustin, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 4.1 | $7,917 | $23,144 | 88% |
| 15 | Nuvani InstituteEagle Pass, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 4.6 | $5,500 | $14,467 | 92% |
| 16 | Paul Mitchell the School-AustinAustin, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 4.7 | $10,414 | $26,824 | 71% |
| 17 | Baldwin Beauty School-South AustinAustin, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 4.8 | $9,052 | $22,437 | 52% |
| 18 | Tri-State Cosmetology InstituteEl Paso, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 4.8 | $6,406 | $15,926 | 88% |
| 19 | Baldwin Beauty School-North AustinAustin, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 4.8 | $9,052 | $22,437 | 70% |
| 20 | Ann Webb Skin InstituteAustin, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 4.8 | $7,917 | $19,756 | 87% |
| 21 | Vogue College of Cosmetology-San Antonio FredericksburgSan Antonio, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 4.9 | $7,917 | $19,449 | 90% |
| 22 | Charles and Sues School of Hair DesignBryan, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.1 | $9,833 | $23,225 | 93% |
| 23 | Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-ArlingtonArlington, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.1 | $8,433 | $20,020 | 72% |
| 24 | Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Ft WorthFort Worth, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.1 | $8,467 | $20,106 | 82% |
| 25 | Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-DallasDallas, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.1 | $8,467 | $20,106 | 69% |
| 26 | Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-North DallasDallas, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.1 | $8,467 | $20,106 | 74% |
| 27 | Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-DentonDenton, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.1 | $8,433 | $20,020 | 83% |
| 28 | Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-San AntonioSan Antonio, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.1 | $8,433 | $20,020 | 76% |
| 29 | Trinity Valley Community CollegeAthens, TX | Public | Associate | 5.2 | $5,500 | $12,707 | 27% |
| 30 | Central Texas Beauty College-Round RockRound Rock, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.2 | $7,018 | $16,072 | 74% |
| 31 | Central Texas Beauty College-TempleTemple, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.2 | $7,018 | $16,072 | 58% |
| 32 | Southeast Texas Career InstituteSilsbee, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.2 | $7,366 | $16,961 | 62% |
| 33 | The Salon Professional Academy-LewisvilleLewisville, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.3 | $9,833 | $22,320 | 75% |
| 34 | Total Transformation Institute of CosmetologySan Marcos, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.4 | $8,200 | $18,093 | 73% |
| 35 | GA Beauty & Barber SchoolMcAllen, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.4 | $5,953 | $13,238 | 59% |
| 36 | Navarro CollegeCorsicana, TX | Public | Certificate | 5.5 | $9,500 | $20,857 | 23% |
| 37 | The Salon Professional Academy-GeorgetownGeorgetown, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.6 | $9,833 | $21,226 | 62% |
| 38 | Texas College of Cosmetology-AbileneAbilene, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.7 | $8,250 | $17,339 | 59% |
| 39 | Texas College of Cosmetology-San AngeloSan Angelon, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.7 | $8,250 | $17,339 | 67% |
| 40 | Advanced Barber College and Hair DesignWeslaco, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.7 | $4,750 | $9,932 | 60% |
| 41 | Texas College of Cosmetology-LubbockLubbock, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.7 | $8,250 | $17,339 | 80% |
| 42 | Paul Mitchell the School-DallasCarrollton, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.8 | $9,833 | $20,500 | 68% |
| 43 | Paul Mitchell the School-San AntonioSan Antonio, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.8 | $9,833 | $20,500 | 76% |
| 44 | Paul Mitchell the School-ArlingtonArlington, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.8 | $9,833 | $20,500 | 62% |
| 45 | Mission Beauty InstituteMission, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.8 | $7,057 | $14,491 | 37% |
| 46 | Collectiv Hair Dressing Academy-Collectiv Academy-DallasDallas, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 5.9 | $10,194 | $20,565 | n/a |
| 47 | Seguin Beauty School-SeguinSeguin, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.1 | $10,088 | $19,908 | 68% |
| 48 | Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-HurstHurst, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.1 | $9,560 | $18,916 | 75% |
| 49 | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San AntonioSan Antonio, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.1 | $8,880 | $17,378 | 81% |
| 50 | Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-StaffordStafford, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.1 | $9,560 | $18,916 | 81% |
| 51 | Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-WillowbrookHouston, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.1 | $9,560 | $18,916 | 70% |
| 52 | UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & SciencesSan Antonio, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.3 | $9,376 | $17,905 | n/a |
| 53 | Vogue College of CosmetologySan Antonio, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.3 | $8,625 | $16,331 | 100% |
| 54 | Southern Careers Institute-AustinAustin, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.4 | $8,394 | $15,634 | 53% |
| 55 | Southern Careers Institute-Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.4 | $8,394 | $15,634 | 64% |
| 56 | Southern Careers Institute-San AntonioSan Antonio, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.4 | $8,394 | $15,634 | 53% |
| 57 | Milan Institute of Cosmetology-San Antonio MilitarySan Antonio, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.4 | $7,917 | $14,943 | 55% |
| 58 | Southern Careers Institute-BrownsvilleBrownsville, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.4 | $8,394 | $15,634 | 68% |
| 59 | Milan Institute of Cosmetology-El PasoEl Paso, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.4 | $7,917 | $14,943 | 54% |
| 60 | Vogue College of Cosmetology-McAllenMcAllen, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.5 | $7,917 | $14,642 | 62% |
| 61 | UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-San Antonio 410San Antonio, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.5 | $8,917 | $16,492 | 100% |
| 62 | Houston Training School-Main CampusHouston, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.5 | $7,500 | $13,813 | 75% |
| 63 | Houston Training Schools-GessnerHouston, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.5 | $7,500 | $13,813 | 78% |
| 64 | San Jacinto Community CollegePasadena, TX | Public | Certificate | 6.7 | $8,791 | $15,655 | 30% |
| 65 | Wade Gordon Hairdressing AcademyAmarillo, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.7 | $11,285 | $20,065 | 53% |
| 66 | Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy-LubbockLubbock, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 6.7 | $11,285 | $20,065 | 62% |
| 67 | UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-McAllenMcAllen, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 7.0 | $8,100 | $13,940 | 69% |
| 68 | UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-HarlingenHarlingen, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 7.0 | $8,100 | $13,940 | 64% |
| 69 | UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-La JoyaLa Joya, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 7.0 | $8,100 | $13,940 | 100% |
| 70 | Kilgore CollegeKilgore, TX | Public | Certificate | 7.1 | $9,500 | $15,957 | 39% |
| 71 | Milan Institute-San Antonio IngramSan Antonio, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 7.1 | $7,917 | $13,386 | 62% |
| 72 | Strand Institute of Beauty & EstheticsCorpus Christi, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 7.3 | $9,399 | $15,502 | 90% |
| 73 | North Central Texas CollegeGainesville, TX | Public | Certificate | 7.5 | $6,812 | $10,963 | 35% |
| 74 | Salon Professional Academy of San AntonioSan Antonio, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 8.1 | $9,833 | $14,642 | 83% |
| 75 | Alamo City Barber CollegeSan Antonio, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 10.1 | $11,199 | $13,291 | 57% |
| 76 | Paul Mitchell the School-HoustonHouston, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 10.4 | $16,500 | $19,036 | 81% |
| 77 | Paul Mitchell the School-Clear LakeWebster, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 10.4 | $16,500 | $19,036 | 86% |
| 78 | Houston City CollegeHouston, TX | Public | Certificate | 10.7 | $14,999 | $16,777 | 17% |
| 79 | South Plains CollegeLevelland, TX | Public | Certificate | 11.4 | $11,000 | $11,557 | 29% |
| 80 | Remington College-Dallas CampusDallas, TX | nonprofit | Certificate | 11.5 | $14,750 | $15,381 | 38% |
| 81 | Remington College-Houston Southeast CampusLeague City, TX | nonprofit | Certificate | 11.5 | $14,750 | $15,381 | 60% |
| 82 | Diamonds CollegeSherman, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 12.5 | $16,500 | $15,859 | 59% |
| 83 | Cosmetology Academy of TexarkanaTexarkana, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 12.6 | $16,226 | $15,456 | 56% |
| 84 | Trend Barber CollegeHouston, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 12.8 | $14,584 | $13,687 | 48% |
| 85 | Trend Barber CollegeHouston, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 12.8 | $14,584 | $13,687 | 56% |
| 86 | Salon & Spa InstituteBrownsville, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 13.8 | $11,243 | $9,804 | 100% |
| 87 | Neecee’s Barber CollegeAbilene, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 13.9 | $16,500 | $14,275 | 35% |
| 88 | Academy of Hair Design-LufkinLufkin, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 14.1 | $16,500 | $14,039 | 70% |
| 89 | Academy Of Hair DesignJasper, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 14.1 | $16,500 | $14,039 | 94% |
| 90 | Natural Images Beauty CollegeClute, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 14.1 | $16,466 | $14,003 | 55% |
| 91 | Career Schools of TexasHouston, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 15.3 | $16,235 | $12,759 | 26% |
| 92 | Bella Cosmetology and Barber CollegeGreenville, TX | for-profit | Certificate | 15.3 | $14,984 | $11,718 | 40% |
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 Texas, one by one
Dallas Barber & Stylist College
Dallas, TX
Dallas Barber & Stylist College is a private for-profit institution in Dallas. Its cosmetology graduates leave with a median federal debt of $5,125 and report median earnings of $18,506 a year after completing, so the debt is covered by 3.3 months of gross pay: the fastest payback in the state, and 2.7 months faster than the Texas state median of 6.0. The award measured here is a certificate. The institution reports a 81% completion rate.
Lone Star College System
The Woodlands, TX
Lone Star College System is a public institution in The Woodlands. Its cosmetology graduates leave with a median federal debt of $5,500 and report median earnings of $18,887 a year after completing, so the debt is covered by 3.5 months of gross pay: the second fastest in the state, and 2.5 months faster than the Texas state median of 6.0. The award measured here is a certificate. The institution reports a 21% completion rate.
Wharton County Junior College
Wharton, TX
Wharton County Junior College is a public institution in Wharton. Its cosmetology graduates leave with a median federal debt of $5,500 and report median earnings of $19,087 a year after completing, so the debt is covered by 3.5 months of gross pay: the third fastest in the state, and 2.5 months faster than the Texas state median of 6.0. The award measured here is a certificate. The institution reports a 27% completion rate.
Nuvani Institute
San Antonio, TX
Nuvani Institute is a private for-profit institution in San Antonio. Its cosmetology graduates leave with a median federal debt of $4,450 and report median earnings of $15,416 a year after completing, so the debt is covered by 3.5 months of gross pay: fourth in the state, and 2.5 months faster than the Texas state median of 6.0. The award measured here is a certificate. The institution reports a 88% completion rate.
DuVall’s School of Cosmetology
Bedford, TX
DuVall’s School of Cosmetology is a private for-profit institution in Bedford. Its cosmetology graduates leave with a median federal debt of $7,917 and report median earnings of $26,435 a year after completing, so the debt is covered by 3.6 months of gross pay: fifth in the state, and 2.4 months faster than the Texas state median of 6.0. The award measured here is a certificate. The institution reports a 57% 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 Texas
Comparing a different trade in Texas
For TEXAS School Operators
Want to know how your program ranks against these?
We run this analysis for individual schools against their own federal data and show them where they sit against both the Texas median and the national one. Where the answer is good, it is the strongest recruitment argument a school owns.
Book Your Free Enrollment AuditBy application only — reserved for trade and vocational school operators enrolling 50+ students a year.