Michigan
Best cosmetology programs in Michigan 2026
Detroit skyline. Photo by Lrgjr72, licensed under CC BY-SA 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.
Ranking on accreditation is impossible in this field, because no cosmetology program is accredited by anyone. NACCAS accredits the school and not the course, so an accredited school can run exactly the same program as an unaccredited one. A student's hours stand or fall on the school's Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing (Board of Cosmetology) license instead, and that is the distinction this page is built on.
42
schools reporting federally
35
qualify to be ranked
7
excluded, under 40 enrolled students
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#1
Metro Detroit Barber College
Detroit, MI
100%
Share of students who finish
- 100% finish
- Private nonprofit
- 17 graduates a year
- $14,377 program cost
What the record shows
Metro Detroit Barber College teaches barbering in Detroit, with its results published federally. This is a specialist: a barber license, not cosmetology. The work is men's cutting, shaving and beard work, the course is a similar hour count to cosmetology, and it does not license color, chemical services or the full cosmetology scope, so it is a different decision from the full-service schools on this page. The school graduates 100 percent, on a fall headcount of 59. Tuition is reported at $14,377 for the full program. Completion is the one figure that compares across trades, and 100 percent, 21 points over the 79 percent median, is a good sign. $14,377 is 21 percent under the $18,273 median for a similar hour count, which makes it the cheaper route to a chair. 17 students completed a credential here 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. The school is a private nonprofit, a category covering only a handful of cosmetology providers nationally. Ask the state board 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
undefined Cosmetologists are the nearest series BLS carries to barbers here. undefined
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#2
M J Murphy Beauty College of Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, MI
93%
Share of students who finish
- 93% finish
- 24 graduates a year
- $16,500 program cost
What the record shows
M J Murphy Beauty College of Mount Pleasant runs its cosmetology program in Mount Pleasant and reports to the US Department of Education. 93 percent of its students finish, out of 50 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $16,500 for the full program. 14 points more of its students finish than the 79 percent median, priced within 10 percent of the $18,273 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. The school conferred 24 credentials in the year reported. Confirm the school's current license with the state board first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists in Michigan, the range runs $25,960 to $95,370 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $34,820. The distance between $25,960 and $95,370 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. The occupation is about as common in Michigan as it is nationally.
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#3
Marketti Academy of Cosmetology
Waterford, MI
90%
Share of students who finish
- 48 graduates a year
- $9,115 program cost
What the record shows
Marketti Academy of Cosmetology teaches cosmetology in Waterford, with its results published federally. Of 45 enrolled in the fall count, 90 percent finish. The published cost is $9,115 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $9,833 in federal loans at the median, 22 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. That median loan is larger than the $9,115 price, so the typical borrower here finances more than tuition. 11 points more of its students finish than the 79 percent median, and it charges 50 percent less than the $18,273 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. 48 credentials in the year from a fall count of 45: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. Confirm the school's current license with the state board first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
undefined undefined
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#4
L'esprit Academy
Canton, MI
88%
Share of students who finish
- 88% finish
- 219 graduates a year
- $10,115 program cost
What the record shows
L'esprit Academy trains in Canton, and because it takes federal financial aid its outcomes are published per program. Of the 266 students in its fall count, 88 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $10,115 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $6,333 in federal loans at the median, 160 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. More finish here than at the typical school on this page, 88 percent against 79, and the price is 45 percent under the $18,273 median: the two numbers point the same way. It awarded 219 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Confirm the school's current license with the state board first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Around Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, the median cosmetologist earns $34,960, the bottom tenth $27,210 and the top tenth $96,770. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. Concentration around Detroit-Warren-Dearborn runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.3 times, or 4,790 people in the occupation.
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#5
David Pressley School of Cosmetology
Royal Oak, MI
87%
Share of students who finish
- 87% finish
- 176 graduates a year
- $18,150 program cost
What the record shows
David Pressley School of Cosmetology runs its cosmetology program in Royal Oak and reports to the US Department of Education. 87 percent of its students finish, out of 225 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $18,150 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $6,333 in federal loans, measured over 220 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. 8 points more of its students finish than the 79 percent median, priced within 1 percent of the $18,273 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. The school conferred 176 credentials in the year reported. Verify the school's standing with the state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, the median cosmetologist earns $34,960, the bottom tenth $27,210 and the top tenth $96,770. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. Concentration around Detroit-Warren-Dearborn runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.3 times, or 4,790 people in the occupation.
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#6
Brighton Institute of Cosmetology
Brighton, MI
86%
Share of students who finish
- 86% finish
- 54 graduates a year
- $16,615 program cost
What the record shows
Brighton Institute of Cosmetology trains in Brighton, and because it takes federal financial aid its outcomes are published per program. The school graduates 86 percent, on a fall headcount of 43. Tuition is reported at $16,615 for the full program. 7 points more of its students finish than the 79 percent median, priced within 10 percent of the $18,273 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. 54 credentials in the year from a fall count of 43: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Around Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, the median cosmetologist earns $34,960, the bottom tenth $27,210 and the top tenth $96,770. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn employs the trade at about 1.3 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
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#7
Elevate Salon Institute
Royal Oak, MI
85%
Share of students who finish
- 152 graduates a year
- $13,880 program cost
What the record shows
Elevate Salon Institute teaches cosmetology in Royal Oak, with its results published federally. Of 197 enrolled in the fall count, 85 percent finish. The published cost is $13,880 for the full program. 123 graduates borrowed, at a median of $6,333 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. More finish here than at the typical school on this page, 85 percent against 79, and the price is 24 percent under the $18,273 median: the two numbers point the same way. It awarded 152 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, the range runs $27,210 to $96,770 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $34,960. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. The work is somewhat more concentrated around Detroit-Warren-Dearborn than nationally, at roughly 1.3 times the usual rate.
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#8
Paul Mitchell the School-Grand Rapids
Kentwood, MI
84%
Share of students who finish
- 84% finish
- 65 graduates a year
- $18,395 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Kentwood, Paul Mitchell the School-Grand Rapids is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 84 percent of its students finish, out of 86 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $18,395 for the full program. The median graduate left with $9,177 in federal loans, across 93 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $97 a month. $18,395 is within 1 percent of the $18,273 median, and the completion is not ordinary: 84 percent against 79. That is the better half of the trade. The school conferred 65 credentials in the year reported. The license from the state board is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
undefined undefined Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 1,290 people.
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#9
Douglas J Aveda Institute
East Lansing, MI
83%
Share of students who finish
- 772 graduates a year
- $23,000 program cost
What the record shows
Based in East Lansing, Douglas J Aveda Institute is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of 777 enrolled in the fall count, 83 percent finish. The published cost is $23,000 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $7,917 in federal loans at the median, 1027 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $84 a month. $23,000 is 26 percent over the $18,273 median, for a completion rate within 4 points of the 79 percent median, which is a premium with nothing on this record to justify it. The school conferred 772 credentials in the year reported. That is roughly 24 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, so it is one of the larger training operations here. Verify the school's standing with the state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Lansing-East Lansing, the range runs $25,960 to $97,240 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $37,380. The distance between $25,960 and $97,240 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. This is a comparatively thin market: Lansing-East Lansing runs at roughly 0.7 times the national concentration, about 280 people in the occupation.
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#10
The Salon Professional Academy of Holland
Holland, MI
81%
Share of students who finish
- 56 graduates a year
- $21,390 program cost
What the record shows
The Salon Professional Academy of Holland runs its cosmetology program in Holland and reports to the US Department of Education. Of 82 enrolled in the fall count, 81 percent finish. The published cost is $21,390 for the full program. It charges 17 percent over the $18,273 median and finishes about as many of its students as the typical school here, so the extra price is not buying a better completion rate. 56 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Ask the state board 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood runs from $25,960 at the tenth percentile to $96,060 at the ninetieth, with a median of $38,740. The distance between $25,960 and $96,060 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. The metro median is about 11 percent above the Michigan figure. On concentration, Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#11
Paul Mitchell the School-Michigan
Sterling Heights, MI
80%
Share of students who finish
- 80% finish
- 99 graduates a year
- $20,970 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Michigan runs its cosmetology program in Sterling Heights and reports to the US Department of Education. 80 percent of its students finish, out of 136 enrolled in the fall count. It charges $20,970 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Paul Mitchell campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $7,232 in federal loans at the median over 70 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $77 a month. $20,970 is 15 percent over the $18,273 median, for a completion rate within 1 points of the 79 percent median, which is a premium with nothing on this record to justify it. The school conferred 99 credentials in the year reported. Verify the school's standing with the state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, the median cosmetologist earns $34,960, the bottom tenth $27,210 and the top tenth $96,770. undefined
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#12
The Salon Professional Academy-Battle Creek
Battle Creek, MI
80%
Share of students who finish
- 36 graduates a year
- $11,530 program cost
What the record shows
The Salon Professional Academy-Battle Creek runs its cosmetology program in Battle Creek and reports to the US Department of Education. 80 percent of the 49 students it enrolls finish. The published cost is $11,530 for the full program. Completion at 80 percent against 79, and 37 percent less to get it: the price is the argument for this one. It awarded 36 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Battle Creek, the range runs $25,960 to $91,940 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $34,770. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. This is a comparatively thin market: Battle Creek runs at roughly 0.6 times the national concentration, about 70 people in the occupation.
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#13
Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design-Hair Lab Detroit Barber School
Southgate, MI
79%
Share of students who finish
- 79% finish
- 28 graduates a year
- $18,900 program cost
What the record shows
Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design-Hair Lab Detroit Barber School teaches cosmetology in Southgate, with its results published federally. 79 percent of its students finish, out of 57 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $18,900 for the full program. Borrowing is pooled across Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design campuses in the federal file, 233 borrowers at a median of $10,556 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $112 a month. On completion and price it is close to the median school on this page, 79 percent, exactly the median and $18,900 against $18,273, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. 28 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Around Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, the median cosmetologist earns $34,960, the bottom tenth $27,210 and the top tenth $96,770. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. Concentration around Detroit-Warren-Dearborn runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.3 times, or 4,790 people in the occupation.
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#14
Paul Mitchell the School-Farmington Hills
Farmington Hills, MI
79%
Share of students who finish
- 79% finish
- 78 graduates a year
- $19,775 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Farmington Hills teaches cosmetology in Farmington Hills, with its results published federally. Of the 99 students in its fall count, 79 percent complete the course they started. It charges $19,775 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. 100 graduates borrowed, at a median of $9,833 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. On every federal measure it is an ordinary school for this page, 79 percent, exactly the median and $19,775 against $18,273, 50 percent of the price borrowed against 50 for the page, and ordinary is not a warning: it means the deciding facts are the ones you gather on a visit. The school conferred 78 credentials in the year reported. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
undefined That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not.
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#15
Protege Academy
East Lansing, MI
78%
Share of students who finish
- 78% finish
- 47 graduates a year
- $19,600 program cost
What the record shows
Protege Academy runs its cosmetology program in East Lansing and reports to the US Department of Education. The school graduates 78 percent, on a fall headcount of 72. The published cost is $19,600 for the full program. The median graduate left with $9,833 in federal loans, across 73 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. It is close to the median school on this page on completion, price and borrowing, 78 percent against 79 and $19,600 against $18,273, 50 percent of the price borrowed against 50 for the page, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. The school conferred 47 credentials in the year reported. Confirm the school's current license with the state board first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Lansing-East Lansing earn under $37,380, with the tenth percentile at $25,960 and the ninetieth at $97,240. The distance between $25,960 and $97,240 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.7 times the usual concentration around Lansing-East Lansing, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
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#16
French Academy of Cosmetology
Spring Lake, MI
75%
Share of students who finish
- 75% finish
- 74 graduates a year
- $10,680 program cost
What the record shows
French Academy of Cosmetology teaches cosmetology in Spring Lake, with its results published federally. Of the 51 students in its fall count, 75 percent complete the course they started. It charges $10,680 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Graduates who borrowed took on $5,500 in federal loans at the median, 41 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $58 a month. Completion at 75 percent against 79, and 42 percent less to get it: the price is the argument for this one. It awarded 74 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 51, 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 state board first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Around Muskegon-Norton Shores, the median cosmetologist earns $31,110, the bottom tenth $25,960 and the top tenth $95,000. undefined The metro median runs about 11 percent below the Michigan figure.
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#17
Michigan College of Beauty-Monroe
Monroe, MI
75%
Share of students who finish
- 75% finish
- 89 graduates a year
- $17,275 program cost
What the record shows
Michigan College of Beauty-Monroe teaches cosmetology in Monroe, with its results published federally. 75 percent of its students finish, out of 70 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $17,275 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $6,333 in federal loans, measured over 58 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. Completion and price both sit close to the page median, 75 percent against 79 and $17,275 against $18,273, so the number that separates it is debt: 37 percent of the price arrives as federal loans, less than at the typical school here. It awarded 89 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 70, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Around Monroe, the median cosmetologist earns $30,690, the bottom tenth $25,960 and the top tenth $91,060. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. The metro median runs about 12 percent below the Michigan figure. Few people hold this occupation locally, so a graduate is competing in a small pool and is likely to be known in it quickly. Local concentration around Monroe sits near the national average.
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#18
Bayshire Academy of Beauty Craft Inc
Bay City, MI
72%
Share of students who finish
- 41 graduates a year
- $12,900 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Bay City, Bayshire Academy of Beauty Craft Inc is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of 97 enrolled in the fall count, 72 percent finish. The published cost is $12,900 for the full program. Cheap, but 7 points fewer of its students finish than the 79 percent median, and in a clock-hour trade an unfinished course is the expensive outcome: you have paid for hours that never become a license. It awarded 41 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Bay City earn under $30,720, with the tenth percentile at $26,770 and the ninetieth at $93,780. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. Against the state as a whole, the metro sits roughly 12 percent under on median pay. 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. Local concentration around Bay City sits near the national average.
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#19
Michigan College of Beauty-Troy
Troy, MI
68%
Share of students who finish
- 68% finish
- 191 graduates a year
- $21,500 program cost
What the record shows
Michigan College of Beauty-Troy trains in Troy, and because it takes federal financial aid its outcomes are published per program. 68 percent of students see the course through, out of 230 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $21,500 for the full program. The median graduate left with $6,333 in federal loans, across 340 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. That is the pairing to be wary of: 11 points fewer of its students finish than the 79 percent median, at a price 18 percent over the $18,273 median. Ask the school directly why students leave before you commit. 191 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Confirm the school's current license with the state board first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Around Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, the median cosmetologist earns $34,960, the bottom tenth $27,210 and the top tenth $96,770. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not.
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#20
P&A Scholars Beauty School
Detroit, MI
65%
Share of students who finish
- 65% finish
- 37 graduates a year
- $19,800 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Detroit, P&A Scholars Beauty School is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. The school graduates 65 percent, on a fall headcount of 90. Tuition is reported at $19,800 for the full program. The price is close to the $18,273 median and the completion is not: 65 percent against 79. In a clock-hour course that is the wrong half of the trade, and the reason to ask hard questions before a deposit. It awarded 37 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Confirm the school's current license with the state board first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Detroit-Warren-Dearborn earn under $34,960, with the tenth percentile at $27,210 and the ninetieth at $96,770. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn employs the trade at about 1.3 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
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#21
Paul Mitchell the School-Great Lakes
Port Huron, MI
60%
Share of students who finish
- 60% finish
- 42 graduates a year
- $15,225 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Great Lakes trains in Port Huron, and because it takes federal financial aid its outcomes are published per program. Of the 75 students in its fall count, 60 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $15,225 for the full program. Borrowing is pooled across Paul Mitchell campuses in the federal file, 198 borrowers at a median of $9,833 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. $15,225 is 17 percent under the $18,273 median, and 19 points fewer finish than the 79 percent median. The saving only counts if you are one of the ones who gets through. 42 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Around Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, the median cosmetologist earns $34,960, the bottom tenth $27,210 and the top tenth $96,770. undefined Detroit-Warren-Dearborn employs the trade at about 1.3 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
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#22
Protege Academy
Mt. Pleasant, MI
60%
Share of students who finish
- 60% finish
- 19 graduates a year
- $19,600 program cost
What the record shows
Protege Academy runs its cosmetology program in Mt. Pleasant and reports to the US Department of Education. Of the 44 students in its fall count, 60 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $19,600 for the full program. 73 graduates borrowed, at a median of $9,833 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. 19 points fewer of its students finish than the 79 percent median, priced within 8 percent of the $18,273 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. 19 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
undefined undefined Michigan employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 8,970 people.
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#23
Empire Beauty School-Michigan
Grand Rapids, MI
57%
Share of students who finish
- 57% finish
- 111 graduates a year
- $19,260 program cost
What the record shows
Empire Beauty School-Michigan teaches cosmetology in Grand Rapids, with its results published federally. Of the 259 students in its fall count, 57 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $19,260 for the full program. The federal file reports borrowing for Empire Beauty campuses together rather than for this one: a median of $11,743 in federal loans across 886 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $124 a month. The price is close to the $18,273 median and the completion is not: 57 percent against 79. In a clock-hour course that is the wrong half of the trade, and the reason to ask hard questions before a deposit. 111 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Ask the state board 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, the range runs $25,960 to $96,060 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $38,740. The distance between $25,960 and $96,060 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. Against the state as a whole, the metro runs roughly 11 percent higher on median pay. The occupation is about as common around Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood as it is nationally.
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#24
Dorsey College
Madison Heights, MI
54%
Share of students who finish
- 136 graduates a year
What the record shows
Dorsey College runs its cosmetology program in Madison Heights and reports to the US Department of Education. 54 percent of students across the college finish, out of 643 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 54 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Borrowing here runs to a median of $16,500 in federal loans, measured over 150 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $175 a month. The school conferred 136 credentials in the year reported. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
undefined undefined Detroit-Warren-Dearborn employs the trade at about 1.3 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
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#25
Dorsey School of Beauty
Taylor, MI
51%
Share of students who finish
- 51% finish
- 163 graduates a year
- $28,950 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Taylor, Dorsey School of Beauty is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of the 164 students in its fall count, 51 percent complete the course they started. It charges $28,950 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. 90 graduates borrowed, at a median of $16,500 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $175 a month. Only 51 in a hundred finish here, 28 points under the 79 percent median. Treat that as the headline, not a footnote, and hold the $28,950 price against it. It awarded 163 beauty credentials in the reporting year. From 164 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. The license from the state board is still 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn earn under $34,960, with the tenth percentile at $27,210 and the ninetieth at $96,770. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn employs the trade at about 1.3 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
- Metro Detroit Barber College 100% 100%
- M J Murphy Beauty College of Mou... 93% 93%
- Marketti Academy of Cosmetology 90% 90%
- L'esprit Academy 88% 88%
- David Pressley School of Cosmeto... 87% 87%
- Brighton Institute of Cosmetology 86% 86%
- Elevate Salon Institute 85% 85%
- Paul Mitchell the School-Grand R... 84% 84%
- Douglas J Aveda Institute 83% 83%
- The Salon Professional Academy ... 81% 81%
Where can you find the licensed cosmetology programs in Michigan?
The licensed cosmetology programs in Michigan are searched one at a time rather than published as a list, so this page links Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing (Board of Cosmetology)'s own records instead of reprinting a commercial directory. The schools above are drawn from the 42 Michigan cosmetology programs that take federal financial aid and therefore report their results to the Department of Education. That is a large share of the field and not all of it, so a school missing here is one that takes no federal aid rather than one that is unlicensed. Look up the school you are considering in the board's records and confirm the license is current before you pay anything.
How do you become a cosmetologist in Michigan in 2026?
To become a cosmetologist in Michigan you need 1,500 clock hours at a school licensed by Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing (Board of Cosmetology), then a passing score on the state exam. At the pace most clock-hour schools run, that is roughly 11.5 months full time. 13 states set a lower requirement and the rest set a higher one, in a national range topping out at 2,000 hours.
Those hours only count if the school held a license from Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing (Board of Cosmetology) while you were enrolled, so check the license before the brochure when comparing cosmetology programs.
How much do cosmetologists make in Michigan in 2026?
Cosmetologists in Michigan earn a median of $34,820 , with the bottom tenth on $25,960 and the top tenth on $95,370 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.
- Cosmetologists $34,820 $34,820
- Salon managers $42,740 $42,740
- Estheticians $45,240 $45,240
- Nail technicians $36,890 $36,890
What is different about cosmetology licensing in Michigan?
Michigan is one of the few states with a real, drafted distance-education rule for cosmetology rather than silence or a flat ban. R 338.2158 permits theory hours to be delivered remotely with no percentage cap, but bolts on unusual guardrails: all practical hours and practical applications must be done in person, instructor interaction must be logged, an in-person performance evaluation is required after each 10% of the distance component, the transcript must identify which portion was delivered at a distance, and before enrolling the student must sign a disclaimer that distance education may not be accepted for reciprocity or licensure in some states. Michigan also keeps a 2-year salon apprenticeship as a full substitute for the 1,500 hours, credits 100 training hours for every 6 months of out-of-state experience on reciprocity, and licenses a separate short-curriculum natural hair culturist. Read Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing (Board of Cosmetology)'s own rules .
Where do cosmetologists make the most money in Michigan?
Cosmetologists make the most money in Michigan around Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, where the median is $38,740, and the least around Flint at $30,610. A 27 percent spread across one state means where you work matters more to your pay than which of these metros you trained in.
Against a statewide median of $34,820, roughly half these metros pay above and half below.
- Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentw... $38,740 $38,740
- Lansing-East Lansing $37,380 $37,380
- Niles $36,960 $36,960
- Midland $35,580 $35,580
- Ann Arbor $35,490 $35,490
- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn $34,960 $34,960
- Traverse City $34,950 $34,950
- Battle Creek $34,770 $34,770
- Kalamazoo-Portage $34,110 $34,110
- Saginaw $33,650 $33,650
Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech in Michigan?
In Michigan, estheticians are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $45,240 median. Cosmetologists in Michigan sit at $34,820, below that, which is worth weighing before committing to the longest of the licenses.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Estheticians | $45,240 | 1,510 |
| Salon managers | $42,740 | 2,010 |
| Nail technicians | $36,890 | 1,020 |
Can you use a cosmetology license from another state in Michigan?
Using a cosmetology license from another state in Michigan means satisfying Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing (Board of Cosmetology), which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other Midwest states, Michigan is its 1,500 hour requirement is about the regional norm, and pay tracks the regional average closely.
That matters if you might move, because a license does not travel automatically: the receiving state decides what your hours are worth, and a shorter program can be the harder one to carry across a line.
| State | Hours required | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan (this state) | 1,500 | $34,820 |
| South Dakota | 1,500 | $49,800 |
| Minnesota | 1,550 | $39,170 |
| Ohio | 1,500 | $36,260 |
| Wisconsin | 1,550 | $36,230 |
| Iowa | 1,550 | $35,700 |
| North Dakota | 1,500 | $34,850 |
| Nebraska | 1,800 | $34,320 |
| Illinois | 1,500 | $34,040 |
| Indiana | 1,500 | $32,830 |
| Missouri | 1,500 | $30,750 |
| Kansas | 1,500 | $29,710 |
What does this Michigan cosmetology program ranking not tell you?
This Michigan 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 Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing (Board of Cosmetology) for the license itself.
Common questions about cosmetology programs in Michigan
What makes the best cosmetology programs in Michigan rank highly here?
How many cosmetology schools are there in Michigan?
Should you choose a NACCAS-accredited school in Michigan?
How much does cosmetology school cost in Michigan?
Are the best cosmetology programs in Michigan accredited?
Where does this Michigan cosmetology program data come from?
This Michigan cosmetology program data comes from Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing (Board of Cosmetology), 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. Michigan is one of the few states with a real, drafted distance-education rule for cosmetology rather than silence or a flat ban. R 338.2158 permits theory hours to be delivered remotely with no percentage cap, but bolts on unusual guardrails: all practical hours and practical applications must be done in person, instructor interaction must be logged, an in-person performance evaluation is required after each 10% of the distance component, the transcript must identify which portion was delivered at a distance, and before enrolling the student must sign a disclaimer that distance education may not be accepted for reciprocity or licensure in some states. Michigan also keeps a 2-year salon apprenticeship as a full substitute for the 1,500 hours, credits 100 training hours for every 6 months of out-of-state experience on reciprocity, and licenses a separate short-curriculum natural hair culturist.
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing (Board of Cosmetology)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