Pennsylvania
Best cosmetology programs in Pennsylvania 2026
Philadelphia skyline. Photo by é¢Âå›Âå±…, 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 Pennsylvania the binding credential is the school's license from Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Pennsylvania Department of State).
61
schools reporting federally
53
qualify to be ranked
8
excluded, under 40 enrolled students
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#1
Metro Beauty Academy
Allentown, PA
96%
Share of students who finish
- 204 graduates a year
- $17,950 program cost
What the record shows
Metro Beauty Academy runs its cosmetology program in Allentown and reports to the US Department of Education. Of 197 enrolled in the fall count, 96 percent finish. The published cost is $17,950 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $9,583 in federal loans at the median, 100 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $102 a month. $17,950 is within 3 percent of the $17,500 median, and the completion is not ordinary: 96 percent against 86. That is the better half of the trade. 204 credentials in the year from a fall count of 197: 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 Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
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#2
Barber and Beauty Academy of Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA
96%
Share of students who finish
- 96% finish
- 110 graduates a year
- $6,315 program cost
What the record shows
Barber and Beauty Academy of Pennsylvania teaches cosmetology in Harrisburg, with its results published federally. The school graduates 96 percent, on a fall headcount of 47. The published cost is $6,315 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $4,236 in federal loans, measured over 44 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $45 a month. 10 points more of its students finish than the 86 percent median, and it charges 64 percent less than the $17,500 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. 110 credentials in the year from a fall count of 47: 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 Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Around Harrisburg-Carlisle, the median cosmetologist earns $30,550, the bottom tenth $17,530 and the top tenth $78,500. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. The metro median runs about 17 percent below the Pennsylvania figure. Concentration around Harrisburg-Carlisle runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.3 times, or 840 people in the occupation.
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#3
Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology
Pleasant Gap, PA
95%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 11 graduates a year
- $17,104 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Pleasant Gap, Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Across all 171 students at the school, 95 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. At 95 percent the school 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 published tuition is $17,104. 11 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around State College, the median cosmetologist earns $36,540, the bottom tenth $24,080 and the top tenth $76,920. undefined The trade is unusually concentrated around State College, about 1.8 times the national rate, so there are more chairs to compete for and more to be hired into.
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#4
South Hills Beauty Academy
Pittsburgh, PA
94%
Share of students who finish
- 94% finish
- 292 graduates a year
- $5,775 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Pittsburgh, South Hills Beauty Academy is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of the 183 students in its fall count, 94 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $5,775 for the full program. 8 points more of its students finish than the 86 percent median, and it charges 67 percent less than the $17,500 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. It awarded 292 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 183, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. Verify the school's standing with the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Pittsburgh runs from $23,750 at the tenth percentile to $77,730 at the ninetieth, with a median of $38,100. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. Few places employ this trade as heavily: Pittsburgh runs at about 1.9 times the national rate, some 4,190 people.
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#5
Altoona Beauty School Inc
Altoona, PA
92%
Share of students who finish
- 92% finish
- 105 graduates a year
- $16,762 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Altoona, Altoona Beauty School Inc is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 92 percent of its students finish, out of 70 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $16,762 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $4,750 in federal loans, measured over 63 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $50 a month. 6 points more of its students finish than the 86 percent median, priced within 5 percent of the $17,500 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. It awarded 105 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. The license from the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Altoona runs from $23,440 at the tenth percentile to $58,660 at the ninetieth, with a median of $30,090. The metro median runs about 18 percent below the Pennsylvania figure. A 2.5-to-one spread from bottom to top is ordinary for the trade, and here as everywhere the top belongs to a client book. Few places employ this trade as heavily: Altoona runs at about 2.4 times the national rate, some 270 people.
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#6
Beauty Culture School, LLC
Feasterville, PA
91%
Share of students who finish
- 91% finish
- 121 graduates a year
- $16,999 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Feasterville, Beauty Culture School, LLC is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. The school graduates 91 percent, on a fall headcount of 82. It charges $16,999 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Borrowing here runs to a median of $8,189 in federal loans, measured over 47 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $87 a month. 5 points more of its students finish than the 86 percent median, priced within 3 percent of the $17,500 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. 121 credentials in the year from a fall count of 82: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. The license from the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology 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 The trade is unusually concentrated around Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, about 1.8 times the national rate, so there are more chairs to compete for and more to be hired into.
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#7
The Salon Professional Academy-Altoona
Altoona, PA
91%
Share of students who finish
- 91% finish
- 51 graduates a year
- $16,650 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Altoona, The Salon Professional Academy-Altoona is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 91 percent of students see the course through, out of 83 enrolled. The published cost is $16,650 for the full program. The federal file reports borrowing for The Salon Professional campuses together rather than for this one: a median of $8,028 in federal loans across 124 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $85 a month. 5 points more of its students finish than the 86 percent median, priced within 5 percent of the $17,500 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. It awarded 51 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around Altoona, the median cosmetologist earns $30,090, the bottom tenth $23,440 and the top tenth $58,660. The metro median runs about 18 percent below the Pennsylvania figure. Neither end of this market is extreme: the top tenth earns about 1.9 times the median and the floor sits 22 percent under it, which makes the first year a budget question rather than a survival one. Altoona carries roughly 2.4 times the national concentration of this work, among the denser markets in the country.
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#8
York County School of Technology-Adult & Continuing Education
York, PA
90%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 6 graduates a year
- $20,141 program cost
What the record shows
York County School of Technology-Adult & Continuing Education runs its cosmetology program in York and reports to the US Department of Education. Across all 229 students at the school, 90 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 90 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. The published tuition is $20,141. That price is 15 percent over the $17,500 median, which for a public program is unusual and worth asking about. A program that awarded 6 credentials all year may not run every term, which is the first thing to confirm. Check its license with the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
undefined undefined York-Hanover employs the trade at about 1.4 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
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#9
The Salon Professional Academy
Collegeville, PA
89%
Share of students who finish
- 89% finish
- 97 graduates a year
- $17,050 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Collegeville, The Salon Professional Academy is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of the 80 students in its fall count, 89 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $17,050 for the full program. On completion and price it is close to the median school on this page, 89 percent against 86 and $17,050 against $17,500, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. 97 credentials in the year from a fall count of 80: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. Verify the school's standing with the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
undefined
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#10
Douglas Education Center
Monessen, PA
88%
Share of students who finish
- 67 graduates a year
What the record shows
Douglas Education Center runs its cosmetology program in Monessen and reports to the US Department of Education. Of 178 enrolled in the fall count, 88 percent finish. The median graduate left with $8,750 in federal loans, across 55 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $93 a month. On completion it is an ordinary school for this page, 88 percent against the 86 percent median, so it comes down to the price and the visit. The school conferred 67 credentials in the year reported. Ask the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology 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 Pittsburgh, the range runs $23,750 to $77,730 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $38,100. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. Few places employ this trade as heavily: Pittsburgh runs at about 1.9 times the national rate, some 4,190 people.
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#11
American Barber and Beauty Academy
Reading, PA
88%
Share of students who finish
- 88% finish
- 144 graduates a year
- $7,150 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Reading, American Barber and Beauty Academy is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 88 percent of its students finish, out of 104 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $7,150 for the full program. It charges 59 percent less than the $17,500 median and finishes about as many of its students as the typical school here, so the saving is real rather than a discount for worse odds. 144 credentials in the year from a fall count of 104: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. The license from the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
Around Reading, the median cosmetologist earns $36,350, the bottom tenth $27,700 and the top tenth $65,100. The trade is unusually concentrated around Reading, about 1.8 times the national rate, so there are more chairs to compete for and more to be hired into.
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#12
Somerset County Technology Center
Somerset, PA
87%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 4 graduates a year
- $17,500 program cost
What the record shows
Somerset County Technology Center runs its cosmetology program in Somerset and reports to the US Department of Education. 87 percent of students across the center finish, out of 59 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Read that 87 percent as the center's rate, not the cosmetology floor's, so it neither ranks this program up nor down. Tuition is reported at $17,500. A program that awarded 4 credentials all year may not run every term, which is the first thing to confirm. Check its license with the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists in Pennsylvania runs from $23,700 at the tenth percentile to $68,750 at the ninetieth, with a median of $36,790. 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. Few places employ this trade as heavily: Pennsylvania runs at about 1.6 times the national rate, some 19,350 people.
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#13
Lehigh Valley Barber School
Bethlehem, PA
86%
Share of students who finish
- 86% finish
- 42 graduates a year
- $23,000 program cost
What the record shows
Lehigh Valley Barber School teaches barbering in Bethlehem, with its results published federally. 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. Of the 77 students in its fall count, 86 percent complete the course they started. It charges $23,000 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Completion is the one figure that compares across trades, and 86 percent, at the 86 percent median, is about what this page does. $23,000 is 31 percent over the $17,500 median for a similar hour count, which needs a reason. The school conferred 42 credentials in the year reported. Check its license with the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for barbers in Pennsylvania runs from $30,410 at the tenth percentile to $46,700 at the ninetieth, with a median of $36,920. An ordinary shape: the top tenth at 1.3 times the median and a floor 18 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, Pennsylvania is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#14
Empire Beauty School-Lancaster
Lancaster, PA
85%
Share of students who finish
- 85% finish
- 52 graduates a year
- $17,000 program cost
What the record shows
Empire Beauty School-Lancaster runs its cosmetology program in Lancaster and reports to the US Department of Education. Of the 85 students in its fall count, 85 percent complete the course they started. It charges $17,000 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Borrowing is pooled across Empire Beauty campuses in the federal file, 817 borrowers at a median of $13,000 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $138 a month. On completion and price it is close to the median school on this page, 85 percent against 86 and $17,000 against $17,500, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. The school conferred 52 credentials in the year reported. Check its license with the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Around Lancaster, the median cosmetologist earns $35,510, the bottom tenth $28,400 and the top tenth $63,350. The trade is unusually concentrated around Lancaster, about 1.7 times the national rate, so there are more chairs to compete for and more to be hired into.
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#15
Venus Beauty Academy
Aston, PA
85%
Share of students who finish
- 85% finish
- 73 graduates a year
- $18,750 program cost
What the record shows
Venus Beauty Academy trains in Aston, and because it takes federal financial aid its outcomes are published per program. 85 percent of its students finish, out of 56 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $18,750 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $8,027 in federal loans at the median, 55 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $85 a month. Completion and price both sit close to the page median, 85 percent against 86 and $18,750 against $17,500, so the number that separates it is debt: 43 percent of the price arrives as federal loans, less than at the typical school here. It awarded 73 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 56, 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 Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, the range runs $28,600 to $64,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $37,320. Neither end of this market is extreme: the top tenth earns about 1.7 times the median and the floor sits 23 percent under it, which makes the first year a budget question rather than a survival one. This is a dense market by national standards, 1.8 times the usual concentration around Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington.
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#16
Penn Commercial Business/Technical School
Washington, PA
84%
Share of students who finish
- 88 graduates a year
What the record shows
Penn Commercial Business/Technical School teaches cosmetology in Washington, with its results published federally. 84 percent of the 265 students it enrolls finish. Borrowing here runs to a median of $7,638 in federal loans, measured over 52 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $81 a month. On completion it is an ordinary school for this page, 84 percent against the 86 percent median, so it comes down to the price and the visit. The school conferred 88 credentials in the year reported. Check its license with the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Around Pittsburgh, the median cosmetologist earns $38,100, the bottom tenth $23,750 and the top tenth $77,730. undefined
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#17
Empire Beauty School-Hanover
Hanover, PA
84%
Share of students who finish
- 84% finish
- 34 graduates a year
- $17,500 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Hanover, Empire Beauty School-Hanover is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of the 55 students in its fall count, 84 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $17,500 for the full program. The federal file reports borrowing for Empire Beauty campuses together rather than for this one: a median of $13,583 in federal loans across 802 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $144 a month. On completion and price it is close to the median school on this page, 84 percent against 86 and $17,500, exactly the median, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. It awarded 34 beauty credentials in the reporting year. The license from the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology 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 That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not.
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#18
Cortiva Institute
King of Prussia, PA
84%
Share of students who finish
- 119 graduates a year
- $13,044 program cost
What the record shows
Based in King of Prussia, Cortiva Institute is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of 125 enrolled in the fall count, 84 percent finish. The published cost is $13,044 for the full program. Completion at 84 percent against 86, and 25 percent less to get it: the price is the argument for this one. The school conferred 119 credentials in the year reported. From 125 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. Check its license with the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Around Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, the median cosmetologist earns $37,320, the bottom tenth $28,600 and the top tenth $64,530. The upside is capped near 1.7 times the median and the floor is 23 percent under it, a market where the first year is tight rather than dangerous and the ceiling is earned slowly. The trade is unusually concentrated around Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, about 1.8 times the national rate, so there are more chairs to compete for and more to be hired into.
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#19
Empire Beauty School-Shamokin Dam
Shamokin Dam, PA
83%
Share of students who finish
- 83% finish
- 49 graduates a year
- $17,500 program cost
What the record shows
Empire Beauty School-Shamokin Dam runs its cosmetology program in Shamokin Dam and reports to the US Department of Education. 83 percent of students see the course through, out of 69 enrolled. The published cost is $17,500 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 817 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $138 a month. Completion and price both sit near the page's middle, 83 percent against 86 and $17,500, exactly the median. Nothing federal separates it, so the clinic floor and the board file will. 49 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Confirm the school's current license with the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
undefined The trade is unusually concentrated in Pennsylvania, about 1.6 times the national rate, so there are more chairs to compete for and more to be hired into.
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#20
Empire Beauty School-Reading
Reading, PA
82%
Share of students who finish
- 82% finish
- 30 graduates a year
- $17,500 program cost
What the record shows
Empire Beauty School-Reading teaches cosmetology in Reading, with its results published federally. 82 percent of its students finish, out of 90 enrolled in the fall count. It charges $17,500 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Empire Beauty campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $12,090 in federal loans at the median over 987 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $128 a month. Completion and price both sit near the page's middle, 82 percent against 86 and $17,500, exactly the median. Nothing federal separates it, so the clinic floor and the board file will. 30 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Confirm the school's current license with the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Around Reading, the median cosmetologist earns $36,350, the bottom tenth $27,700 and the top tenth $65,100. An ordinary shape: the top tenth at 1.8 times the median and a floor 24 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. The trade is unusually concentrated around Reading, about 1.8 times the national rate, so there are more chairs to compete for and more to be hired into.
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#21
Empire Beauty School-NE Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
82%
Share of students who finish
- 82% finish
- 60 graduates a year
- $17,000 program cost
What the record shows
Empire Beauty School-NE Philadelphia teaches cosmetology in Philadelphia, with its results published federally. 82 percent of students see the course through, out of 110 enrolled. The published cost is $17,000 for the full program. Borrowing is pooled across Empire Beauty campuses in the federal file, 802 borrowers at a median of $13,583 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $144 a month. Completion and price both sit near the page's middle, 82 percent against 86 and $17,000 against $17,500. Nothing federal separates it, so the clinic floor and the board file will. It awarded 60 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, the median cosmetologist earns $37,320, the bottom tenth $28,600 and the top tenth $64,530. The trade is unusually concentrated around Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, about 1.8 times the national rate, so there are more chairs to compete for and more to be hired into.
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#22
Jean Madeline Aveda Institute
Philadelphia, PA
80%
Share of students who finish
- 80% finish
- 304 graduates a year
- $20,255 program cost
What the record shows
Jean Madeline Aveda Institute runs its cosmetology program in Philadelphia and reports to the US Department of Education. The school graduates 80 percent, on a fall headcount of 244. The published cost is $20,255 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $9,588 in federal loans at the median, 244 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $102 a month. That is the pairing to be wary of: 6 points fewer of its students finish than the 86 percent median, at a price 16 percent over the $17,500 median. Ask the school directly why students leave before you commit. 304 credentials in the year from a fall count of 244: 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 Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington earn under $37,320, with the tenth percentile at $28,600 and the ninetieth at $64,530. Neither end of this market is extreme: the top tenth earns about 1.7 times the median and the floor sits 23 percent under it, which makes the first year a budget question rather than a survival one. The trade is unusually concentrated around Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, about 1.8 times the national rate, so there are more chairs to compete for and more to be hired into.
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#23
Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center
Johnstown, PA
79%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 7 graduates a year
- $22,500 program cost
What the record shows
Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center teaches cosmetology in Johnstown, with its results published federally. Across all 105 students at the center, 79 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 79 percent is low for this page, but it is the center's rate and the cosmetology program is a small part of it; the cosmetology department's own completions are the check. Tuition is reported at $22,500. That price is 29 percent over the $17,500 median, which for a public program is unusual and worth asking about. A program that awarded 7 credentials all year may not run every term, which is the first thing to confirm. Confirm the school's current license with the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Johnstown earn under $34,720, with the tenth percentile at $22,920 and the ninetieth at $66,370. 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. Johnstown carries roughly 1.9 times the national concentration of this work, among the denser markets in the country.
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#24
Empire Beauty School-Wyoming Valley
Moosic, PA
77%
Share of students who finish
- 77% finish
- 83 graduates a year
- $17,500 program cost
What the record shows
Empire Beauty School-Wyoming Valley teaches cosmetology in Moosic, with its results published federally. 77 percent of students see the course through, out of 176 enrolled. It charges $17,500 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Borrowing is pooled across Empire Beauty campuses in the federal file, 987 borrowers at a median of $12,090 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $128 a month. The price is close to the $17,500 median and the completion is not: 77 percent against 86. In a clock-hour course that is the wrong half of the trade, and the reason to ask hard questions before a deposit. The school conferred 83 credentials in the year reported. Confirm the school's current license with the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
In Pennsylvania, the median cosmetologist earns $36,790, the bottom tenth $23,700 and the top tenth $68,750. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. The trade is unusually concentrated in Pennsylvania, about 1.6 times the national rate, so there are more chairs to compete for and more to be hired into.
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#25
Bella Capelli Academy
Monroeville, PA
76%
Share of students who finish
- 76% finish
- 150 graduates a year
- $17,756 program cost
What the record shows
Bella Capelli Academy trains in Monroeville, and because it takes federal financial aid its outcomes are published per program. Of the 259 students in its fall count, 76 percent complete the course they started. It charges $17,756 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. 225 graduates borrowed, at a median of $8,028 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $85 a month. 10 points fewer of its students finish than the 86 percent median, priced within 2 percent of the $17,500 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. 150 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Confirm the school's current license with the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Around Pittsburgh, the median cosmetologist earns $38,100, the bottom tenth $23,750 and the top tenth $77,730. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. The trade is unusually concentrated around Pittsburgh, about 1.9 times the national rate, so there are more chairs to compete for and more to be hired into.
- Metro Beauty Academy 96% 96%
- Barber and Beauty Academy of Pen... 96% 96%
- Central Pennsylvania Institute o... 95% 95%
- South Hills Beauty Academy 94% 94%
- Altoona Beauty School Inc 92% 92%
- Beauty Culture School, LLC 91% 91%
- The Salon Professional Academy-A... 91% 91%
- York County School of Technology... 90% 90%
- The Salon Professional Academy 89% 89%
- Douglas Education Center 88% 88%
Where can you find the licensed cosmetology programs in Pennsylvania?
The licensed cosmetology programs in Pennsylvania are searched one at a time rather than published as a list, so this page links Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Pennsylvania Department of State)'s own records instead of reprinting a commercial directory. The schools above are drawn from the 61 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania in 2026?
To become a cosmetologist in Pennsylvania you need 1,250 clock hours at a school licensed by Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Pennsylvania Department of State), then a passing score on the state exam. At the pace most clock-hour schools run, that is roughly 9.6 months full time. Only 10 states ask less, so this is at the shorter end of a range that reaches 2,000 hours.
A cosmetology program whose school lost its license mid-course takes your hours with it, which is the argument for checking Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Pennsylvania Department of State) first.
How much do cosmetologists make in Pennsylvania in 2026?
Cosmetologists in Pennsylvania earn a median of $36,790 , with the bottom tenth on $23,700 and the top tenth on $68,750 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.
- Cosmetologists $36,790 $36,790
- Nail technicians $27,990 $27,990
- Salon managers $47,990 $47,990
- Estheticians $43,620 $43,620
- Barbers $36,920 $36,920
What is different about cosmetology licensing in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania keeps a live 2,000-hour apprenticeship route to the cosmetologist exam as a full substitute for the 1,250 school hours, and it regulates by calendar duration as well as clock hours, a day student's 1,250 hours cannot be compressed into less than 8 consecutive months and a night student's into less than 15, which caps how fast an accelerated program can run. Its 1,250-hour requirement is also materially below the 1,500 that Ohio and Oklahoma demand. Most striking is the distance-education posture: the regulations are entirely silent, yet the Board has granted career and technical center students a waiver permitting 650 hours online, roughly half the program, creating a large split between what CTE students and private-school students may do online. Read Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Pennsylvania Department of State)'s own rules .
Where do cosmetologists make the most money in Pennsylvania?
Cosmetologists make the most money in Pennsylvania around Pittsburgh, where the median is $38,100, and the least around Altoona at $30,090. A 27 percent spread across one state means where you work matters more to your pay than which of these metros you trained in.
The statewide median sits at $36,790, so the metros above it are carrying the average up.
- Pittsburgh $38,100 $38,100
- Lebanon $37,920 $37,920
- Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton $37,690 $37,690
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmin... $37,320 $37,320
- State College $36,540 $36,540
- Reading $36,350 $36,350
- Gettysburg $36,100 $36,100
- York-Hanover $36,050 $36,050
- Erie $35,540 $35,540
- Scranton--Wilkes-Barre $35,540 $35,540
Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, salon managers are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $47,990 median. Cosmetologists in Pennsylvania sit at $36,790, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Salon managers | $47,990 | 8,980 |
| Estheticians | $43,620 | 2,560 |
| Barbers | $36,920 | 530 |
| Nail technicians | $27,990 | 9,610 |
Can you use a cosmetology license from another state in Pennsylvania?
Using a cosmetology license from another state in Pennsylvania means satisfying Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Pennsylvania Department of State), which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other Northeast states, Pennsylvania is it asks 75 more hours than the regional average of 1,175, and it pays about 6 percent below 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania (this state) | 1,250 | $36,790 |
| Vermont | 1,000 | $48,650 |
| Connecticut | 1,500 | $44,620 |
| Maine | 1,500 | $44,000 |
| Massachusetts | 1,000 | $37,290 |
| New Jersey | 1,200 | $36,150 |
| New York | 1,000 | $35,760 |
| New Hampshire | 1,200 | $34,650 |
| Rhode Island | 1,000 | $31,200 |
What does this Pennsylvania cosmetology program ranking not tell you?
This Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Pennsylvania Department of State) for the license itself.
Common questions about cosmetology programs in Pennsylvania
What makes the best cosmetology programs in Pennsylvania rank highly here?
How many cosmetology schools are there in Pennsylvania?
Should you choose a NACCAS-accredited school in Pennsylvania?
How much does cosmetology school cost in Pennsylvania?
Are the best cosmetology programs in Pennsylvania accredited?
Where does this Pennsylvania cosmetology program data come from?
This Pennsylvania cosmetology program data comes from Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Pennsylvania Department of State), 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. Pennsylvania keeps a live 2,000-hour apprenticeship route to the cosmetologist exam as a full substitute for the 1,250 school hours, and it regulates by calendar duration as well as clock hours, a day student's 1,250 hours cannot be compressed into less than 8 consecutive months and a night student's into less than 15, which caps how fast an accelerated program can run. Its 1,250-hour requirement is also materially below the 1,500 that Ohio and Oklahoma demand. Most striking is the distance-education posture: the regulations are entirely silent, yet the Board has granted career and technical center students a waiver permitting 650 hours online, roughly half the program, creating a large split between what CTE students and private-school students may do online.
Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology (Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Pennsylvania Department of State)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