Minnesota
Best cosmetology programs in Minnesota 2026
Minneapolis skyline. Photo by Michael Barera, 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.
No cosmetology program anywhere is accredited, because nothing accredits the program itself. NACCAS, the name on most beauty school marketing, is an institutional accreditor whose practical effect is access to federal financial aid, and an accredited school says nothing about the course it runs. In Minnesota the binding credential is the school's license from Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners.
42
schools currently licensed
13
qualify to be ranked
3
excluded, under 40 enrolled students
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#1
Empire Beauty School-Bloomington
Bloomington, MN · Cosmetology School License
78%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Renews 2028-07
- $20,538 program cost
What the record shows
Empire Beauty School-Bloomington trains in Bloomington, licensed by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. Its license covers cosmetology and esthetics. Of the 128 students in its fall count, 78 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $20,538 for the full program. Empire Beauty campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $12,500 in federal loans at the median over 838 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $133 a month. $20,538 is within 3 percent of the $21,119 private-school median, and the completion is not ordinary: 78 percent against 70. That is the better half of the trade. The page median is set by public colleges, so that comparison is against the other private schools here. 95 students completed a credential here 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. The board files it under license 25001019; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
undefined undefined The metro median is about 18 percent above the Minnesota figure. Esthetics pays a $36,610 median around Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, 21 percent under cosmetology.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, read 2026-08-31.
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#2
Nova Academy of Cosmetology
Rochester, MN · Cosmetology School License
77%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Nail technology
- Renews 2028-04
- $21,700 program cost
What the record shows
Nova Academy of Cosmetology is licensed by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners and trains in Rochester. The board lists no other licensed school in Rochester. The school graduates 77 percent, on a fall headcount of 205. The published cost is $21,700 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $8,467 in federal loans, measured over 123 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $90 a month. $21,700 is within 3 percent of the $21,119 private-school median, and the completion is not ordinary: 77 percent against 70. That is the better half of the trade. 132 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. That is roughly 11 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, so it is one of the larger training operations here. License 24000119 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 around Rochester, the range runs $23,880 to $77,700 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $39,460. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. Few people hold this occupation locally, so a graduate is competing in a small pool and is likely to be known in it quickly. Esthetics and cosmetology do not pay alike around Rochester: esthetics carries a $57,420 median, roughly 46 percent above cosmetology. The occupation is about as common around Rochester as it is nationally.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, read 2026-08-31.
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#3
PCI Academy-Plymouth
Plymouth, MN · Cosmetology School License
72%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- Renews 2028-08
- $15,388 program cost
What the record shows
PCI Academy-Plymouth trains in Plymouth, licensed by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training and nail technology. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Plymouth. 72 percent of students see the course through, out of 165 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $15,388 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $6,333 in federal loans, measured over 245 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. It charges 27 percent less than the $21,119 private-school median and finishes about as many of its students as the typical private school here, so the saving is real rather than a discount for worse odds. 93 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Its board record is license 25001119, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
undefined That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. The metro median is about 18 percent above the Minnesota figure. Nail technology pays a $35,920 median around Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, 22 percent under cosmetology.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, read 2026-08-31.
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#4
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN · Cosmetology School License
68%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- Renews 2028-04
- $22,300 program cost
What the record shows
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis trains in Minneapolis, licensed by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training and nail technology. Of 623 enrolled in the fall count, 68 percent finish. Tuition is reported at $22,300 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $6,333 in federal loans at the median, 403 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. Completion and price both sit close to the page private-school median, 68 percent against 70 and $22,300 against $21,119, so the number that separates it is debt: 28 percent of the price arrives as federal loans, less than at the typical private school here. 313 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. That is roughly 27 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, by some distance the largest beauty school in the state's federal file. License 25000419 is the board's entry for it, and that is the record to confirm is still current before a deposit.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington earn under $46,310, with the tenth percentile at $25,640 and the ninetieth at $82,500. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. Against the state as a whole, the metro runs roughly 18 percent higher on median pay. Nail technology pays a $35,920 median around Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, 22 percent under cosmetology. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 3,920 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, read 2026-08-31.
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#5
Model College of Hair Design
Saint Cloud, MN · Cosmetology School License
61%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- Renews 2029-06
- $22,900 program cost
What the record shows
Model College of Hair Design trains in Saint Cloud, licensed by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training and nail technology. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Saint Cloud. 61 percent of its students finish, out of 199 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $22,900 for the full program. The median graduate left with $8,454 in federal loans, across 80 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $90 a month. 9 points fewer of its students finish than the 70 percent private-school median, priced within 9 percent of the $21,119 private-school 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. 93 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The board files it under license 26000419; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around St. Cloud, the range runs $23,150 to $80,430 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $35,310. The distance between $23,150 and $80,430 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. Against the state as a whole, the metro sits roughly 10 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. In Minnesota, the gap between esthetics and nail technology is real: a $44,430 median against one 19 percent lower. On concentration, St. Cloud is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, read 2026-08-31.
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#6
Riverland Community College
Austin, MN · Cosmetology School License
52%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Nail technology
- Renews 2029-08
What the record shows
Riverland Community College is licensed by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners and trains in Austin. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Austin. Across all 2,003 students at the college, 52 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 52 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. Its 16 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 2,003. The board files it under license 26001019; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
In Minnesota, the median cosmetologist earns $39,170, the bottom tenth $23,590 and the top tenth $78,880. undefined In Minnesota, esthetics pays a $44,430 median, about 23 percent above nail technology. Minnesota employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 5,320 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, read 2026-08-31.
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#7
Empire Beauty School-Spring Lake Park
Spring Lake Park, MN · Cosmetology School License
52%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Renews 2029-09
- $20,538 program cost
What the record shows
Empire Beauty School-Spring Lake Park operates in Spring Lake Park under license from the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics and instructor training. The board lists no other licensed school in Spring Lake Park. The school graduates 52 percent, on a fall headcount of 95. The published cost is $20,538 for the full program. The federal file reports borrowing for Empire Beauty campuses together rather than for this one: a median of $13,000 in federal loans across 746 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $138 a month. 18 points fewer of its students finish than the 70 percent private-school median, priced within 3 percent of the $21,119 private-school 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 42 beauty credentials in the reporting year. The board files it under license 26001519; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington earn under $46,310, with the tenth percentile at $25,640 and the ninetieth at $82,500. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. Against the state as a whole, the metro runs roughly 18 percent higher on median pay. Esthetics pays a $36,610 median around Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, 21 percent under cosmetology. Local concentration around Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, read 2026-08-31.
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#8
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Granite Falls, MN · Cosmetology School License
52%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Nail technology
- Renews 2028-01
What the record shows
Based in Jackson, Minnesota West Community and Technical College is on the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners register. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Jackson. 52 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,762 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 52 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. 19 graduates borrowed, at a median of $8,730 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $93 a month. Its 23 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,762. License 24000719 is the board's entry for it, and that is the record to confirm is still current before a deposit.
Where it leads
undefined That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, read 2026-08-31.
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#9
Ridgewater College
Willmar, MN · Cosmetology School License
50%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Nail technology
- Renews 2029-08
What the record shows
Ridgewater College operates in Willmar under license from the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. The board lists no other licensed school in Willmar. 50 percent of students across the college finish, out of 2,162 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Read that 50 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 $9,500 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $101 a month. Its 31 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 2,162. Its board record is license 26000919, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
undefined undefined
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, read 2026-08-31.
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#10
Minnesota State College Southeast
Winona, MN · Cosmetology School License
47%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Nail technology
- Renews 2029-07
What the record shows
Minnesota State College Southeast operates in Winona under license from the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. The board lists no other licensed school in Winona. Across all 1,388 students at the college, 47 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Most of the students behind that 47 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 26 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,388. License 26000619 is the board's entry for it, and that is the record to confirm is still current before a deposit.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists in Minnesota earn under $39,170, with the tenth percentile at $23,590 and the ninetieth at $78,880. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. In Minnesota, the gap between esthetics and nail technology is real: a $44,430 median against one 19 percent lower. Local concentration in Minnesota sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, read 2026-08-31.
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#11
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
Fergus Falls, MN · Cosmetology School License
47%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Nail technology
- Renews 2029-08
What the record shows
Based in Wadena, Minnesota State Community and Technical College is on the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners register. The board lists no other licensed school in Wadena. 47 percent of students across the college finish, out of 2,942 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 47 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. The median graduate left with $7,750 in federal loans, across 19 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $82 a month. Its 40 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 2,942. Its board record is license 26000819, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
In Minnesota, the median cosmetologist earns $39,170, the bottom tenth $23,590 and the top tenth $78,880. undefined
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, read 2026-08-31.
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#12
Saint Paul College
Saint Paul, MN · Cosmetology School License
40%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- Renews 2026-10
What the record shows
Saint Paul College trains in Saint Paul, licensed by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training and nail technology. 40 percent of students across the college finish, out of 3,813 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 40 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. 77 graduates borrowed, at a median of $7,597 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $81 a month. 118 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. That is roughly 10 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, so it is one of the larger training operations here. License 23002219 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 around Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, the range runs $25,640 to $82,500 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $46,310. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. Against the state as a whole, the metro runs roughly 18 percent higher on median pay. Nail technology pays a $35,920 median around Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, 22 percent under cosmetology. The occupation is about as common around Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington as it is nationally.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, read 2026-08-31.
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#13
Century College
White Bear Lake, MN · Cosmetology School License
31%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Nail technology
- Renews 2029-08
What the record shows
Century College trains in White Bear Lake, licensed by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. Across all 6,280 students at the college, 31 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. 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. Its 63 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 6,280. The board files it under license 26001119; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, the range runs $25,640 to $82,500 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $46,310. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. Against the state as a whole, the metro runs roughly 18 percent higher on median pay. Nail technology pays a $35,920 median around Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, 22 percent under cosmetology. On concentration, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, read 2026-08-31.
- Empire Beauty School-Bloomington 78% 78%
- Nova Academy of Cosmetology 77% 77%
- PCI Academy-Plymouth 72% 72%
- Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute ... 68% 68%
- Model College of Hair Design 61% 61%
- Riverland Community College 52% 52%
- Empire Beauty School-Spring Lake... 52% 52%
- Minnesota West Community and Tec... 52% 52%
- Ridgewater College 50% 50%
- Minnesota State College Southeast 47% 47%
Which other cosmetology schools in Minnesota are state licensed?
These Minnesota cosmetology schools hold a current license from Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners 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 Minnesota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Technical College-Cosmetology Academy | Bemidji | No. 24000619 · to 2027-09 | cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology |
| Bloomington Career & College Academy | Bloomington | No. 25001619 · to 2028-10 | cosmetology, esthetics, nail-technology |
| Medspa Institute of America | Bloomington | No. 25000719 · to 2028-02 | esthetics, instructor |
| Petra V Pro | Brooklyn Park | No. 23002619 · to 2026-09 | esthetics, nail-technology |
| Wright Technical Center | Buffalo | No. 23002119 · to 2026-10 | cosmetology |
| SouthWest Metro Intermediate District 288-06 | Chaska | No. 26000119 · to 2029-05 | cosmetology |
| Savant Aesthetics Institute | Eden Prairie | No. 25000619 · to 2028-04 | esthetics |
| Lavish Beauty School | Edina | No. 25000519 · to 2028-04 | cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology |
| Hastings Beauty School | Hastings | No. 26000319 · to 2029-06 | cosmetology, esthetics |
| Atelier Academy | Hopkins | No. 25001919 · to 2029-02 | cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology |
| Ridgewater College | Hutchinson | No. 25001419 · to 2028-08 | esthetics |
| AV Lash & Beauty School | Inver Grove Heights | No. 25000819 · to 2028-03 | |
| Minnesota School of Beauty | Lakeville | No. 24000819 · to 2028-02 | cosmetology, instructor, nail-technology |
| Nova Academy of Cosmetology Mankato | Mankato | No. 25000319 · to 2028-03 | cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology |
| The Salon Professional Academy Maplewood | Maplewood | No. 23002419 · to 2026-10 | cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology |
| Taylor'd Cosmetology School | Minneapolis | No. 26000519 · to 2029-07 | esthetics, nail-technology |
| The Hair Jurniee Beauty Academy | Minneapolis | No. 26000219 · to 2029-03 | cosmetology, nail-technology |
| The Institute of Advanced Aesthetics | Minnetonka | No. 25001519 · to 2028-10 | esthetics, instructor |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Pipestone | No. 24000319 · to 2027-08 | cosmetology, esthetics, nail-technology |
| Minnesota Brow Lash & Medspa Academy LLC | Saint Louis Park | No. 25000219 · to 2028-03 | esthetics, instructor, nail-technology |
| Petra V Pro | Saint Paul | No. 25002019 · to 2029-02 | instructor, nail-technology |
| Minnesota Career Education Center - Cosmetology | Shakopee | No. 23002719 · to 2026-11 | cosmetology, esthetics |
| Apollo High School | St. Cloud | No. 23002819 · to 2026-12 | nail-technology |
| St. Cloud Area School District- Tech HS | St. Cloud | No. 23002519 · to 2026-09 | nail-technology |
| MN Lash Artistry, Inc | Vadnais Heights | No. 24000919 · to 2028-02 |
Showing 25 of the 29 remaining licensed schools, ordered by city. The full file is with Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners .
How do you become a cosmetologist in Minnesota in 2026?
To become a cosmetologist in Minnesota you need 1,550 clock hours at a school licensed by Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, then a passing score on the state exam. At the pace most clock-hour schools run, that is roughly 11.9 months full time. 37 of the 49 states with a published figure ask less, so this sits at the longer end of the national range.
A cosmetology program whose school lost its license mid-course takes your hours with it, which is the argument for checking Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners first.
How much do cosmetologists make in Minnesota in 2026?
Cosmetologists in Minnesota earn a median of $39,170 , with the bottom tenth on $23,590 and the top tenth on $78,880 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.
- Cosmetologists $39,170 $39,170
- Nail technicians $36,040 $36,040
- Salon managers $51,160 $51,160
- Estheticians $44,430 $44,430
- Barbers $53,990 $53,990
What is different about cosmetology licensing in Minnesota?
Minnesota kept its cosmetology and barber regulators separate (barbers remain under the Minnesota Board of Barber Examiners), and the cosmetologist course is unusual in that the 1,550 hours must contain the entire nail technician curriculum and the entire esthetician curriculum plus hair, rather than being a standalone hair-led program. The board also licenses an unusually granular set of short school courses that most states do not license at all, including a 14-hour eyelash technician course, a 900-hour hair technician course, and a 1,100-hour advanced practice esthetics course. Read Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners's own rules .
Where do cosmetologists make the most money in Minnesota?
Cosmetologists make the most money in Minnesota around Sioux Falls, where the median is $50,500, and the least around Grand Forks at $31,620. A 60 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 $39,170, roughly half these metros pay above and half below.
- Sioux Falls $50,500 $50,500
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloom... $46,310 $46,310
- Rochester $39,460 $39,460
- St. Cloud $35,310 $35,310
- La Crosse-Onalaska $35,090 $35,090
- Duluth $35,080 $35,080
- Mankato $35,010 $35,010
- Fargo $34,910 $34,910
- Grand Forks $31,620 $31,620
Where are the cosmetology schools in Minnesota?
The licensed cosmetology schools in Minnesota cluster hardest in Bloomington, which holds 3 of the 42 the board currently lists. At 7 percent of the state total, no single city dominates training in Minnesota.
Another 30 towns hold a single licensed school apiece, so in much of the state the practical choice is one school or a commute.
- Bloomington 3 3
- Minneapolis 3 3
- Saint Paul 2 2
- St. Cloud 2 2
- White Bear Lake 2 2
- Austin 1 1
- Bemidji 1 1
- Brooklyn Park 1 1
- Buffalo 1 1
- Chaska 1 1
Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech in Minnesota?
In Minnesota, barbers are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $53,990 median. Cosmetologists in Minnesota sit at $39,170, below that, which is worth weighing before committing to the longest of the licenses.
The shorter licenses also take fewer hours, so the comparison is not only what the work pays but how long you spend unpaid getting there.
| Occupation | Median pay | Employed in state |
|---|---|---|
| Barbers | $53,990 | 260 |
| Salon managers | $51,160 | 2,530 |
| Estheticians | $44,430 | 920 |
| Nail technicians | $36,040 | 3,260 |
Can you use a cosmetology license from another state in Minnesota?
Using a cosmetology license from another state in Minnesota means satisfying Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other Midwest states, Minnesota is its 1,550 hour requirement is about the regional norm, and it pays about 11 percent above the regional average.
Someone who expects to follow work across the region should train to the heavier requirement, because hours are easier to hold than to add later.
| State | Hours required | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota (this state) | 1,550 | $39,170 |
| South Dakota | 1,500 | $49,800 |
| Ohio | 1,500 | $36,260 |
| Wisconsin | 1,550 | $36,230 |
| Iowa | 1,550 | $35,700 |
| North Dakota | 1,500 | $34,850 |
| Michigan | 1,500 | $34,820 |
| 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 Minnesota cosmetology program ranking not tell you?
This Minnesota 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 Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners for the license itself.
Common questions about cosmetology programs in Minnesota
What makes the best cosmetology programs in Minnesota rank highly here?
How many cosmetology programs in Minnesota hold a current license?
Should you choose a NACCAS-accredited school in Minnesota?
How much does cosmetology school cost in Minnesota?
Are the best cosmetology programs in Minnesota accredited?
Where does this Minnesota cosmetology program data come from?
This Minnesota cosmetology program data comes from Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, 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. Minnesota kept its cosmetology and barber regulators separate (barbers remain under the Minnesota Board of Barber Examiners), and the cosmetologist course is unusual in that the 1,550 hours must contain the entire nail technician curriculum and the entire esthetician curriculum plus hair, rather than being a standalone hair-led program. The board also licenses an unusually granular set of short school courses that most states do not license at all, including a 14-hour eyelash technician course, a 900-hour hair technician course, and a 1,100-hour advanced practice esthetics course.
Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist ExaminersRead 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 Minnesota
- 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