Texas
Best cosmetology programs in Texas 2026
Downtown Houston skyline. Photo by David Daniel Turner, licensed under CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Ranked on the share of students who finish what they started, within half again the program's normal length, as reported per institution to the US Department of Education. In a clock-hour trade this is the outcome that matters most: the license needs the full hour count, so a student who leaves early has paid for hours that will never qualify them.
Cosmetology has no programmatic accreditor, which is why nothing on this page is ranked on accreditation. NACCAS accredits schools as institutions, not their cosmetology courses, so an "accredited cosmetology program" is a category error however often it appears in a brochure. What counts in Texas is whether Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation licensed the school while you were enrolled.
714
schools currently licensed
109
qualify to be ranked
43
excluded, under 40 enrolled students
Every school below trains in person. Texas permits at most 50 percent of the 1,000 required hours to be taken as online theory, and the practical hours are earned on the clinic floor. How online study actually works
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#1
Vogue College of Cosmetology
San Antonio, TX · Cosmetology Private School
100%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2026-12
- $15,200 program cost
What the record shows
Based in West Lake Hills, Vogue College of Cosmetology is on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation register. Of the 92 students in its fall count, 100 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $15,200 for the full program. 98 graduates borrowed, at a median of $6,333 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. $15,200 is within 5 percent of the $14,600 median, and the completion is not ordinary: 100 percent against 90. That is the better half of the trade. It awarded 86 beauty credentials in the reporting year. From 92 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. The board files it under license 702635; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
undefined The ninetieth percentile at $59,730 is 1.9 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 23 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#2
Salon & Spa Institute
Brownsville, TX · Cosmetology Private School
100%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2027-07
- $12,125 program cost
What the record shows
Salon & Spa Institute is licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and trains in Brownsville. 100 percent of its students finish, out of 71 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $12,125 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $9,650 in federal loans at the median, 79 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $102 a month. 10 points more of its students finish than the 90 percent median, and it charges 17 percent less than the $14,600 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. It awarded 64 beauty credentials in the reporting year. From 71 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. The board files it under license 705549; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists in Texas, the range runs $23,580 to $59,730 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $30,680. Neither end of this market is extreme: the top tenth earns about 1.9 times the median and the floor sits 23 percent under it, which makes the first year a budget question rather than a survival one. On concentration, Texas is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#3
Pearlands Innovative School of Beauty
Pearland, TX · Cosmetology Private School
100%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2026-11
- $15,000 program cost
What the record shows
Pearlands Innovative School of Beauty operates in Manvel under license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. 100 percent of its students finish, out of 69 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $15,000 for the full program. $15,000 is within 3 percent of the $14,600 median, and the completion is not ordinary: 100 percent against 90. That is the better half of the trade. It awarded 40 beauty credentials in the reporting year. The board files it under license 705254; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
undefined
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#4
UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-La Joya
La Joya, TX
100%
Share of students who finish
- 100% finish
- 44 graduates a year
- $12,650 program cost
What the record shows
UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-La Joya trains in La Joya, and because it takes federal financial aid its outcomes are published per program. 100 percent of students see the course through, out of 51 enrolled. The published cost is $12,650 for the full program. The federal file reports borrowing for UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences campuses together rather than for this one: a median of $7,431 in federal loans across 422 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $79 a month. 10 points more of its students finish than the 90 percent median, and it charges 13 percent less than the $14,600 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. The school conferred 44 credentials in the year reported. 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
Pay for cosmetologists around McAllen-Edinburg-Mission runs from $22,040 at the tenth percentile to $49,760 at the ninetieth, with a median of $27,310. The metro median runs about 11 percent below the Texas figure. Neither end of this market is extreme: the top tenth earns about 1.8 times the median and the floor sits 19 percent under it, which makes the first year a budget question rather than a survival one. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.7 times the usual concentration around McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
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#5
Mystros Barber Academy
Houston, TX · Cosmetology Private School
100%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2026-09
- $15,000 program cost
What the record shows
Mystros Barber Academy trains in Missouri City, licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. This is a specialist: a barber license, not cosmetology. The work is men's cutting, shaving and beard work, the course is a similar hour count to cosmetology, and it does not license color, chemical services or the full cosmetology scope, so compare it with the other specialists here rather than with the full-service schools. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Missouri City. 100 percent of students see the course through, out of 50 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $15,000 for the full program. Completion is the one figure that compares across trades, and 100 percent, 10 points over the 90 percent median, is a good sign. $15,000 is within 3 percent of the $14,600 median for a similar hour count, which is the going rate. 16 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. That is a small cohort, which usually buys more chair time with an instructor and a shorter wait for the clinic floor. The school is a private nonprofit, a category covering only a handful of cosmetology providers nationally. License 705832 is the board's entry for it, and that is the record to confirm is still current before a deposit.
Where it leads
Pay for barbers around Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands runs from $29,400 at the tenth percentile to $79,010 at the ninetieth, with a median of $30,690. Entry pay and typical pay nearly meet, and everything past the median is a following: the upside is real and it is all earned above the middle. This is a dense market by national standards, 2.0 times the usual concentration around Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#6
William Edge Institute
New Braunfels, TX · Cosmetology Private School
98%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2026-09
- $13,500 program cost
What the record shows
William Edge Institute is licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and trains in New Braunfels. It is the only licensed school the board lists in New Braunfels. The school graduates 98 percent, on a fall headcount of 73. It charges $13,500 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. 8 points more of its students finish than the 90 percent median, priced within 8 percent of the $14,600 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. 47 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Its board record is license 705364, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Around San Antonio-New Braunfels, the median cosmetologist earns $30,460, the bottom tenth $24,100 and the top tenth $56,730.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#7
Academy Of Hair Design
Jasper, TX · Cosmetology Private School
94%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2026-12
- $12,700 program cost
What the record shows
Academy Of Hair Design operates in Jasper under license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The board lists no other licensed school in Jasper. 94 percent of students see the course through, out of 52 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $12,700 for the full program. 67 graduates borrowed, at a median of $16,500 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $175 a month. That median loan is larger than the $12,700 price, so the typical borrower here finances more than tuition. It charges 13 percent less than the $14,600 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. 23 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. License 702768 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 Texas, the range runs $23,580 to $59,730 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $30,680. Neither end of this market is extreme: the top tenth earns about 1.9 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 occupation is about as common in Texas as it is nationally.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#8
Charles and Sues School of Hair Design
Bryan, TX · Cosmetology Private School
93%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2026-12
- $18,000 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Bryan, Charles and Sues School of Hair Design is on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation register. Bryan has 7 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 93 percent of its students finish, out of 69 enrolled in the fall count. It charges $18,000 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. It charges 23 percent over the $14,600 median and finishes about as many of its students as the typical school here, so the extra price is not buying a better completion rate. 69 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. From 69 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. Its board record is license 700969, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Around College Station-Bryan, the median cosmetologist earns $27,860, the bottom tenth $22,940 and the top tenth $51,200. The metro median runs about 9 percent below the Texas figure.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#9
Houston Barber School
Houston, TX · Cosmetology Private School
93%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2026-11
- $14,000 program cost
What the record shows
Houston Barber School is licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and trains in Houston. 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 85 licensed schools in Houston, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. The school graduates 93 percent, on a fall headcount of 264. Tuition is reported at $14,000 for the full program. Completion is the one figure that compares across trades, and 93 percent, 3 points over the 90 percent median, is about what this page does. $14,000 is within 5 percent of the $14,600 median for a similar hour count, which is the going rate. It awarded 111 beauty credentials in the reporting year. License 705803 is the board's entry for it, and that is the record to confirm is still current before a deposit.
Where it leads
Around Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, the median barber earns $30,690, the bottom tenth $29,400 and the top tenth $79,010. The floor is almost the median here, so the whole spread is above it, and it belongs to people with a book. The trade is unusually concentrated around Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, about 2.0 times the national rate, so there are more chairs to compete for and more to be hired into.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#10
Graduate America College
Garland, TX · Cosmetology Private School
93%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2027-03
- $9,300 program cost
What the record shows
Graduate America College operates in Garland under license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. With 8 licensed schools in Garland, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. Of the 62 students in its fall count, 93 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $9,300 for the full program. It charges 36 percent less than the $14,600 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. 89 credentials in the year from a fall count of 62: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. The board files it under license 705574; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington earn under $33,960, with the tenth percentile at $26,560 and the ninetieth at $60,150. Against the state as a whole, the metro runs roughly 11 percent higher on median pay. The upside is capped near 1.8 times the median and the floor is 22 percent under it, a market where the first year is tight rather than dangerous and the ceiling is earned slowly. Local concentration around Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#11
Nuvani Institute
Eagle Pass, TX · Cosmetology Private School
92%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2027-06
- $14,600 program cost
What the record shows
Nuvani Institute is licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and trains in Manchaca. Manchaca has 5 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. Of 77 enrolled in the fall count, 92 percent finish. Tuition is reported at $14,600 for the full program. On completion and price it is close to the median school on this page, 92 percent against 90 and $14,600, exactly the median, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. 44 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The board files it under license 705114; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
undefined The ninetieth percentile at $59,730 is 1.9 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 23 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. Texas employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 22,440 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#12
Strand Institute of Beauty & Esthetics
Corpus Christi, TX · Cosmetology Private School
90%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2027-07
- $14,025 program cost
What the record shows
Strand Institute of Beauty & Esthetics is licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and trains in Corpus Christi. With 5 licensed schools in Corpus Christi, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. 90 percent of the 65 students it enrolls finish. Tuition is reported at $14,025 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $7,917 in federal loans, measured over 37 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $84 a month. It is close to the median school on this page on completion, price and borrowing, 90 percent, exactly the median and $14,025 against $14,600, 56 percent of the price borrowed against 50 for the page, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. 63 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. From 65 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. Its board record is license 705450, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Around Corpus Christi, the median cosmetologist earns $28,210, the bottom tenth $24,960 and the top tenth $52,150. The metro median runs about 8 percent below the Texas figure. Starting pay and typical pay are close together in this market, which cuts both ways: less of a lean first year, and less immediate reward for getting quicker. Corpus Christi employs the trade at only about 0.7 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#13
Vogue College of Cosmetology-San Antonio Fredericksburg
San Antonio, TX · Cosmetology Private School
90%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2027-03
- $15,250 program cost
What the record shows
Based in West Lake Hills, Vogue College of Cosmetology-San Antonio Fredericksburg is on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation register. 90 percent of its students finish, out of 90 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $15,250 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $6,333 in federal loans at the median, 133 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. Completion and price both sit close to the page median, 90 percent, exactly the median and $15,250 against $14,600, so the number that separates it is debt: 42 percent of the price arrives as federal loans, less than at the typical school here. It awarded 88 beauty credentials in the reporting year. From 90 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. Its board record is license 705100, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists in Texas earn under $30,680, with the tenth percentile at $23,580 and the ninetieth at $59,730. The upside is capped near 1.9 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. Local concentration in Texas sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#14
Tri-State Cosmetology Institute
El Paso, TX · Cosmetology Private School
88%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2027-01
- $15,000 program cost
What the record shows
Tri-State Cosmetology Institute operates in El Paso under license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. With 21 licensed schools in El Paso, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. The school graduates 88 percent, on a fall headcount of 126. Tuition is reported at $15,000 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $5,440 in federal loans at the median, 172 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $58 a month. Completion and price both sit close to the page median, 88 percent against 90 and $15,000 against $14,600, so the number that separates it is debt: 36 percent of the price arrives as federal loans, less than at the typical school here. It awarded 125 beauty credentials in the reporting year. From 126 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. The board files it under license 700935; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
undefined The metro median runs about 12 percent below the Texas figure.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#15
Avenue Five Institute-South Austin Campus
Austin, TX
88%
Share of students who finish
- 88% finish
- 109 graduates a year
- $12,757 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Austin, Avenue Five Institute-South Austin Campus is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 88 percent of students see the course through, out of 139 enrolled. It charges $12,757 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Borrowing is pooled across Avenue Five campuses in the federal file, 306 borrowers at a median of $7,917 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $84 a month. It charges 13 percent less than the $14,600 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. 109 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. 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 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos earn under $35,220, with the tenth percentile at $29,240 and the ninetieth at $69,290. Against the state as a whole, the metro runs roughly 15 percent higher on median pay. Neither end of this market is extreme: the top tenth earns about 2.0 times the median and the floor sits 17 percent under it, which makes the first year a budget question rather than a survival one. Local concentration around Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos sits near the national average.
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#16
Ann Webb Skin Institute
Austin, TX · Cosmetology Private School
87%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2027-05
- $15,960 program cost
What the record shows
Ann Webb Skin Institute operates in Austin under license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Austin has 25 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 87 percent of its students finish, out of 121 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $15,960 for the full program. 82 graduates borrowed, at a median of $7,917 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $84 a month. It is close to the median school on this page on completion, price and borrowing, 87 percent against 90 and $15,960 against $14,600, 50 percent of the price borrowed against 50 for the page, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. 171 credentials in the year from a fall count of 121: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. Its board record is license 705188, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Around Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, the median cosmetologist earns $35,220, the bottom tenth $29,240 and the top tenth $69,290. The metro median is about 15 percent above the Texas figure. The ninetieth percentile at $69,290 is 2.0 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 17 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#17
Paul Mitchell the School-Clear Lake
Webster, TX · Cosmetology Private School
86%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2027-01
- $13,100 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Clear Lake is licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and trains in Webster. The board lists no other licensed school in Webster. 86 percent of its students finish, out of 133 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $13,100 for the full program. Paul Mitchell campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $13,250 in federal loans at the median over 436 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $140 a month. Completion and price both sit near the page's middle, 86 percent against 90 and $13,100 against $14,600. Nothing federal separates it, so the clinic floor and the board file will. It awarded 99 beauty credentials in the reporting year. The board files it under license 705281; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, the range runs $23,600 to $60,150 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $31,080. 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. The occupation is about as common around Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands as it is nationally.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#18
ABC Beauty Academy
Richardson, TX · Cosmetology Private School
86%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2027-02
- $8,217 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Richardson, ABC Beauty Academy is on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation register. Richardson has 6 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 86 percent of its students finish, out of 52 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $8,217 for the full program. It charges 44 percent less than the $14,600 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. It awarded 52 beauty credentials in the reporting year. From 52 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. The board files it under license 705288; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington earn under $33,960, with the tenth percentile at $26,560 and the ninetieth at $60,150. Against the state as a whole, the metro runs roughly 11 percent higher on median pay. The ninetieth percentile at $60,150 is 1.8 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 22 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. Local concentration around Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#19
Laredo CHI Academy Beauty School
Laredo, TX · Cosmetology Private School
86%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2026-09
- $8,311 program cost
What the record shows
Laredo CHI Academy Beauty School trains in Laredo, licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. With 7 licensed schools in Laredo, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. The school graduates 86 percent, on a fall headcount of 54. Tuition is reported at $8,311 for the full program. It charges 43 percent less than the $14,600 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. It awarded 48 beauty credentials in the reporting year. The board files it under license 705129; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
undefined The metro median runs about 15 percent below the Texas figure. Laredo employs the trade 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; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#20
Salon Professional Academy of San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
83%
Share of students who finish
- 83% finish
- 94 graduates a year
- $17,525 program cost
What the record shows
Salon Professional Academy of San Antonio trains in San Antonio, and because it takes federal financial aid its outcomes are published per program. Of the 94 students in its fall count, 83 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $17,525 for the full program. 85 graduates borrowed, at a median of $7,917 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $84 a month. 7 points fewer finish than the 90 percent median and it costs 20 percent over the $14,600 median, so before enrolling ask what happens to the students who do not get through. It awarded 94 beauty credentials in the reporting year. From 94 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. Look this school up on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation register by its legal name before you pay, because that entry and not this one is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around San Antonio-New Braunfels earn under $30,460, with the tenth percentile at $24,100 and the ninetieth at $56,730. The ninetieth percentile at $56,730 is 1.9 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 21 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. San Antonio-New Braunfels employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 2,210 people.
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#21
Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Denton
Denton, TX · Cosmetology Private School
83%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2026-09
- $16,500 program cost
What the record shows
Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Denton operates in Arlington under license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. With 25 licensed schools in Arlington, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. 83 percent of its students finish, out of 228 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $16,500 for the full program. Ogle School Hair Skin Nails campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $7,917 in federal loans at the median over 850 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $84 a month. That is the pairing to be wary of: 7 points fewer of its students finish than the 90 percent median, at a price 13 percent over the $14,600 median. Ask the school directly why students leave before you commit. It awarded 129 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Its board record is license 705496, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Around Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, the median cosmetologist earns $33,960, the bottom tenth $26,560 and the top tenth $60,150. The metro median is about 11 percent above the Texas figure. The ninetieth percentile at $60,150 is 1.8 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 22 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 6,630 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#22
Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Ft Worth
Fort Worth, TX · Cosmetology Private School
82%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2026-09
- $15,700 program cost
What the record shows
Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Ft Worth operates in Arlington under license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Arlington has 25 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 82 percent of its students finish, out of 500 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $15,700 for the full program. Ogle School Hair Skin Nails campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $7,917 in federal loans at the median over 886 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $84 a month. 8 points fewer of its students finish than the 90 percent median, priced within 8 percent of the $14,600 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 354 beauty credentials in the reporting year. The board files it under license 705497; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
Around Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, the median cosmetologist earns $33,960, the bottom tenth $26,560 and the top tenth $60,150. The metro median is about 11 percent above the Texas figure.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#23
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
81%
Share of students who finish
- 81% finish
- 168 graduates a year
- $19,500 program cost
What the record shows
Based in San Antonio, Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 81 percent of its students finish, out of 250 enrolled in the fall count. It charges $19,500 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. The median graduate left with $7,916 in federal loans, across 291 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $84 a month. 9 points fewer finish than the 90 percent median and it costs 34 percent over the $14,600 median, so before enrolling ask what happens to the students who do not get through. The school conferred 168 credentials in the year reported. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation 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 around San Antonio-New Braunfels runs from $24,100 at the tenth percentile to $56,730 at the ninetieth, with a median of $30,460. The ninetieth percentile at $56,730 is 1.9 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 21 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. On concentration, San Antonio-New Braunfels is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#24
Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Stafford
Stafford, TX
81%
Share of students who finish
- 81% finish
- 352 graduates a year
- $15,700 program cost
What the record shows
Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Stafford runs its nail technology program in Stafford and reports to the US Department of Education. The license here is a nail technician license, which means manicure, pedicure and nail enhancement. It takes the shortest course in the field and is a narrower ticket, and for someone who already knows they want that end of the trade, the narrowness is the point. 81 percent of students see the course through, out of 550 enrolled. It charges $15,700 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Borrowing is pooled across Ogle School Hair Skin Nails campuses in the federal file, 730 borrowers at a median of $7,917 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $84 a month. Completion is the one figure that compares across trades, and 81 percent, 9 points under the 90 percent median, is about what this page does. $15,700 is within 8 percent of the $14,600 median for a course shorter than cosmetology, which is dear for nail technology and worth asking about. It awarded 352 beauty credentials in the reporting year. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation 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
undefined Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands employs the trade at only about 0.5 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
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#25
Paul Mitchell the School-Houston
Houston, TX · Cosmetology Private School
81%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2026-10
- $13,650 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Houston, Paul Mitchell the School-Houston is on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation register. Houston has 85 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. Of the 288 students in its fall count, 81 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $13,650 for the full program. Paul Mitchell campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $13,250 in federal loans at the median over 436 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $140 a month. The price is close to the $14,600 median and the completion is not: 81 percent against 90. In a clock-hour course that is the wrong half of the trade, and the reason to ask hard questions before a deposit. It awarded 201 beauty credentials in the reporting year. License 705027 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands earn under $31,080, with the tenth percentile at $23,600 and the ninetieth at $60,150. Neither end of this market is extreme: the top tenth earns about 1.9 times the median and the floor sits 24 percent under it, which makes the first year a budget question rather than a survival one. Local concentration around Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
- Vogue College of Cosmetology 100% 100%
- Salon & Spa Institute 100% 100%
- Pearlands Innovative School of B... 100% 100%
- UCAS University of Cosmetology A... 100% 100%
- Mystros Barber Academy 100% 100%
- William Edge Institute 98% 98%
- Academy Of Hair Design 94% 94%
- Charles and Sues School of Hair ... 93% 93%
- Houston Barber School 93% 93%
- Graduate America College 93% 93%
Which other cosmetology schools in Texas are state licensed?
These Texas cosmetology schools hold a current license from Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation 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 Texas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene High School | Abilene | No. 702023 · to 2027-02 | cosmetology |
| Glamoureyes & More LLC | Abilene | No. 705943 · to 2027-02 | cosmetology |
| L&l Beauty Institute LLC | Abilene | No. 705648 · to 2026-09 | cosmetology |
| Neecee's Barber College | Abilene | No. 705133 · to 2027-03 | cosmetology |
| Khe Academy Hair Weaving School LLC | Addison | No. 705715 · to 2027-06 | cosmetology |
| Ritzy Lash University | Addison | No. 706073 · to 2027-04 | cosmetology |
| Sloan Beauty Academy | Addison | No. 705367 · to 2026-10 | cosmetology |
| Toni&guy Hairdressing Academy | Addison | No. 702494 · to 2027-02 | cosmetology |
| Alice High School | Alice | No. 702025 · to 2027-01 | cosmetology |
| The Lash Room Academy | Alice | No. 705569 · to 2026-11 | cosmetology |
| 4four Beauty School | Allen | No. 705576 · to 2026-12 | cosmetology |
| Rice High School | Altair | No. 702140 · to 2027-02 | cosmetology |
| Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy | Amarillo | No. 705246 · to 2027-07 | cosmetology |
| Wildcat School of Cosmetology | Amarillo | No. 705326 · to 2027-01 | cosmetology |
| Andrews Isd | Andrews | No. 702028 · to 2027-01 | cosmetology |
| Aisd Career & Tech Center | Arlington | No. 702148 · to 2027-01 | cosmetology |
| Bale Beauty Academy 6 Corp | Arlington | No. 705063 · to 2027-02 | cosmetology |
| Beauty Models School | Arlington | No. 705587 · to 2027-02 | cosmetology |
| Faire Belle Institute | Arlington | No. 705957 · to 2027-04 | cosmetology |
| From Ordinary to Extraordinary | Arlington | No. 705516 · to 2027-06 | cosmetology |
| Kla Beauty | Arlington | No. 705489 · to 2027-01 | cosmetology |
| Ogle School Hair Skin Nails | Arlington | No. 705493 · to 2027-09 | cosmetology |
| Ogle School Hair Skin Nails | Arlington | No. 705494 · to 2026-09 | cosmetology |
| Ogle School Hair Skin Nails | Arlington | No. 705498 · to 2026-09 | cosmetology |
| Opm Beauty Institute LLC | Arlington | No. 706080 · to 2027-05 | cosmetology |
Showing 25 of the 689 remaining licensed schools, ordered by city. The full file is with Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation .
How do you become a cosmetologist in Texas in 2026?
To become a cosmetologist in Texas you need 1,000 clock hours at a school licensed by Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, then a passing score on the state exam. At the pace most clock-hour schools run, that is roughly 7.7 months full time. That is the shortest requirement in the country, matched by 6 other states. Nowhere asks less, and the longest states ask 2,000, which is twice the training for the same job title.
Time is the expensive part of this qualification, and it is only banked while the school holds a current Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation license.
How much do cosmetologists make in Texas in 2026?
Cosmetologists in Texas earn a median of $30,680 , with the bottom tenth on $23,580 and the top tenth on $59,730 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.
- Cosmetologists $30,680 $30,680
- Salon managers $45,560 $45,560
- Estheticians $49,250 $49,250
- Nail technicians $34,040 $34,040
- Barbers $30,760 $30,760
Where do cosmetologists make the most money in Texas?
Cosmetologists make the most money in Texas around Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, where the median is $35,220, and the least around Laredo at $26,130. A 35 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 $30,680, so the metros above it are carrying the average up.
- Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos $35,220 $35,220
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington $33,960 $33,960
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodl... $31,080 $31,080
- San Angelo $30,900 $30,900
- San Antonio-New Braunfels $30,460 $30,460
- Midland $30,040 $30,040
- Waco $29,110 $29,110
- Beaumont-Port Arthur $29,050 $29,050
- Lubbock $28,630 $28,630
- Abilene $28,230 $28,230
Where are the cosmetology schools in Texas?
The licensed cosmetology schools in Texas cluster hardest in Houston, which holds 85 of the 714 the board currently lists. At 12 percent of the state total, no single city dominates training in Texas.
121 towns have exactly one licensed school, which is worth knowing if you cannot easily move: losing that school means losing the option locally.
- Houston 85 85
- San Antonio 48 48
- Dallas 33 33
- Arlington 25 25
- Austin 25 25
- El Paso 21 21
- Fort Worth 17 17
- Mcallen 14 14
- Spring 11 11
- Carrollton 10 10
Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech in Texas?
In Texas, estheticians are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $49,250 median. Cosmetologists in Texas sit at $30,680, below that, which is worth weighing before committing to the longest of the licenses.
Hour requirements differ by license too, so a route that pays slightly less can still reach a paycheck sooner.
| Occupation | Median pay | Employed in state |
|---|---|---|
| Estheticians | $49,250 | 6,160 |
| Salon managers | $45,560 | 11,470 |
| Nail technicians | $34,040 | 5,340 |
| Barbers | $30,760 | 2,580 |
Can you use a cosmetology license from another state in Texas?
Using a cosmetology license from another state in Texas means satisfying Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other South states, Texas is it asks 463 fewer hours than the regional average of 1,463, and it pays about 8 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Texas (this state) | 1,000 | $30,680 |
| District of Columbia | 1,250 | $54,570 |
| North Carolina | 1,500 | $38,410 |
| Maryland | 1,500 | $36,420 |
| Georgia | 1,500 | $34,560 |
| West Virginia | 2,000 | $34,480 |
| Delaware | $34,350 | |
| South Carolina | 1,500 | $33,700 |
| Tennessee | 1,500 | $31,310 |
| Kentucky | 1,500 | $29,840 |
| Oklahoma | 1,500 | $29,650 |
| Florida | 1,200 | $29,530 |
| Alabama | 1,500 | $29,150 |
| Arkansas | 1,500 | $28,830 |
| Mississippi | 1,500 | $27,560 |
| Louisiana | 1,500 | $26,030 |
| Virginia | 1,000 |
Which Texas cosmetology schools have lapsed or lost their license?
183 Texas cosmetology schools appear in Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation's file with a license that is no longer current. Some closed, some let the license lapse, and some had it taken away. They are here because they still appear in commercial school directories, and because a reader holding a brochure from one of them deserves to know.
| School | City | Board status |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance Barber Academy, LLC | Expired | |
| Bac Cos Conversion School | Expired | |
| Deleon Barber & Beauty Academy LLC | Expired | |
| Enlightened Barber Academy | Expired | |
| Katy Esthetician Academy | Expired | |
| Madison School of Cosmetology | Expired | |
| Pro Fades Barber Academy | Expired | |
| Abilene Barber Academy | Abilene | Expired |
| Phoenix Bodi and Beauty Institute | Abilene | Expired |
| Aspire School of Cosmetology | Alice | Expired |
| International Institute of Aesthetic Art | Allen | Expired |
| Mca Skin Care Academy LLC | Amarillo | Expired |
| Andrews High School | Andrews | Expired |
| Angleton Independent School District | Angleton | Expired |
| Mastering the Business Barber Academy | Arlington | Expired |
| The Shimaa Academy | Arlington | Expired |
| Career Schools of Texas | Atlanta | Expired |
| Career Schools of Texas | Atlanta | Expired |
| Career Schools of Texas | Atlanta | Expired |
| Avenue Five Institute | Austin | Expired |
| Dacs Academy L.l.c | Austin | Expired |
| The Men Barber School Rr | Austin | Expired |
| Academy of Aesthetics and Laser | Bartonville | Expired |
| Next Level Barber Institute LLC | Bay City | Expired |
| Barbers Trade School, INC | Beaumont | Expired |
Showing 25 of 183, most recently recorded first. The rest are in the board's own file .
What does this Texas cosmetology program ranking not tell you?
This Texas 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 Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for the license itself.
Common questions about cosmetology programs in Texas
What makes the best cosmetology programs in Texas rank highly here?
How many cosmetology programs in Texas hold a current license?
Should you choose a NACCAS-accredited school in Texas?
How much does cosmetology school cost in Texas?
Are the best cosmetology programs in Texas accredited?
Where does this Texas cosmetology program data come from?
This Texas cosmetology program data comes from Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, read on 2026-08-28, 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.
Texas Department of Licensing and RegulationRead 2026-08-28.
- 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
- 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
- Lapsed and revoked licenses
- What this does not tell you
- Common questions
- Sources