Ranked on five reported veteran services
Military-Friendly Cosmetology Schools (2026)
Published
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
This list is built from one thing the federal data actually records: whether a school tells the Department of Education, on its IPEDS survey, that it offers any of five veteran services. 1,019 schools with cosmetology or barbering training do. The ones reporting all five sit at the top, and where schools tie, the share of students who finish sorts them.
What it can't tell you is whether the program you want is approved for your GI Bill benefits. That approval is a separate decision, made by your state approving agency and recorded in the VA's WEAMS database. A school can staff a full veteran office and still have one program on the approved list and another off it. Check the program, not the school.
Figures in this section: IPEDS 2023 and College Scorecard, June 2026.
The 1,019 Military-Friendly Cosmetology Schools, Ranked
Ordered on how many of five veteran services a school reports to the Department of Education through IPEDS: the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program, credit for military training, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and families, a recognized student veteran organization, and the Department of Defense tuition assistance agreement. Ties are broken on the share of students who finish.
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#1
Fox Valley Technical College
Appleton, WI
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
- 68 graduates a year
What the record shows
Fox Valley Technical College teaches cosmetology in Appleton, with its results published federally. Across all 5,825 students at the college, 65 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. A college that holds onto 65 percent of its students generally tends to hold onto them on the cosmetology floor too, though that floor's own figure is the one to ask for. Its 68 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 5,825. 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 around Appleton, the range runs $23,580 to $69,930 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $36,260. Early pay locally runs well under the median, so budget for a slow first year rather than the headline figure. Appleton is a small market, about 280 in the trade, but a dense one for its size at 1.2 times the national rate.
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#2
Northeast Alabama Community College
Rainsville, AL
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
- 29 graduates a year
What the record shows
Northeast Alabama Community College teaches cosmetology in Rainsville, with its results published federally. 56 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,629 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. At 56 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. Its 29 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,629. The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering 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
Pay for cosmetologists in Alabama runs from $21,300 at the tenth percentile to $56,700 at the ninetieth, with a median of $29,150. Neither end of this market is extreme: the top tenth earns about 1.9 times the median and the floor sits 27 percent under it, which makes the first year a budget question rather than a survival one. On concentration, Alabama is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#3
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville
Hanceville, AL
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
- 23 graduates a year
What the record shows
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville teaches cosmetology in Hanceville, with its results published federally. 51 percent of students across the college finish, out of 4,423 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That completion rate is 15 points above the 36 percent median, but it is every program on campus, so treat it as a fact about the college and not about the cosmetology floor. Its 23 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 4,423. The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering 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
Half of cosmetologists in Alabama earn under $29,150, with the tenth percentile at $21,300 and the ninetieth at $56,700. The ninetieth percentile at $56,700 is 1.9 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 27 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. Local concentration in Alabama sits near the national average.
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#4
Craven Community College
New Bern, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Public)
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Based in New Bern, Craven Community College is on the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners register. Its license covers cosmetology. It is a public institution, which usually means lower tuition than a private academy charges. The board lists no other licensed school in New Bern. 48 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,989 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. At 48 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. Its 49 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,989. License 039 is the board's entry for it, and that is the record to confirm is still current before a deposit.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists in North Carolina, the range runs $26,880 to $61,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $38,410. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. The occupation is about as common in North Carolina as it is nationally.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#5
Central Georgia Technical College
Warner Robins, GA
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
- 356 graduates a year
What the record shows
Central Georgia Technical College teaches cosmetology in Warner Robins, with its results published federally. Across all 6,174 students at the college, 47 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. A college that holds onto 47 percent of its students generally tends to hold onto them on the cosmetology floor too, though that floor's own figure is the one to ask for. The school conferred 356 credentials in the year reported. Confirm the school's current license with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists in Georgia earn under $34,560, with the tenth percentile at $17,310 and the ninetieth at $79,170. The distance between $17,310 and $79,170 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. Local concentration in Georgia sits near the national average.
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#6
Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Clarkston, GA
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
- 23 graduates a year
What the record shows
Georgia Piedmont Technical College teaches cosmetology in Clarkston, with its results published federally. 44 percent of students across the college finish, out of 2,198 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That completion rate is 8 points above the 36 percent median, but it is every program on campus, so treat it as a fact about the college and not about the cosmetology floor. Its 23 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 2,198. The license from the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers 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 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell earn under $34,640, with the tenth percentile at $17,630 and the ninetieth at $80,880. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. Local concentration around Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell sits near the national average.
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#7
Hinds Community College
Raymond, MS · Licensed school
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Barbering
What the record shows
Hinds Community College trains in Raymond, licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. The board lists no other licensed school in Raymond. 43 percent of students across the college finish, out of 6,397 enrolled, and barbering is one of the programs inside that figure. At 43 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 barbering program's own completion is a separate number to ask the barbering department for. Borrowing here runs to a median of $9,487 in federal loans, measured over 44 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $101 a month. Its 44 completions a year make barbering a small program inside a college of 6,397. Ask the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering 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 Jackson, the range runs $17,370 to $58,930 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $26,990. Cosmetologists are the nearest series BLS carries to barbers here. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. Jackson employs cosmetologists at only about 0.6 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, read 2026-08-31.
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#8
Savannah Technical College
Savannah, GA
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
- 163 graduates a year
What the record shows
Savannah Technical College teaches cosmetology in Savannah, with its results published federally. Across all 3,366 students at the college, 42 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. At 42 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. The school conferred 163 credentials in the year reported. Check its license with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Savannah earn under $30,210, with the tenth percentile at $17,340 and the ninetieth at $77,670. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. Against the state as a whole, the metro sits roughly 13 percent under on median pay. Local concentration around Savannah sits near the national average.
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#9
Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Conway, SC
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
- 77 graduates a year
What the record shows
Horry-Georgetown Technical College runs its cosmetology program in Conway and reports to the US Department of Education. 38 percent of students across the college finish, out of 6,274 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Read that 38 percent as the college's rate, not the cosmetology floor's, so it neither ranks this program up nor down. Its 77 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 6,274. 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 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, the range runs $18,990 to $60,900 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $31,000. The distance between $18,990 and $60,900 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. Against the state as a whole, the metro sits roughly 8 percent under on median pay. Few people hold this occupation locally, so a graduate is competing in a small pool and is likely to be known in it quickly. The occupation is about as common around Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach as it is nationally.
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#10
San Juan College
Farmington, NM
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
- 9 graduates a year
What the record shows
San Juan College teaches cosmetology in Farmington, with its results published federally. Across all 4,304 students at the college, 37 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 37 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. A program that awarded 9 credentials all year may not run every term, which is the first thing to confirm. Verify the school's standing with the New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around Farmington, the median cosmetologist earns $27,360, the bottom tenth $26,900 and the top tenth $43,150. The metro median runs about 28 percent below the New Mexico figure. The tenth percentile sits within $460 of the median, so the published median is close to the entry wage here, and what sits above it is tips and a following. Farmington employs the trade at only about 0.6 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
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#11
Neecee's Barber College
Abilene, TX · Cosmetology Private School
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2027-03
- $13,390 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Abilene, Neecee's Barber College is on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation register. It trains toward a barber license only, which is a similar hour count to cosmetology, leads to men's cutting, shaving and beard work, and does not license color, chemical services or the full cosmetology scope. That makes it a different decision from the full cosmetology schools on this page rather than a smaller version of one. With 5 licensed schools in Abilene, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. Of the 32 students in its fall count, 35 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $13,390 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $13,500 in federal loans, measured over 45 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $143 a month. That median loan is larger than the $13,390 price, so the typical borrower here finances more than tuition. Completion is the one figure that compares across trades, and 35 percent, at the 35 percent private-school median, is about what this page does. $13,390 is exactly at the $13,390 private-school median for a similar hour count, which is the going rate. The page median is set by public colleges, so that comparison is against the other private schools here. It awarded 21 beauty credentials in the reporting year. License 705133 is the board's entry for it, and that is the record to confirm is still current before a deposit.
Where it leads
For barbers in Texas, the range runs $28,340 to $80,430 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $30,760. The floor is almost the median here, so the whole spread is above it, and it belongs to people with a book. This is a dense market by national standards, 1.9 times the usual concentration in Texas.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#12
College of the Albemarle
Elizabeth City, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Public)
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
College of the Albemarle is licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners and trains in Elizabeth City. Its license covers cosmetology. The board records it as public rather than private. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Elizabeth City. 35 percent of students across the college finish, out of 2,001 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 35 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. 4 credentials in a year means the cosmetology program barely ran; ask whether it is enrolling this term before anything else. Its board record is license 036, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
For skincare specialists around Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, the range runs $31,290 to $50,300 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $34,190. Skincare specialists are the nearest series BLS carries to cosmetologists here. Against the state as a whole, the metro sits roughly 13 percent under on median pay. There is little distance between entry pay and the median locally, so the early climb is flatter than in most trades. Concentration around Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.5 times, or 530 people in the occupation.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#13
Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Public)
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Wake Technical Community College trains in Raleigh, licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. Its license covers cosmetology. It is a public institution, which usually means lower tuition than a private academy charges. Raleigh has 9 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. Across all 19,675 students at the college, 33 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 33 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. 22 graduates borrowed, at a median of $8,048 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $85 a month. Its 78 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 19,675. The board files it under license 334; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Raleigh-Cary earn under $43,700, with the tenth percentile at $27,300 and the ninetieth at $70,550. Against the state as a whole, the metro runs roughly 14 percent higher on median pay. There is a real gap between entry pay and the median here, which is the part of the trade that surprises people who costed only the tuition. Concentration around Raleigh-Cary runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.2 times, or 1,810 people in the occupation.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#14
Springfield Technical Community College
Springfield, MA
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
What the record shows
Springfield Technical Community College runs its cosmetology program in Springfield and reports to the US Department of Education. 32 percent of students across the college finish, out of 4,759 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 32 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. Licensing is the business of the Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Springfield runs from $31,200 at the tenth percentile to $91,030 at the ninetieth, with a median of $36,690. 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. On concentration, Springfield is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#15
Gwinnett Technical College
Lawrenceville, GA
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
- 20 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Technical College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 32 percent of students across the college finish, out of 8,728 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Read that 32 percent as the college's rate, not the cosmetology floor's, so it neither ranks this program up nor down. 23 graduates borrowed, at a median of $13,699 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $145 a month. Its 20 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 8,728. Verify the school's standing with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, the range runs $17,630 to $80,880 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $34,640. The distance between $17,630 and $80,880 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. The occupation is about as common around Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell as it is nationally.
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#16
Augusta Technical College
Augusta, GA
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
- 104 graduates a year
What the record shows
Augusta Technical College teaches cosmetology in Augusta, with its results published federally. 31 percent of students across the college finish, out of 3,923 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 31 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 school conferred 104 credentials in the year reported. Confirm the school's current license with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Augusta-Richmond County, the range runs $20,690 to $75,390 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $29,430. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. Against the state as a whole, the metro sits roughly 15 percent under on median pay. On concentration, Augusta-Richmond County is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#17
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
Logan, WV · Licensed school
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
What the record shows
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College operates in Mount Gay under license from the state board. The board lists no other licensed school in Mount Gay. 29 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,064 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 29 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 award here is an associate degree rather than the certificate most cosmetology programs issue, so the hours come with transferable college credit attached. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
In West Virginia, the median cosmetologist earns $34,480, the bottom tenth $23,580 and the top tenth $60,300. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. Local concentration in West Virginia sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; West Virginia State Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, read 2026-08-31.
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#18
Honolulu Community College
Honolulu, HI
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Associate degree
- Public institution
- 13 graduates a year
What the record shows
Honolulu Community College runs its cosmetology program in Honolulu and reports to the US Department of Education. Across all 1,897 students at the college, 25 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Most of the students behind that 25 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 13 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,897. Unusually, this program leads to an associate degree instead of a certificate, which matters if you later want to teach or move into salon management. 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
In Hawaii, the median cosmetologist earns $35,040, the bottom tenth $29,120 and the top tenth $73,820. This is a market with a long tail: the ninetieth percentile runs past double the median, and that gap is clientele rather than credentials. Local concentration in Hawaii sits near the national average.
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#19
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville, NC
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
- 26 graduates a year
What the record shows
Fayetteville Technical Community College runs its cosmetology program in Fayetteville and reports to the US Department of Education. 24 percent of students across the college finish, out of 9,471 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 24 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 26 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 9,471. Licensing is the business of the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Fayetteville earn under $38,290, with the tenth percentile at $23,490 and the ninetieth at $60,970. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. Fayetteville employs the trade at only about 0.6 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
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#20
Technical College of the Lowcountry
Beaufort, SC
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
- 26 graduates a year
What the record shows
Technical College of the Lowcountry runs its cosmetology program in Beaufort and reports to the US Department of Education. 18 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,679 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 18 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 26 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,679. 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
For cosmetologists in South Carolina, the range runs $21,340 to $77,430 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $33,700. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. The occupation is about as common in South Carolina as it is nationally.
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#21
Utah State University
Logan, UT
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
- 15 graduates a year
What the record shows
Utah State University teaches cosmetology in Logan, with its results published federally. Its 15 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 20,272. Check its license with the Utah Division of Professional Licensing before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Logan runs from $20,680 at the tenth percentile to $59,980 at the ninetieth, with a median of $30,560. The metro median runs about 13 percent below the Utah figure. Early pay locally runs well under the median, so budget for a slow first year rather than the headline figure. This is a comparatively thin market: Logan runs at roughly 0.7 times the national concentration, about 90 people in the occupation.
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#22
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
- 6 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Montclair, Montclair State University is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. A program that awarded 6 credentials all year may not run every term, which is the first thing to confirm. Its hours count only under a current entry with the state board, so search that register by the school's legal name before any deposit.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around New York-Newark-Jersey City earn under $36,120, with the tenth percentile at $33,480 and the ninetieth at $91,780. 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. Concentration around New York-Newark-Jersey City runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.5 times, or 27,660 people in the occupation.
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#23
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Albuquerque, NM
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
What the record shows
University of New Mexico-Main Campus teaches cosmetology in Albuquerque, with its results published federally. The license from the New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Albuquerque, the range runs $27,600 to $50,030 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $38,330. An ordinary shape: the top tenth at 1.3 times the median and a floor 28 percent below it, so a good first year and a good tenth year here are separated by a client book rather than by a cliff. On concentration, Albuquerque is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#24
Daytona State College
Daytona Beach, FL
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
- 121 graduates a year
What the record shows
Daytona State College runs its cosmetology program in Daytona Beach and reports to the US Department of Education. The median graduate left with $5,500 in federal loans, across 52 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $58 a month. The school conferred 121 credentials in the year reported. Ask the Commission for Independent Education 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 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, the median cosmetologist earns $28,370, the bottom tenth $27,040 and the top tenth $48,970. The bottom and the middle sit close together here, which means early pay is predictable and the upside has to be built rather than waited for. The work is somewhat more concentrated around Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach than nationally, at roughly 1.3 times the usual rate.
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#25
Del Mar College
Corpus Christi, TX
5 of 5
Veteran services reported, of 5
- Public institution
- 48 graduates a year
What the record shows
Del Mar College teaches cosmetology in Corpus Christi, with its results published federally. Its 48 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 9,501. Licensing is the business of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Corpus Christi earn under $28,210, with the tenth percentile at $24,960 and the ninetieth at $52,150. Against the state as a whole, the metro sits roughly 8 percent under on median pay. The lower end of this market is unusually close to its middle, so what changes a graduate's income here is building a following, not surviving an underpaid stretch. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.7 times the usual concentration around Corpus Christi, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
Positions 26 to 1,019 are listed by state below, and every school is on its own state page with the full record.
Military-Friendly Cosmetology Schools by State
How many schools in each state meet the definition, with the three that lead the list there, from the College Scorecard and IPEDS. Each state page carries the board's own roster and hour requirement.
| State | Schools |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 22 |
| Arizona | 18 |
| Arkansas | 26 |
| California | 82 |
| Colorado | 23 |
| Connecticut | 10 |
| Delaware | 5 |
| District of Columbia | 1 |
| Florida | 73 |
| Georgia | 42 |
| Hawaii | 2 |
| Idaho | 12 |
| Illinois | 30 |
| Indiana | 11 |
| Iowa | 11 |
| Kansas | 18 |
| Kentucky | 20 |
| Louisiana | 22 |
| Maine | 2 |
| Maryland | 7 |
| Massachusetts | 8 |
| Michigan | 27 |
| Minnesota | 15 |
| Mississippi | 17 |
| Missouri | 13 |
| Montana | 3 |
| Nebraska | 2 |
| Nevada | 9 |
| New Hampshire | 4 |
| New Jersey | 21 |
| New Mexico | 12 |
| New York | 31 |
| North Carolina | 60 |
| Ohio | 28 |
| Oklahoma | 28 |
| Oregon | 9 |
| Pennsylvania | 40 |
| Puerto Rico | 13 |
| Rhode Island | 2 |
| South Carolina | 26 |
| South Dakota | 3 |
| Tennessee | 37 |
| Texas | 89 |
| Utah | 19 |
| Virginia | 19 |
| Washington | 15 |
| West Virginia | 6 |
| Wisconsin | 23 |
| Wyoming | 3 |
What the Five Veteran Services Mean
Yellow Ribbon is an agreement between a private school and the VA to split tuition that sits above what the Post-9/11 GI Bill pays. At a public college charging in-state rates it rarely comes up. At a private school with a $45,900 sticker price, the highest on this list, it decides whether you cover the gap yourself.
Credit for military training means the school will read your military transcript and award college credit for what you already did. A dedicated point of contact is a named person who handles VA paperwork instead of a general advisor. A student veteran organization is a recognized group on campus, which sounds soft until you are the only prior-service student in the room.
The fifth is the Department of Defense memorandum of understanding, the agreement a school signs before active-duty tuition assistance can be spent there. If you are still in and using tuition assistance rather than the GI Bill, that is the one to look for. Spouses using transferred benefits usually care more about the other four.
Figures in this section: IPEDS 2023 and College Scorecard, June 2026.
How to Check a Beauty School Is GI Bill Approved
Approval runs through your state approving agency, and the result lands in the VA's WEAMS database. Search the school there and read what comes back at the program level, because a college can have one program approved and another waiting under the same school name. The database is the record.
Then ask the school for its certifying official by name. That is the person who reports your enrollment to the VA, and the answer tells you whether the veteran contact reported to the Department of Education is a real desk. Ask which chapter your benefit falls under, and whether that chapter is certified for the program you want.
Most beauty schools are clock-hour schools, and the GI Bill treats them differently from degree programs. Payment follows hour-based terms rather than semesters, and the Post-9/11 housing allowance depends on your rate of pursuit and where the campus is. Get the numbers in writing from the certifying official before you sign, because a part-time schedule changes the arithmetic.
Figures in this section: IPEDS 2023 and College Scorecard, June 2026.
Where the Military-Friendly Schools Are
Texas has 89 schools on this list, more than any other state. California has 82, Florida 73 and North Carolina 60. Those four states hold 304 of the 1,019, close to three in ten.
The full list reaches 47 states plus Washington, DC and Puerto Rico. Some of that spread is thin: Hawaii, Rhode Island, Nebraska and Maine have two schools each, and the District of Columbia has one. If you are moving on orders, read the receiving state's list before you assume the same choices are waiting there.
Figures in this section: College Scorecard, June 2026.
What This List Leaves Out
These are services a school reported, not services anyone inspected. IPEDS collects the answer the school gives, and that answer can be years old or generous about a desk one person staffs part-time. Read five of five as a sign the school has thought about veterans, not as proof it handles a benefits problem well.
A small barber college with one owner and no veteran office can still be approved for GI Bill funds, and plenty are. Reporting all five is a habit of colleges that already staff a federal reporting office, so this list leans their way. A school missing from it can be approved too.
One more thing about the public colleges here: the veteran services belong to the college, not to the cosmetology department. The Yellow Ribbon agreement and the veteran office at a technical college serve every program on campus, and the cosmetology floor is one tenant among many. The community college list covers those schools directly, and the methodology explains where each figure comes from.
Figures in this section: IPEDS 2023 and College Scorecard, June 2026.
What This List Does Not Tell You
This counts services a school says it offers, not how well it runs them, and it says nothing about whether a specific program is approved for a specific GI Bill chapter. That approval is granted by the state approving agency and checked in the VA’s WEAMS database, which is the last step before enrolling anywhere on GI Bill funds. Every figure is quoted as published in the College Scorecard.
Nothing here checks a school's state board license, which is what makes your hours count toward the exam. Before you pay a deposit, find the school on its state page and confirm the license is current in the board's own lookup. How the rankings are built explains every figure used on this site.
Common Questions About Military-Friendly Cosmetology Schools
Answers draw on the College Scorecard and IPEDS figures behind the list above, and on the state board rules linked from each state page.
Can you use the GI Bill for cosmetology school?
Does Yellow Ribbon matter at a beauty school?
Do you get the housing allowance at a clock-hour beauty school?
Does military training count toward cosmetology hours?
How many beauty schools report veteran services?
Does a school reporting all five services run a better cosmetology program?
Sources
- US Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study and institution files, June 2026 release. Completion, cost, debt, enrollment, ownership and credential for 1,574 institutions with a cosmetology program (CIP 12.04).
- National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Institutional Characteristics and Directory files, 2023. Veteran services, religious affiliation, HBCU status and metro area, as reported by each institution.
- State board license files, read from each board directly and matched to the federal record by name and city. Each card cites its board and the date the file was read.