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Cosmetology schools in Iowa
Iowa has 18 accredited campuses awarding cosmetology credentials. If you finish and work as a cosmetologist in Iowa, expect to start around $26,650–$29,670 and reach a median of $35,700 with experience; the top quarter earn $48,580 or more (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025, Iowa). Graduates of these Iowa programs — every graduate, whatever job they took — earned a median of $19,852 in their first year, against $17,178 nationally; that is the figure used to rank campuses below.
What hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists earn in Iowa
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; 2,930 employed in Iowa. National median: $35,790.
Campuses in Iowa, ranked by what their graduates earned
Cities: AmesCedar FallsCedar RapidsCouncil BluffsDavenportDes MoinesDubuqueEsthervilleFort DodgeIowa CityJohnstonMason CityMt. PleasantSioux CitySpirit LakeWest Des Moines
| Campus | City | Type | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Program debt | Completion | Cost / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capri College-Cedar Rapids | Cedar Rapids | for-profit | 45 | $24,940 | $7,842 | 65% | $20,474 |
| PCI Academy-Ames | Ames | for-profit | 34 | $24,853 | $6,333 | 77% | $26,029 |
| PCI Academy-Iowa City | Iowa City | for-profit | 23 | $24,853 | $6,333 | 71% | $22,589 |
| Aveda Institute-Des Moines | West Des Moines | for-profit | 65 | $22,970 | $11,937 | 88% | $23,501 |
| La James International College-Cedar Falls | Cedar Falls | for-profit | 6 | $22,922 | not reported | 71% | $23,892 |
| SOHO Hair Academy | Council Bluffs | for-profit | 18 | $22,741 | $9,350 | 77% | $17,944 |
| La James International College-Davenport | Davenport | for-profit | 17 | $21,813 | not reported | 91% | $22,558 |
| La James International College-Johnston | Johnston | for-profit | 11 | $21,521 | $6,857 | 88% | $23,030 |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Des Moines | Des Moines | for-profit | 24 | $19,852 | $6,333 | 81% | $16,068 |
| Capri College-Dubuque | Dubuque | for-profit | 37 | $19,805 | $7,826 | 74% | $20,162 |
| Capri College-Davenport | Davenport | for-profit | 35 | $17,959 | $7,796 | 82% | $20,427 |
| La James International College-Ft Dodge | Fort Dodge | for-profit | 6 | $17,635 | not reported | 90% | $20,989 |
| La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology | Mason City | for-profit | 11 | $17,152 | $8,000 | 77% | $16,532 |
| Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake | Spirit Lake | for-profit | 11 | $14,443 | $12,000 | 92% | $11,753 |
| American Hair Academy | Mt. Pleasant | for-profit | 14 | $13,172 | $13,189 | 44% | $14,843 |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Sioux City | Sioux City | for-profit | 31 | not reported | $12,000 | 72% | $24,262 |
| Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge | Public | 3 | not reported | not reported | 42% | not reported |
| Iowa Lakes Community College | Estherville | Public | 3 | not reported | not reported | 50% | 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.