Career Training Path › Cosmetology schools › California
Cosmetology schools in California
California has 129 accredited campuses awarding cosmetology credentials. If you finish and work as a cosmetologist in California, expect to start around $35,360–$36,600 and reach a median of $38,660 with experience; the top quarter earn $49,030 or more (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025, California). Graduates of these California programs — every graduate, whatever job they took — earned a median of $16,289 in their first year, against $17,178 nationally; that is the figure used to rank campuses below.
What hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists earn in California
$35,360starting (10th percentile)
$36,600early career (25th)
$38,660median, all experience
$49,030experienced (75th)
$68,640top earners (90th)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; 27,080 employed in California. National median: $35,790.
Campuses in California, ranked by what their graduates earned
129campuses in California
6,911credentials awarded / yr
$16,289median earnings, yr 1 (California)
$17,178median earnings, yr 1 (U.S.)
Cities: AnaheimBakersfieldBaldwin ParkBarstowCanoga ParkCarsonCerritosChula VistaCitrus HeightsClovisComptonCoronaCosta MesaDaly CityDanvilleDowneyEl CajonEl MonteEscondidoEurekaFairfieldFontanaFountain ValleyFresnoFullertonGarden GroveGilroyGlendoraHanfordHemetHuntington BeachLa MesaLa PuenteLa QuintaLaguna HillsLancasterLong BeachLos AngelesMarysvilleMerced
| Campus | City | Type | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Program debt | Completion | Cost / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc | San Francisco | for-profit | 75 | $27,448 | $6,333 | 87% | $22,016 |
| J D Academy of Salon and Spa | Danville | for-profit | 73 | $26,806 | $6,211 | 79% | $38,350 |
| Cerritos College | Norwalk | Public | 96 | $26,738 | not reported | 31% | not reported |
| Hilltop Beauty School | Daly City | for-profit | 64 | $24,585 | not reported | 73% | $26,090 |
| Academy for Salon Professionals | Northridge | for-profit | 19 | $24,031 | $6,333 | 94% | $20,803 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-San Jose | San Jose | for-profit | 64 | $22,829 | $6,333 | 95% | $22,092 |
| Lytles Redwood Empire Beauty College | Santa Rosa | for-profit | 54 | $22,627 | $8,802 | 82% | $28,486 |
| Cinta Aveda Institute | San Francisco | for-profit | 114 | $22,246 | $6,333 | 62% | $20,168 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Sacramento | Sacramento | for-profit | 114 | $21,946 | $6,333 | 79% | $19,402 |
| International College of Cosmetology | Oakland | for-profit | 21 | $20,832 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Hoss Lee Academy | Roseville | for-profit | 61 | $20,199 | $6,333 | 92% | $30,622 |
| Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy | Santa Fe Springs | for-profit | 19 | $19,813 | $3,530 | not reported | $31,744 |
| MTI College | Sacramento | for-profit | 132 | $19,736 | $9,833 | 77% | $25,251 |
| Career Academy of Beauty | Garden Grove | for-profit | 82 | $19,695 | $6,333 | 92% | $21,834 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-North Tahoe | Truckee | for-profit | 8 | $19,550 | $10,500 | not reported | not reported |
| Los Angeles College of Aesthetics | Los Angeles | for-profit | 19 | $19,431 | $3,823 | 85% | $26,394 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-East Bay | Pleasant Hill | for-profit | 98 | $19,327 | $12,850 | 78% | $34,474 |
| Palomar Institute of Cosmetology | San Marcos | for-profit | 71 | $19,323 | $6,333 | 89% | $32,292 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College | Los Angeles | Public | 174 | $19,320 | not reported | 35% | not reported |
| Federico Beauty Institute | Sacramento | for-profit | 95 | $18,757 | $6,333 | 88% | $27,316 |
| Bellus Academy-Poway | Poway | for-profit | 165 | $18,753 | $9,376 | 73% | $38,794 |
| San Diego City College | San Diego | Public | 62 | $18,718 | not reported | 30% | not reported |
| Riverside City College | Riverside | Public | 188 | $18,494 | not reported | 37% | not reported |
| Citrus Heights Beauty College | Citrus Heights | for-profit | 88 | $18,364 | $7,000 | 77% | $34,061 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Pasadena | Pasadena | for-profit | 73 | $18,001 | $10,556 | 38% | $31,818 |
| Lu Ross Academy | Ventura | for-profit | 59 | $17,868 | $6,333 | 65% | $24,647 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa | Costa Mesa | for-profit | 151 | $17,801 | $7,232 | 82% | $25,691 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego | San Diego | for-profit | 75 | $17,801 | $7,232 | 99% | $37,754 |
| Santa Ana Beauty Academy | Santa Ana | for-profit | 10 | $17,726 | not reported | 75% | $16,220 |
| Golden West College | Huntington Beach | Public | 133 | $17,577 | not reported | 49% | not reported |
| Modern Beauty Academy | Oxnard | for-profit | 15 | $17,378 | $8,896 | 80% | $24,382 |
| Hinton Barber and Beauty College | Vallejo | for-profit | 6 | $17,211 | $14,556 | 63% | $23,566 |
| Salon Success Academy-Upland | Upland | for-profit | 48 | $17,179 | $7,177 | 91% | $21,692 |
| Salon Success Academy-West Covina | West Covina | for-profit | 22 | $17,179 | $7,177 | 87% | $22,274 |
| Citrus College | Glendora | Public | 176 | $17,054 | not reported | 41% | not reported |
| My Le's Beauty College | Sacramento | for-profit | 60 | $16,944 | not reported | 97% | not reported |
| North Adrian's College of Beauty Inc | Modesto | for-profit | 51 | $16,812 | $9,995 | 70% | $22,013 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Modesto | Modesto | for-profit | 85 | $16,537 | $6,333 | 80% | $20,936 |
| International School of Beauty Inc | Palm Desert | for-profit | 55 | $16,477 | $6,773 | 92% | $24,198 |
| International School of Cosmetology | Los Angeles | for-profit | 88 | $16,333 | $11,926 | not reported | not reported |
| Bellus Academy-Chula Vista | Chula Vista | for-profit | 116 | $16,289 | $15,144 | 68% | $25,214 |
| Bellus Academy-El Cajon | El Cajon | for-profit | 77 | $16,245 | $7,917 | 72% | $38,794 |
| ZMS The Academy | Los Angeles | for-profit | 14 | $16,113 | $5,500 | 41% | $13,346 |
| Milan Institute-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | for-profit | 119 | $16,005 | $6,333 | 59% | $28,832 |
| Milan Institute-Clovis | Clovis | for-profit | 62 | $16,005 | $6,333 | 63% | $26,169 |
| Milan Institute-Merced | Merced | for-profit | 37 | $16,005 | $6,333 | 55% | $27,338 |
| Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education | Baldwin Park | Public | 40 | $15,737 | not reported | 71% | $11,859 |
| Pomona Unified School District Adult and Career Education | Pomona | Public | 41 | $15,711 | not reported | 85% | $10,280 |
| Design's School of Cosmetology | Paso Robles | for-profit | 54 | $15,675 | $6,333 | 76% | $21,341 |
| California Hair Design Academy | La Mesa | for-profit | 43 | $15,545 | $6,333 | 87% | $29,960 |
| Academy of Esthetics and Cosmetology | San Fernando | for-profit | 5 | $15,529 | $5,263 | 67% | $31,985 |
| Salon Success Academy-Redlands | Redlands | for-profit | 69 | $15,495 | $7,177 | 89% | $22,818 |
| Salon Success Academy-Corona | Corona | for-profit | 52 | $15,495 | $7,177 | 92% | $18,866 |
| Salon Success Academy-Fontana | Fontana | for-profit | 34 | $15,495 | $7,177 | 96% | $22,094 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Fresno | Fresno | for-profit | 124 | $15,336 | $11,188 | 84% | $28,484 |
| Milan Institute of Cosmetology-Vacaville | Vacaville | for-profit | 30 | $15,295 | $6,333 | 57% | $28,312 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Sherman Oaks | Sherman Oaks | for-profit | 85 | $15,251 | $10,556 | 75% | $33,027 |
| Lawrence & Company College of Cosmetology | Selma | for-profit | 11 | $15,244 | $7,000 | 70% | $25,133 |
| Lyle's College of Beauty | Bakersfield | for-profit | 28 | $15,156 | $8,556 | 83% | $28,221 |
| Lyle's College of Beauty | Fresno | for-profit | 13 | $15,156 | $8,556 | 64% | $40,644 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Temecula | Temecula | for-profit | 158 | $14,989 | $12,856 | 69% | $32,530 |
| Waynes College of Beauty | Salinas | for-profit | 10 | $14,956 | $5,694 | 93% | $20,566 |
| Elite Cosmetology School | Palm Desert | for-profit | 23 | $14,952 | $8,610 | 88% | $26,471 |
| Adrian's Beauty College of Turlock | Turlock | for-profit | 37 | $14,832 | $8,450 | not reported | not reported |
| Flair Beauty College | Valencia | for-profit | 22 | $14,686 | $7,282 | not reported | not reported |
| Coba Academy | Anaheim | for-profit | 24 | $14,574 | $6,990 | 76% | $24,258 |
| Coachella Valley Beauty College-Hemet | Hemet | for-profit | 28 | $14,566 | $3,299 | 92% | $24,210 |
| Coachella Valley Beauty College | La Quinta | for-profit | 27 | $14,566 | $3,299 | 83% | $29,757 |
| Advance Beauty Techs Academy | San Jacinto | for-profit | 14 | $14,355 | $5,241 | 80% | $34,131 |
| Fredrick and Charles Beauty College | Eureka | for-profit | 24 | $14,268 | not reported | 79% | $25,270 |
| Moler Barber College | Oakland | for-profit | 47 | $13,937 | $12,445 | 23% | $29,428 |
| Shasta School of Cosmetology | Redding | for-profit | 51 | $13,912 | not reported | 78% | $30,007 |
| Salon Success Academy-Riverside | Riverside | for-profit | 41 | $13,737 | $12,127 | 81% | $22,333 |
| American Beauty College | West Covina | for-profit | 69 | $13,650 | $5,775 | 69% | $31,037 |
| International College of Beauty Arts & Sciences | Los Angeles | for-profit | 15 | $12,823 | $7,553 | 88% | $25,200 |
| Universal College of Beauty Inc-Los Angeles 2 | Los Angeles | for-profit | 17 | $12,718 | not reported | 100% | $18,646 |
| Thanh Le College School of Cosmetology | Garden Grove | for-profit | 15 | $12,655 | not reported | 94% | $19,612 |
| John Wesley International Barber and Beauty College | Long Beach | for-profit | 6 | $12,543 | not reported | 60% | $22,053 |
| Asian-American International Beauty College | Westminster | for-profit | 89 | $12,512 | not reported | 90% | not reported |
| Sierra College of Beauty | Merced | for-profit | 19 | $12,416 | not reported | 84% | $13,463 |
| Professional Institute of Beauty | El Monte | for-profit | 74 | $12,267 | $3,380 | 77% | $28,166 |
| Lancaster Beauty School | Lancaster | for-profit | 25 | $12,252 | $8,500 | 68% | $26,740 |
| Bridges Beauty College | Victorville | for-profit | 22 | $11,982 | not reported | 90% | $22,873 |
| Advance Beauty College | Garden Grove | for-profit | 104 | $11,890 | not reported | 67% | $14,811 |
| Coastline Beauty College | Fountain Valley | for-profit | 40 | $11,832 | not reported | 87% | $29,484 |
| California Beauty School | Modesto | for-profit | 8 | $11,154 | $6,225 | 83% | $15,208 |
| Santa Ana Beauty College | Santa Ana | for-profit | 21 | $10,309 | not reported | 89% | $14,075 |
| Lawrence & Company College of Cosmetology | Hanford | for-profit | 50 | $9,544 | $8,254 | 81% | $22,680 |
| Santa Monica College | Santa Monica | Public | 214 | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Saddleback College | Mission Viejo | Public | 137 | not reported | not reported | 48% | not reported |
| Fullerton College | Fullerton | Public | 115 | not reported | not reported | 34% | not reported |
| San Jose City College | San Jose | Public | 115 | not reported | not reported | 34% | not reported |
| Milan Institute-Visalia | Visalia | for-profit | 108 | not reported | not reported | 51% | $29,148 |
| Butte College | Oroville | Public | 98 | not reported | not reported | 45% | not reported |
| Hacienda La Puente Adult Education | La Puente | Public | 89 | not reported | not reported | 77% | $9,138 |
| Skyline College | San Bruno | Public | 79 | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Compton College | Compton | Public | 64 | not reported | not reported | 27% | not reported |
| Paul Mitchell the School-San Jose | San Jose | for-profit | 62 | not reported | not reported | 28% | $36,485 |
| Allan Hancock College | Santa Maria | Public | 52 | not reported | not reported | 26% | not reported |
| Barstow Community College | Barstow | Public | 47 | not reported | not reported | 39% | not reported |
| California College of Barbering and Cosmetology | Stockton | for-profit | 47 | not reported | $8,280 | 79% | $20,465 |
| Santiago Canyon College | Orange | Public | 47 | not reported | not reported | 48% | not reported |
| Laney College | Oakland | Public | 45 | not reported | not reported | 31% | not reported |
| El Camino Community College District | Torrance | Public | 35 | not reported | not reported | 42% | not reported |
| Estes Institute of Cosmetology Arts and Science | Visalia | for-profit | 34 | not reported | not reported | 85% | $21,002 |
| Gavilan College | Gilroy | Public | 33 | not reported | not reported | 43% | not reported |
| ABC Adult School | Cerritos | Public | 29 | not reported | not reported | 29% | $17,675 |
| KC Beauty Academy | Los Angeles | for-profit | 29 | not reported | not reported | 90% | $20,916 |
| MIXED Institute of Cosmetology & Barber | Sacramento | for-profit | 28 | not reported | not reported | 73% | $25,113 |
| Milan Institute-Palm Desert | Palm Desert | for-profit | 28 | not reported | not reported | 48% | $28,722 |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena | Public | 28 | not reported | not reported | 48% | not reported |
| Princess Institute of Beauty | Reedley | for-profit | 26 | not reported | not reported | 91% | $18,133 |
| College of San Mateo | San Mateo | Public | 24 | not reported | not reported | 61% | not reported |
| Sacramento City College | Sacramento | Public | 22 | not reported | not reported | 34% | not reported |
| Solano Community College | Fairfield | Public | 22 | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Institute of Technology | Clovis | for-profit | 19 | not reported | $12,861 | 74% | $29,228 |
| Southern California College of Barber and Beauty | Escondido | for-profit | 12 | not reported | not reported | 80% | $30,888 |
| Redondo Beach Beauty College | Torrance | for-profit | 7 | not reported | not reported | 100% | not reported |
| San Bernardino Beauty College | San Bernardino | for-profit | 6 | not reported | $12,500 | 75% | $34,898 |
| Santa Barbara City College | Santa Barbara | Public | 6 | not reported | not reported | 34% | not reported |
| Victory Career College | Carson | for-profit | 6 | not reported | $6,332 | 94% | not reported |
| Yuba College | Marysville | Public | 1 | not reported | not reported | 40% | not reported |
| Asel Beauty College | Garden Grove | — | — | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetica Beauty and Barbering Academy | Downey | — | — | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Jama?s Beauty & Barber College | Canoga Park | — | — | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| My-Le'S Beauty College | Sacramento | — | — | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Neihule Academy of Beauty | Los Angeles | — | — | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Saddleback Beauty Academy | Laguna Hills | — | — | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| San Luis Obispo Beauty College | San Luis Obispo | — | — | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Ranked by median earnings of this program's graduates one year after completion (College Scorecard field-of-study, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026); campuses without a reported figure follow, by credentials awarded. "Program debt" is the median federal loan debt for graduates of this program at this campus. Completion is the campus-wide 150%-of-time rate. "Not reported" means the federal file suppresses the value for privacy.
The Path
Nine months to a paycheck that AI can't take.
A free weekly newsletter for people choosing a hands-on career: trades, technical and healthcare.
Subscribe →