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Cosmetology schools in New Mexico
New Mexico has 15 accredited campuses awarding cosmetology credentials. If you finish and work as a cosmetologist in New Mexico, expect to start around $27,190–$28,810 and reach a median of $37,750 with experience; the top quarter earn $46,240 or more (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025, New Mexico). Graduates of these New Mexico programs — every graduate, whatever job they took — earned a median of $17,970 in their first year, against $17,178 nationally; that is the figure used to rank campuses below.
What hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists earn in New Mexico
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; 1,230 employed in New Mexico. National median: $35,790.
Campuses in New Mexico, ranked by what their graduates earned
Cities: AlbuquerqueClovisEspanolaFarmingtonGallupHobbsLas CrucesLas VegasRio RanchoSanta Fe
| Campus | City | Type | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Program debt | Completion | Cost / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central New Mexico Community College | Albuquerque | Public | 29 | $20,613 | not reported | 31% | not reported |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Albuquerque | Albuquerque | for-profit | 34 | $18,572 | $10,556 | 78% | $19,201 |
| Urban Academy of Beauty | Rio Rancho | for-profit | 2 | $18,572 | $10,556 | not reported | not reported |
| Aveda Institute-New Mexico | Albuquerque | for-profit | 53 | $17,368 | $8,028 | 88% | $19,754 |
| Olympian Academy of Cosmetology | Las Cruces | for-profit | 209 | $16,462 | $10,247 | not reported | not reported |
| Vogue College of Cosmetology-Santa Fe | Santa Fe | for-profit | 21 | $15,517 | $7,593 | 75% | $26,582 |
| Clovis Community College | Clovis | Public | 62 | not reported | not reported | 34% | not reported |
| New Mexico Junior College | Hobbs | Public | 45 | not reported | not reported | 58% | not reported |
| Avenue Academy, A Cosmetology Institute | Albuquerque | for-profit | 29 | not reported | $6,333 | 94% | $17,425 |
| Glitz School of Cosmetology | Las Cruces | for-profit | 28 | not reported | $7,308 | 69% | $20,123 |
| San Juan College | Farmington | Public | 15 | not reported | not reported | 37% | not reported |
| Luna Community College | Las Vegas | Public | 10 | not reported | not reported | 28% | not reported |
| Northern New Mexico College | Espanola | Public | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| University of New Mexico-Gallup Campus | Gallup | Public | 2 | not reported | not reported | 20% | not reported |
| Vogue College of Cosmetology | Santa Fe | — | — | 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.