Colorado
Best cosmetology programs in Colorado 2026
Denver skyline. Photo by Quintin Soloviev, licensed under CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Ranked on the share of students who finish what they started, within half again the program's normal length, as reported per institution to the US Department of Education. In a clock-hour trade this is the outcome that matters most: the license needs the full hour count, so a student who leaves early has paid for hours that will never qualify them.
Cosmetology has no programmatic accreditor, which is why nothing on this page is ranked on accreditation. NACCAS accredits schools as institutions, not their cosmetology courses, so an "accredited cosmetology program" is a category error however often it appears in a brochure. What counts in Colorado is whether Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board) licensed the school while you were enrolled.
58
schools currently licensed
21
qualify to be ranked
5
excluded, under 40 enrolled students
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#1
Emily Griffith Technical College
Denver, CO
97%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 220 graduates a year
- $11,935 program cost
What the record shows
Emily Griffith Technical College teaches cosmetology in Denver, with its results published federally. Across all 6,123 students at the college, 97 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That completion rate is 24 points above the 73 percent median, but it is every program on campus, so treat it as a fact about the college and not about the cosmetology floor. Tuition is reported at $11,935. That price is 35 percent under the $18,260 median, which is what public pricing looks like. 220 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. That is roughly 9 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, so it is one of the larger training operations here. Look this school up on the Division of Private Occupational Schools register by its legal name before you pay, because that entry and not this one is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
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#2
Technical College of the Rockies
Delta, CO
95%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 122 graduates a year
- $3,353 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Delta, Technical College of the Rockies is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 95 percent of students across the college finish, out of 165 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. At 95 percent the college as a whole keeps its students better than most schools on this page. It is a good sign about the institution; the cosmetology program's own completion is a separate number to ask the cosmetology department for. Tuition is reported at $3,353. That price is 82 percent under the $18,260 median, which is what public pricing looks like and the reason it is a fraction of the academies here. The median graduate left with $5,500 in federal loans, across 38 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $58 a month. 122 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Look this school up on the Division of Private Occupational Schools register by its legal name before you pay, because that entry and not this one is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists in Colorado runs from $31,520 at the tenth percentile to $98,860 at the ninetieth, with a median of $37,690. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. Concentration in Colorado runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.2 times, or 6,820 people in the occupation.
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#3
IBMC College
Fort Collins, CO
86%
Share of students who finish
- 192 graduates a year
- $15,300 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Fort Collins, IBMC College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of 297 enrolled in the fall count, 86 percent finish. The published cost is $15,300 for the full program. More finish here than at the typical school on this page, 86 percent against 73, and the price is 16 percent under the $18,260 median: the two numbers point the same way. The school conferred 192 credentials in the year reported. Licensing is the business of the Division of Private Occupational Schools rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where it leads
undefined The metro median is about 9 percent above the Colorado figure.
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#4
Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO · Licensed school
85%
Share of students who finish
- $17,100 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs is licensed by the Division of Private Occupational Schools and trains in Colorado Springs. With 8 licensed schools in Colorado Springs, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. The school graduates 85 percent, on a fall headcount of 204. The published cost is $17,100 for the full program. The median graduate left with $9,834 in federal loans, across 121 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. $17,100 is within 7 percent of the $18,260 median, and the completion is not ordinary: 85 percent against 73. That is the better half of the trade. 138 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Check its license with the Division of Private Occupational Schools before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Colorado Springs, the range runs $30,910 to $97,330 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $36,680. The distance between $30,910 and $97,330 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. The work is somewhat more concentrated around Colorado Springs than nationally, at roughly 1.4 times the usual rate.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board), read 2026-08-31.
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#5
Aveda Institute-Denver
Denver, CO · Licensed school
84%
Share of students who finish
- $21,150 program cost
What the record shows
Aveda Institute-Denver trains in Denver, licensed by the Division of Private Occupational Schools. With 8 licensed schools in Denver, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. 84 percent of the 280 students it enrolls finish. Tuition is reported at $21,150 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $9,833 in federal loans at the median, 372 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. Paying 16 percent over the $18,260 median buys 11 points of completion over the 73 percent median, and whether that is worth it depends on how sure you are of finishing anywhere. It awarded 297 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 280, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. Ask the Division of Private Occupational Schools directly whether the license is in good standing, because a lapse while you are enrolled costs you the hours rather than the school.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Denver-Aurora-Centennial, the range runs $34,300 to $100,340 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $36,530. A flat floor and a long tail: nobody starts far below the median here, and the people well above it got there on repeat clients, not seniority. The work is somewhat more concentrated around Denver-Aurora-Centennial than nationally, at roughly 1.3 times the usual rate.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board), read 2026-08-31.
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#6
Stacey James Institute
Parker, CO
81%
Share of students who finish
- 81% finish
- 109 graduates a year
- $21,000 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Parker, Stacey James Institute is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 81 percent of its students finish, out of 90 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $21,000 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $6,333 in federal loans at the median, 41 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. Paying 15 percent over the $18,260 median buys 8 points of completion over the 73 percent median, and whether that is worth it depends on how sure you are of finishing anywhere. 109 credentials in the year from a fall count of 90: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. The Division of Private Occupational Schools holds the record that counts your hours; find this school on it by its legal name and check it is current before a deposit.
Where it leads
Around Denver-Aurora-Centennial, the median cosmetologist earns $36,530, the bottom tenth $34,300 and the top tenth $100,340. Denver-Aurora-Centennial employs the trade at about 1.3 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
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#7
Avalon Institute-Aurora
Aurora, CO · Licensed school
81%
Share of students who finish
- $9,000 program cost
What the record shows
Avalon Institute-Aurora trains in Aurora, licensed by the Division of Private Occupational Schools. Aurora has 5 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 81 percent of students see the course through, out of 162 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $9,000 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $6,185 in federal loans, measured over 114 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $66 a month. More finish here than at the typical school on this page, 81 percent against 73, and the price is 51 percent under the $18,260 median: the two numbers point the same way. It awarded 172 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 162, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. Confirm the school's current license with the Division of Private Occupational Schools first: that entry is what qualifies your hours, whatever the federal figures say.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Denver-Aurora-Centennial runs from $34,300 at the tenth percentile to $100,340 at the ninetieth, with a median of $36,530. There is almost no distance between entry pay and the middle, and a great deal between the middle and the top, so the first year is predictable and the tenth is what you make of it. Concentration around Denver-Aurora-Centennial runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.3 times, or 4,150 people in the occupation.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board), read 2026-08-31.
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#8
Paul Mitchell the School-Denver
Lakewood, CO · Licensed school
78%
Share of students who finish
- $19,250 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Denver trains in Lakewood, licensed by the Division of Private Occupational Schools. Of the 213 students in its fall count, 78 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $19,250 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $9,833 in federal loans at the median, 146 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. 5 points more of its students finish than the 73 percent median, priced within 6 percent of the $18,260 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. It awarded 153 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Division of Private Occupational Schools before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
undefined Denver-Aurora-Centennial employs the trade at about 1.3 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board), read 2026-08-31.
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#9
Tuana European Beauty Academy
Fort Collins, CO · Licensed school
78%
Share of students who finish
- $17,995 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Fort Collins, Tuana European Beauty Academy is on the Division of Private Occupational Schools register. 78 percent of its students finish, out of 42 enrolled in the fall count. It charges $17,995 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. $17,995 is within 2 percent of the $18,260 median, and the completion is not ordinary: 78 percent against 73. That is the better half of the trade. It awarded 13 beauty credentials in the reporting year. That is a small cohort, which usually buys more chair time with an instructor and a shorter wait for the clinic floor. Ask the Division of Private Occupational Schools directly whether the license is in good standing, because a lapse while you are enrolled costs you the hours rather than the school.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Fort Collins-Loveland runs from $31,700 at the tenth percentile to $81,180 at the ninetieth, with a median of $41,230. The metro median is about 9 percent above the Colorado figure. Neither end of this market is extreme: the top tenth earns about 2.0 times the median and the floor sits 23 percent under it, which makes the first year a budget question rather than a survival one. Few places employ this trade as heavily: Fort Collins-Loveland runs at about 1.7 times the national rate, some 560 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board), read 2026-08-31.
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#10
Pickens Technical College
Aurora, CO
76%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 113 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Aurora, Pickens Technical College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 76 percent of students across the college finish, out of 686 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Read that 76 percent as the college's rate, not the cosmetology floor's, so it neither ranks this program up nor down. 113 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. It is a public college, so the cosmetology course is priced at in-district tuition rather than at an academy price. Look this school up on the Division of Private Occupational Schools register by its legal name before you pay, because that entry and not this one is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Denver-Aurora-Centennial runs from $34,300 at the tenth percentile to $100,340 at the ninetieth, with a median of $36,530. A flat floor and a long tail: nobody starts far below the median here, and the people well above it got there on repeat clients, not seniority. Denver-Aurora-Centennial employs the trade at about 1.3 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
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#11
International Salon and Spa Academy
Colorado Springs, CO · Licensed school
73%
Share of students who finish
- $19,015 program cost
What the record shows
International Salon and Spa Academy trains in Colorado Springs, licensed by the Division of Private Occupational Schools. Colorado Springs has 8 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 73 percent of its students finish, out of 248 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $19,015 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $6,333 in federal loans, measured over 256 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. Completion and price both sit close to the page median, 73 percent, exactly the median and $19,015 against $18,260, so the number that separates it is debt: 33 percent of the price arrives as federal loans, less than at the typical school here. It awarded 206 beauty credentials in the reporting year. That is roughly 8 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, so it is one of the larger training operations here. Confirm the school's current license with the Division of Private Occupational Schools first: that entry is what qualifies your hours, whatever the federal figures say.
Where it leads
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Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board), read 2026-08-31.
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#12
Cheeks Beauty Academy
Loveland, CO · Licensed school
72%
Share of students who finish
- $16,200 program cost
What the record shows
Cheeks Beauty Academy trains in Loveland, licensed by the Division of Private Occupational Schools. 72 percent of its students finish, out of 46 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $16,200 for the full program. Cheeks Beauty campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $6,799 in federal loans at the median over 76 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $72 a month. On completion and price it is close to the median school on this page, 72 percent against 73 and $16,200 against $18,260, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. It awarded 27 beauty credentials in the reporting year. The license from the Division of Private Occupational Schools is the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Fort Collins-Loveland earn under $41,230, with the tenth percentile at $31,700 and the ninetieth at $81,180. Against the state as a whole, the metro runs roughly 9 percent higher on median pay. The ninetieth percentile at $81,180 is 2.0 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 23 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. Fort Collins-Loveland carries roughly 1.7 times the national concentration of this work, among the denser markets in the country.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board), read 2026-08-31.
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#13
The Salon Professional Academy-Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO · Licensed school
66%
Share of students who finish
- $8,200 program cost
What the record shows
The Salon Professional Academy-Colorado Springs operates in Colorado Springs under license from the Division of Private Occupational Schools. With 8 licensed schools in Colorado Springs, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. Of the 121 students in its fall count, 66 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $8,200 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $6,333 in federal loans at the median, 84 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. $8,200 is 55 percent under the $18,260 median, and 7 points fewer finish than the 73 percent median. The saving only counts if you are one of the ones who gets through. 67 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Ask the Division of Private Occupational Schools directly whether the license is in good standing, because a lapse while you are enrolled costs you the hours rather than the school.
Where it leads
Around Colorado Springs, the median cosmetologist earns $36,680, the bottom tenth $30,910 and the top tenth $97,330. The distance between $30,910 and $97,330 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. Concentration around Colorado Springs runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.4 times, or 870 people in the occupation.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board), read 2026-08-31.
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#14
Empire Beauty School-Littleton
Littleton, CO · Licensed school
65%
Share of students who finish
- $19,350 program cost
What the record shows
Empire Beauty School-Littleton trains in Littleton, licensed by the Division of Private Occupational Schools. The school graduates 65 percent, on a fall headcount of 48. Tuition is reported at $19,350 for the full program. Empire Beauty campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $10,667 in federal loans at the median over 841 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $113 a month. The price is close to the $18,260 median and the completion is not: 65 percent against 73. In a clock-hour course that is the wrong half of the trade, and the reason to ask hard questions before a deposit. 33 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The license from the Division of Private Occupational Schools is the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
undefined The floor is almost the median here, so the whole spread is above it, and it belongs to people with a book. Denver-Aurora-Centennial employs the trade at about 1.3 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board), read 2026-08-31.
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#15
Intellitec College-Grand Junction
Grand Junction, CO
63%
Share of students who finish
- 130 graduates a year
- $23,730 program cost
What the record shows
Intellitec College-Grand Junction runs its cosmetology program in Grand Junction and reports to the US Department of Education. 63 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,077 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 63 percent is low for this page, but it is the college's rate and the cosmetology program is a small part of it; the cosmetology department's own completions are the check. The published tuition is $23,730. That price is 30 percent over the $18,260 median, and nothing on this record explains the premium. Graduates who borrowed took on $10,925 in federal loans at the median, 141 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $116 a month. It awarded 130 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Look this school up on the Division of Private Occupational Schools register by its legal name before you pay, because that entry and not this one is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
Around Grand Junction, the median cosmetologist earns $36,500, the bottom tenth $30,800 and the top tenth $75,230. This is a market with a long tail: the ninetieth percentile runs past double the median, and that gap is clientele rather than credentials. Grand Junction is a small market, about 170 in the trade, but a dense one for its size at 1.3 times the national rate.
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#16
TIGI Hairdressing Academy Legacy
Colorado Springs, CO · Licensed school
60%
Share of students who finish
- $18,260 program cost
What the record shows
TIGI Hairdressing Academy Legacy is licensed by the Division of Private Occupational Schools and trains in Colorado Springs. With 8 licensed schools in Colorado Springs, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. The school graduates 60 percent, on a fall headcount of 72. Tuition is reported at $18,260 for the full program. The median graduate left with $12,500 in federal loans, across 182 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $133 a month. 13 points fewer of its students finish than the 73 percent median, priced exactly at the $18,260 median, so you would be paying the going rate for worse odds of getting through. Ask the school what happens to the ones who leave. It awarded 137 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 72, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. Ask the Division of Private Occupational Schools directly whether the license is in good standing, because a lapse while you are enrolled costs you the hours rather than the school.
Where it leads
Around Colorado Springs, the median cosmetologist earns $36,680, the bottom tenth $30,910 and the top tenth $97,330. undefined Colorado Springs employs the trade at about 1.4 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board), read 2026-08-31.
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#17
Empire Beauty School-Thornton
Thornton, CO · Licensed school
58%
Share of students who finish
- $19,350 program cost
What the record shows
Empire Beauty School-Thornton operates in Thornton under license from the Division of Private Occupational Schools. Of the 149 students in its fall count, 58 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $19,350 for the full program. 15 points fewer of its students finish than the 73 percent median, priced within 6 percent of the $18,260 median, so you would be paying the going rate for worse odds of getting through. Ask the school what happens to the ones who leave. It awarded 35 beauty credentials in the reporting year. From 149 enrolled that is slow throughput for a clock-hour course, and it belongs beside the completion figure above. The license from the Division of Private Occupational Schools is the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Denver-Aurora-Centennial runs from $34,300 at the tenth percentile to $100,340 at the ninetieth, with a median of $36,530. Entry pay and typical pay nearly meet, and everything past the median is a following: the upside is real and it is all earned above the middle. Concentration around Denver-Aurora-Centennial runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.3 times, or 4,150 people in the occupation.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board), read 2026-08-31.
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#18
Northeastern Junior College
Sterling, CO
56%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 15 graduates a year
What the record shows
Northeastern Junior College runs its cosmetology program in Sterling and reports to the US Department of Education. 56 percent of students across the college finish, out of 786 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 56 percent is low for this page, but it is the college's rate and the cosmetology program is a small part of it; the cosmetology department's own completions are the check. Borrowing here runs to a median of $6,500 in federal loans, measured over 25 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $69 a month. Its 15 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 786. It is a public college, so the cosmetology course is priced at in-district tuition rather than at an academy price. Its hours count only under a current entry with the Division of Private Occupational Schools, so search that register by the school's legal name before any deposit.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists in Colorado earn under $37,690, with the tenth percentile at $31,520 and the ninetieth at $98,860. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. Colorado employs the trade at about 1.2 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
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#19
Lamar Community College
Lamar, CO
55%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 23 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Lamar, Lamar Community College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 55 percent of students across the college finish, out of 400 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 55 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 23 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 400. It is a public college, so the cosmetology course is priced at in-district tuition rather than at an academy price. The Division of Private Occupational Schools holds the record that counts your hours; find this school on it by its legal name and check it is current before a deposit.
Where it leads
In Colorado, the median cosmetologist earns $37,690, the bottom tenth $31,520 and the top tenth $98,860. undefined Colorado employs the trade at about 1.2 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
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#20
Empire Beauty School-Aurora
Aurora, CO · Licensed school
41%
Share of students who finish
- $19,350 program cost
What the record shows
Empire Beauty School-Aurora is licensed by the Division of Private Occupational Schools and trains in Aurora. Aurora has 5 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. The school graduates 41 percent, on a fall headcount of 70. Tuition is reported at $19,350 for the full program. Empire Beauty campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $10,667 in federal loans at the median over 841 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $113 a month. Only 41 in a hundred finish here, 32 points under the 73 percent median. Treat that as the headline, not a footnote, and hold the $19,350 price against it. It awarded 20 beauty credentials in the reporting year. From 70 enrolled that is slow throughput for a clock-hour course, and it belongs beside the completion figure above. Verify the school's standing with the Division of Private Occupational Schools before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around Denver-Aurora-Centennial, the median cosmetologist earns $36,530, the bottom tenth $34,300 and the top tenth $100,340. A flat floor and a long tail: nobody starts far below the median here, and the people well above it got there on repeat clients, not seniority. The work is somewhat more concentrated around Denver-Aurora-Centennial than nationally, at roughly 1.3 times the usual rate.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board), read 2026-08-31.
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#21
Otero College
La Junta, CO
38%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 17 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in La Junta, Otero College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Across all 619 students at the college, 38 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 38 percent is low for this page, but it is the college's rate and the cosmetology program is a small part of it; the cosmetology department's own completions are the check. Its 17 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 619. It is a public college, so the cosmetology course is priced at in-district tuition rather than at an academy price. Licensing is the business of the Division of Private Occupational Schools rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where it leads
In Colorado, the median cosmetologist earns $37,690, the bottom tenth $31,520 and the top tenth $98,860. undefined
- Emily Griffith Technical College 97% 97%
- Technical College of the Rockies 95% 95%
- IBMC College 86% 86%
- Paul Mitchell the School-Colorad... 85% 85%
- Aveda Institute-Denver 84% 84%
- Stacey James Institute 81% 81%
- Avalon Institute-Aurora 81% 81%
- Paul Mitchell the School-Denver 78% 78%
- Tuana European Beauty Academy 78% 78%
- Pickens Technical College 76% 76%
Which other cosmetology schools in Colorado are state licensed?
These Colorado cosmetology schools hold a current license from Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board) but have no published earnings figure, because the ranking above reads federal data that covers only schools taking federal financial aid. Their hours count toward the Colorado exam exactly as the ranked schools' hours do. They are listed by city rather than ordered, since nothing published about them supports an ordering.
| School | City | Board record | Approved to teach |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL Beauty Academy | Arvada | Licensed school | |
| Cosmo Beauty Academy | Aurora | Licensed school | |
| Max International Beauty School | Aurora | Licensed school | |
| Summit Barber Academy | Aurora | Licensed school | |
| Jasper Medical Services LLC dba The Academy of Facial Aesthetics | Castle Rock | Licensed school | |
| Colorado Advanced Esthetics | Centennial | Licensed school | |
| Institute of Modern Beauty - Centennial | Centennial | Licensed school | |
| Beautiful You Skincare Academy- COS | Colorado Springs | Licensed school | |
| Kings and Queens Barber Academy | Colorado Springs | Licensed school | |
| Rise Aesthetic Institute | Colorado Springs | Licensed school | |
| VKMD Institute of Medical Aesthetics | Colorado Springs | Licensed school | |
| Academy of Cosmetology Arts | Denver | Licensed school | |
| Accent Beauty Academy, LLC | Denver | Licensed school | |
| Cuttin' Up Beauty Academy | Denver | Licensed school | |
| Denver Integrative Massage School (aka The School of Botanical & Medical Aesthetics) | Denver | Licensed school | |
| Elite Aesthetics Academy | Denver | Licensed school | |
| JBe Beauty Training Studio LLC | Denver | Licensed school | |
| Katica Advanced Aesthetics | Denver | Licensed school | |
| Durango Nail Academy | durango | Licensed school | |
| Hair Fusion Training Institute | Durango | Licensed school | |
| Lizzie's Beauty Shop | Durango | Licensed school | |
| NuAge Para-Medical Esthetics & Laser College | Englewood | Licensed school | |
| Avila's Barber School | Fort collins | Licensed school | |
| Institute of Modern Beauty - Fort Collins | Fort Collins | Licensed school | |
| The White Magnolia Advanced Skin Care Institute | Fort Collins | Licensed school |
Showing 25 of the 37 remaining licensed schools, ordered by city. The full file is with Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board) .
How do you become a cosmetologist in Colorado in 2026?
To become a cosmetologist in Colorado you need 1,500 clock hours at a school licensed by Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board), then a passing score on the state exam. At the pace most clock-hour schools run, that is roughly 11.5 months full time. Only 13 states ask less, so this is at the shorter end of a range that reaches 2,000 hours.
None of those hours count unless Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board) licensed the school at the time you sat them.
How much do cosmetologists make in Colorado in 2026?
Cosmetologists in Colorado earn a median of $37,690 , with the bottom tenth on $31,520 and the top tenth on $98,860 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.
- Cosmetologists $37,690 $37,690
- Nail technicians $37,110 $37,110
- Salon managers $54,530 $54,530
- Estheticians $54,500 $54,500
- Barbers $61,500 $61,500
What is different about cosmetology licensing in Colorado?
Colorado is a clean split-regulator state, and the licensing rules say so outright: individuals are licensed by DORA's Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure, but an 'Approved Program' is defined in 4 CCR 731-1 as "a program approved by the Colorado Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS) or the Colorado Community Colleges System (CCCS)," so the beauty regulator approves no schools at all. Colorado is also one of the few states to state the requirement in academic credit as a true alternative to seat time, "fifty (50) credit hours or 1500 contact hours," and it maintains a separate 1,200-hour 'hairstylist' tier below full cosmetology. Read Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board)'s own rules .
Where do cosmetologists make the most money in Colorado?
Cosmetologists make the most money in Colorado around Boulder, where the median is $48,120, and the least around Pueblo at $33,280. That is a 45 percent gap inside one state, which is wider than the gap between many states and worth more than most differences between schools.
The statewide median sits at $37,690, so the metros above it are carrying the average up.
- Boulder $48,120 $48,120
- Greeley $44,380 $44,380
- Fort Collins-Loveland $41,230 $41,230
- Colorado Springs $36,680 $36,680
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial $36,530 $36,530
- Grand Junction $36,500 $36,500
- Pueblo $33,280 $33,280
Where are the cosmetology schools in Colorado?
The licensed cosmetology schools in Colorado cluster hardest in Colorado Springs, which holds 8 of the 58 the board currently lists. At 14 percent of the state total, no single city dominates training in Colorado.
9 towns have exactly one licensed school, which is worth knowing if you cannot easily move: losing that school means losing the option locally.
- Colorado Springs 8 8
- Denver 8 8
- Aurora 5 5
- Lakewood 4 4
- Loveland 4 4
- Pueblo 4 4
- Fort Collins 3 3
- Littleton 3 3
- Centennial 2 2
- Durango 2 2
Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech in Colorado?
In Colorado, barbers are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $61,500 median. That is above the $37,690 cosmetologist median, so the longer general license is not automatically the better-paid route here.
Hour requirements differ by license too, so a route that pays slightly less can still reach a paycheck sooner.
| Occupation | Median pay | Employed in state |
|---|---|---|
| Barbers | $61,500 | 480 |
| Salon managers | $54,530 | 3,160 |
| Estheticians | $54,500 | 1,510 |
| Nail technicians | $37,110 | 3,970 |
Can you use a cosmetology license from another state in Colorado?
Using a cosmetology license from another state in Colorado means satisfying Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board), which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other West states, Colorado is its 1,500 hour requirement is about the regional norm, and pay tracks the regional average closely.
It is worth knowing before you train if there is any chance you will move, since transferring a license is an application to the receiving board rather than a formality.
| State | Hours required | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado (this state) | 1,500 | $37,690 |
| Washington | 1,600 | $59,510 |
| Oregon | $57,580 | |
| California | 1,000 | $38,660 |
| Montana | 1,500 | $38,000 |
| New Mexico | 1,600 | $37,750 |
| Arizona | 1,500 | $36,810 |
| Idaho | 1,600 | $35,480 |
| Utah | 1,250 | $35,140 |
| Hawaii | 1,800 | $35,040 |
| Nevada | 1,600 | $33,840 |
| Alaska | 1,650 | $32,150 |
| Wyoming | 1,600 | $29,170 |
What does this Colorado cosmetology program ranking not tell you?
This Colorado cosmetology program ranking does not tell you everything you need. This is a completion rate, not a teaching inspection, and a school can lift it by enrolling only students likely to finish just as easily as by teaching well. It is reported for the institution rather than for the cosmetology course alone, which is exact at the beauty schools that teach nothing else and broader at a community college, where cosmetology is one program among many; each card says which kind it is describing. Schools enrolling fewer than 40 students are left out, because a completion rate over a handful of people moves too far on one person's decision to be worth ordering on. It covers only schools that take federal financial aid, a large share of the field but not all of it, so a school missing here takes no federal aid rather than performing badly. Finishing also says nothing about whether a school's hours will count toward your license, which is what the board record on this page is for.
Check a school against the NACCAS accredited school search if federal financial aid matters to you, and against Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board) for the license itself.
Common questions about cosmetology programs in Colorado
What makes the best cosmetology programs in Colorado rank highly here?
How many cosmetology programs in Colorado hold a current license?
Should you choose a NACCAS-accredited school in Colorado?
How much does cosmetology school cost in Colorado?
Are the best cosmetology programs in Colorado accredited?
Where does this Colorado cosmetology program data come from?
This Colorado cosmetology program data comes from Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board), read on 2026-08-31, from the board's own license records rather than from any school directory. The cost and debt figures come from the US Department of Education's College Scorecard , which publishes them per institution for cosmetology programs at every school taking federal financial aid. Colorado is a clean split-regulator state, and the licensing rules say so outright: individuals are licensed by DORA's Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure, but an 'Approved Program' is defined in 4 CCR 731-1 as "a program approved by the Colorado Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS) or the Colorado Community Colleges System (CCCS)," so the beauty regulator approves no schools at all. Colorado is also one of the few states to state the requirement in academic credit as a true alternative to seat time, "fifty (50) credit hours or 1500 contact hours," and it maintains a separate 1,200-hour 'hairstylist' tier below full cosmetology.
Division of Private Occupational Schools, Colorado Department of Higher Education (Private Occupational School Board)Read 2026-08-31.
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 , metro and state pay, employment and concentration behind every wage figure on this page
- US Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study CIP 12.04 , full program cost, median federal debt and the monthly cost of that debt, per institution
On this page
- Other licensed schools
- How to become one
- What it pays
- What is different in Colorado
- Where do cosmetologists make the most money
- Where are the cosmetology schools
- Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech
- Can you use a cosmetology license from another state
- What this does not tell you
- Common questions
- Sources