Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services programs in California
157 schools in California teach this, at certificate or associate level. 79 of them report what graduates earn two years out; the highest is $25,967 at J D Academy of Salon and Spa.
What this work pays in California
Manicurists and Pedicurists in California earn a median of $36,630 a year across 39,210 jobs. That is what the occupation pays everyone in it — not what graduates of any one program below earned.
| Also leads to | Median | Jobs in California |
|---|---|---|
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $38,660 | 27,080 |
| Skincare Specialists | $38,770 | 11,360 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers | $56,110 | 9,390 |
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | $77,840 | 2,010 |
| Barbers | $38,380 | 1,390 |
Occupation wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.
Schools
| School | Credential | Median debt | Graduate earnings, 2 yrs | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J D Academy of Salon and Spa Danville | Undergraduate certificate | $6,211 | $25,967 (30 grads) | 114 |
| Cinta Aveda Institute San Francisco | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | $25,491 (286 grads) | 186 |
| San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc San Francisco | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | $24,035 (171 grads) | 135 |
| College of San Mateo San Mateo | Associate's degree | — | $22,420 (15 grads) | 2 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-San Jose San Jose | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | $22,420 (57 grads) | 178 |
| Career Academy of Beauty Garden Grove | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | $21,297 (196 grads) | 204 |
| Lytles Redwood Empire Beauty College Santa Rosa | Undergraduate certificate | $8,802 | $20,869 (126 grads) | 82 |
| Golden West College Huntington Beach | Associate's degree | — | $20,140 (19 grads) | 10 |
| Bellus Academy-Poway Poway | Undergraduate certificate | $9,376 | $20,099 (468 grads) | 356 |
| Hilltop Beauty School Daly City | Undergraduate certificate | — | $19,835 (74 grads) | 66 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-East Bay Pleasant Hill | Undergraduate certificate | $12,850 | $19,476 (179 grads) | 155 |
| Hacienda La Puente Adult Education La Puente | Undergraduate certificate | — | $19,045 (27 grads) | 101 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Pasadena Pasadena | Undergraduate certificate | $10,556 | $18,987 (120 grads) | 151 |
| Coba Academy Anaheim | Undergraduate certificate | $6,990 | $18,771 (25 grads) | 88 |
| Design's School of Cosmetology Paso Robles | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | $18,771 (116 grads) | 71 |
| Academy for Salon Professionals Northridge | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | $18,576 (77 grads) | 102 |
| Palomar Institute of Cosmetology San Marcos | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | $18,555 (125 grads) | 164 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Sacramento Sacramento | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | $18,287 (402 grads) | 334 |
| MTI College Sacramento | Undergraduate certificate | $9,833 | $18,025 (131 grads) | 168 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Temecula Temecula | Undergraduate certificate | $12,856 | $17,998 (234 grads) | 238 |
| Los Angeles College of Aesthetics Los Angeles | Undergraduate certificate | $3,823 | $17,979 (130 grads) | 154 |
| Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy Santa Fe Springs | Undergraduate certificate | $3,530 | $17,950 (27 grads) | 142 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa Costa Mesa | Undergraduate certificate | $7,232 | $17,932 (1,112 grads) | 285 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego San Diego | Undergraduate certificate | $7,232 | $17,932 (1,112 grads) | 117 |
| California Beauty College Modesto | Undergraduate certificate | $6,225 | $17,886 (65 grads) | 54 |
| Bellus Academy-El Cajon El Cajon | Undergraduate certificate | $7,917 | $17,835 (161 grads) | 180 |
| MJ Barber & Beauty Academy La Quinta | Undergraduate certificate | $3,299 | $17,691 (80 grads) | 72 |
| MJ Barber & Beauty Academy Hemet | Undergraduate certificate | $3,299 | $17,691 (80 grads) | 102 |
| Federico Beauty Institute Sacramento | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | $17,590 (295 grads) | 286 |
| Bellus Academy-Chula Vista Chula Vista | Undergraduate certificate | $15,144 | $17,501 (146 grads) | 330 |
| Academy of Esthetics and Cosmetology San Fernando | Undergraduate certificate | $5,263 | $17,412 (28 grads) | 29 |
| Riverside City College Riverside | Associate's degree | — | $17,310 (47 grads) | 17 |
| Lu Ross Academy Ventura | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | $16,857 (238 grads) | 177 |
| Santa Ana Beauty Academy Santa Ana | Undergraduate certificate | — | $16,580 (37 grads) | 26 |
| Elite Cosmetology School PALM DESERT | Undergraduate certificate | $8,610 | $16,549 (40 grads) | 46 |
| Salon Success Academy-Corona Corona | Undergraduate certificate | $7,177 | $16,272 (289 grads) | 188 |
| Salon Success Academy-Fontana Fontana | Undergraduate certificate | $7,177 | $16,272 (289 grads) | 46 |
| Salon Success Academy-Redlands Redlands | Undergraduate certificate | $7,177 | $16,272 (289 grads) | 205 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Sherman Oaks Sherman Oaks | Undergraduate certificate | $10,556 | $16,141 (188 grads) | 156 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Fresno Fresno | Undergraduate certificate | $11,188 | $16,035 (178 grads) | 116 |
| San Diego City College San Diego | Undergraduate certificate | — | $15,922 (59 grads) | 31 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Modesto Modesto | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | $15,825 (243 grads) | 319 |
| Citrus Heights Beauty College Citrus Heights | Undergraduate certificate | $7,000 | $15,817 (48 grads) | 64 |
| Salon Success Academy-Upland Upland | Undergraduate certificate | $7,177 | $15,778 (150 grads) | 203 |
| Salon Success Academy-West Covina West Covina | Undergraduate certificate | $7,177 | $15,778 (150 grads) | 102 |
| Sacramento City College Sacramento | Associate's degree | — | $15,552 (18 grads) | 10 |
| Lyle's College of Beauty Fresno | Undergraduate certificate | $8,556 | $14,790 (97 grads) | 75 |
| Lyle's College of Beauty Bakersfield | Undergraduate certificate | $8,556 | $14,790 (97 grads) | 62 |
| Sierra College of Beauty Merced | Undergraduate certificate | — | $14,730 (66 grads) | 136 |
| California Hair Design Academy La Mesa | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | $14,608 (175 grads) | 69 |
| International School of Beauty Inc Palm Desert | Undergraduate certificate | $6,773 | $14,495 (98 grads) | 137 |
| Associated Barber College of San Diego San Diego | Undergraduate certificate | $15,835 | $14,442 (16 grads) | 48 |
| Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education Baldwin Park | Undergraduate certificate | — | $14,318 (17 grads) | 61 |
| Milan Institute of Cosmetology-Vacaville Vacaville | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | $14,233 (571 grads) | 108 |
| Asian-American International Beauty College Westminster | Undergraduate certificate | — | $14,181 (175 grads) | 446 |
| Waynes College of Beauty Salinas | Undergraduate certificate | $5,694 | $14,113 (33 grads) | 44 |
| Milan Institute-Bakersfield Bakersfield | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | $13,898 (419 grads) | 181 |
| Milan Institute-Clovis Clovis | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | $13,898 (419 grads) | 366 |
| Milan Institute-Merced Merced | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | $13,898 (419 grads) | 63 |
| North Adrian's College of Beauty Inc Modesto | Undergraduate certificate | $9,995 | $13,810 (140 grads) | 123 |
| Lawrence & Company College of Cosmetology Hanford | Undergraduate certificate | $8,254 | $13,702 (55 grads) | 36 |
| Santa Ana Beauty College Santa Ana | Undergraduate certificate | — | $13,349 (62 grads) | 98 |
| Salon Success Academy-Riverside Riverside | Undergraduate certificate | $12,127 | $13,331 (29 grads) | 78 |
| Fredrick and Charles Beauty College Eureka | Undergraduate certificate | — | $13,085 (53 grads) | 65 |
| ZMS The Academy Los Angeles | Undergraduate certificate | $5,500 | $13,085 (29 grads) | 186 |
| Diamond Beauty College South El Monte | Undergraduate certificate | — | $12,847 (81 grads) | 84 |
| Hinton Barber and Beauty College Vallejo | Undergraduate certificate | $14,556 | $12,776 (31 grads) | 24 |
| Pomona Unified School District Adult and Career Education Pomona | Undergraduate certificate | — | $12,776 (32 grads) | 25 |
| International College of Beauty Arts & Sciences Los Angeles | Undergraduate certificate | $7,553 | $12,692 (40 grads) | 107 |
| Redondo Beach Beauty College Torrance | Undergraduate certificate | — | $12,468 (20 grads) | 78 |
| Bridges Beauty College Victorville | Undergraduate certificate | — | $12,247 (76 grads) | 79 |
| Coastline Beauty College Fountain Valley | Undergraduate certificate | — | $11,727 (92 grads) | 222 |
| Advance Beauty College Garden Grove | Undergraduate certificate | — | $11,683 (402 grads) | 544 |
| John Wesley International Barber and Beauty College Long Beach | Undergraduate certificate | — | $11,586 (49 grads) | 21 |
| Riverside City College Riverside | Undergraduate certificate | — | $10,617 (22 grads) | 54 |
| Universal College of Beauty Inc-Los Angeles 2 Los Angeles | Undergraduate certificate | — | $10,120 (21 grads) | 14 |
| Citrus College Glendora | Undergraduate certificate | — | $9,286 (13 grads) | 109 |
| Saddleback College Mission Viejo | Associate's degree | — | $9,167 (11 grads) | 2 |
| California Barber and Beauty College San Diego | Undergraduate certificate | — | $8,077 (21 grads) | 23 |
| Advance Beauty Techs Academy Corona | Undergraduate certificate | $5,241 | not published | 97 |
| American Beauty College West Covina | Undergraduate certificate | $5,775 | not published | 111 |
| Blake Austin College Vacaville | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | not published | — |
| Borner's Barber College Los Angeles | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 13 |
| CRU Institute of Cosmetology and Barbering Garden Grove | Undergraduate certificate | $9,833 | not published | 27 |
| California College of Barbering and Cosmetology Stockton | Undergraduate certificate | $8,280 | not published | 258 |
| Cerritos College Norwalk | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 139 |
| Golden West College Huntington Beach | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 45 |
| Hoss Lee Academy Roseville | Undergraduate certificate | $6,333 | not published | 106 |
| Institute of Technology Clovis | Undergraduate certificate | $12,861 | not published | 32 |
| Lancaster Beauty School Lancaster | Undergraduate certificate | $8,500 | not published | 65 |
| Lawrence & Company College of Cosmetology Selma | Undergraduate certificate | $7,000 | not published | 50 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 87 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles | Associate's degree | — | not published | 13 |
| Modern Beauty Academy Oxnard | Undergraduate certificate | $8,896 | not published | 33 |
| Moler Barber College Oakland | Undergraduate certificate | $12,445 | not published | 143 |
| My Le's Beauty College Sacramento | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 226 |
| Professional Institute of Beauty El Monte | Undergraduate certificate | $3,380 | not published | 58 |
| San Bernardino Beauty College San Bernardino | Undergraduate certificate | $12,500 | not published | 94 |
| Shasta School of Cosmetology Redding | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 86 |
| Thanh Le College School of Cosmetology Garden Grove | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 28 |
| Urban Barber College Concord | Undergraduate certificate | $9,855 | not published | 100 |
| Victory Career College Carson | Undergraduate certificate | $6,332 | not published | 63 |
| ABC Adult School Cerritos | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 9 |
| Allan Hancock College Santa Maria | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 43 |
| Allan Hancock College Santa Maria | Associate's degree | — | not published | 0 |
| Barstow Community College Barstow | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 22 |
| Barstow Community College Barstow | Associate's degree | — | not published | 16 |
| Butte College Oroville | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 25 |
| Butte College Oroville | Associate's degree | — | not published | 9 |
| Central Valley Barber College Riverbank | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | — |
| Cerritos College Norwalk | Associate's degree | — | not published | 33 |
| Citrus College Glendora | Associate's degree | — | not published | 35 |
| College of San Mateo San Mateo | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 4 |
| College of the Sequoias Visalia | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 1 |
| Compton College Compton | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 12 |
| Compton College Compton | Associate's degree | — | not published | 12 |
| El Camino Community College District Torrance | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 15 |
| El Camino Community College District Torrance | Associate's degree | — | not published | 3 |
| Estes Institute of Cosmetology Arts and Science Visalia | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 32 |
| Fullerton College Fullerton | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 127 |
| Fullerton College Fullerton | Associate's degree | — | not published | 15 |
| Gavilan College Gilroy | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 32 |
| Gavilan College Gilroy | Associate's degree | — | not published | 1 |
| Irvine Valley College Irvine | Associate's degree | — | not published | 0 |
| KC Beauty Academy Los Angeles | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 39 |
| Laney College Oakland | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 6 |
| Laney College Oakland | Associate's degree | — | not published | 6 |
| MIXED Institute of Cosmetology & Barber Sacramento | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 70 |
| Milan Institute-Palm Desert Palm Desert | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 76 |
| Milan Institute-Visalia Visalia | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 71 |
| MiraCosta College Oceanside | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 1 |
| Pasadena City College Pasadena | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 31 |
| Pasadena City College Pasadena | Associate's degree | — | not published | 0 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-San Jose San Jose | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 14 |
| Pomona Unified School District Adult and Career Education Pomona | Associate's degree | — | not published | — |
| Princess Institute of Beauty Reedley | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 43 |
| Riggins Urban Barber College San Diego | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 22 |
| Sacramento City College Sacramento | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 38 |
| Saddleback College Mission Viejo | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 169 |
| San Diego City College San Diego | Associate's degree | — | not published | 6 |
| San Diego Miramar College San Diego | Associate's degree | — | not published | — |
| San Jose City College San Jose | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 85 |
| San Jose City College San Jose | Associate's degree | — | not published | 10 |
| Santa Ana College Santa Ana | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | — |
| Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 23 |
| Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara | Associate's degree | — | not published | 1 |
| Santa Monica College Santa Monica | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 139 |
| Santa Monica College Santa Monica | Associate's degree | — | not published | 8 |
| Santiago Canyon College Orange | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 16 |
| Santiago Canyon College Orange | Associate's degree | — | not published | 0 |
| Skyline College San Bruno | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 43 |
| Skyline College San Bruno | Associate's degree | — | not published | 2 |
| Solano Community College Fairfield | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 2 |
| Solano Community College Fairfield | Associate's degree | — | not published | 8 |
| Southern California College of Barber and Beauty Escondido | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 43 |
| Yuba College Marysville | Undergraduate certificate | — | not published | 0 |
| Yuba College Marysville | Associate's degree | — | not published | 1 |
A dash under earnings or debt means the U.S. Department of Education has not published a figure for that program — it withholds any median computed from too few graduates, which covers about four of every five programs. It never means zero, and it says nothing about whether the program is any good. Where a figure is shown, the number of graduates behind it is shown with it.
Email me when these figures change
The U.S. Department of Education publishes new cost, debt and earnings figures once a year, and every number on this page changes at once. One email when that happens for Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services — nothing else, and nothing in between.
Program and outcome figures: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, released 2026-06-10.