Wisconsin
Best cosmetology programs in Wisconsin 2026
Milwaukee skyline. Photo by Michael Barera, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Ranked on the share of students who finish what they started, within half again the program's normal length, as reported per institution to the US Department of Education. In a clock-hour trade this is the outcome that matters most: the license needs the full hour count, so a student who leaves early has paid for hours that will never qualify them.
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 Wisconsin is whether Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services licensed the school while you were enrolled.
29
schools reporting federally
25
qualify to be ranked
4
excluded, under 40 enrolled students
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#1
The Institute of Beauty and Wellness Madison
Madison, WI
97%
Share of students who finish
- 70 graduates a year
- $11,498 program cost
What the record shows
The Institute of Beauty and Wellness Madison teaches cosmetology in Madison, with its results published federally. Of 88 enrolled in the fall count, 97 percent finish. The published cost is $11,498 for the full program. The Institute of Beauty campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $6,333 in federal loans at the median over 295 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. 32 points more of its students finish than the 65 percent median, and it charges 35 percent less than the $17,781 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. It awarded 70 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Confirm the school's current license with the state board first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
undefined
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#2
The Salon Professional Academy-Onalaska
Onalaska, WI
93%
Share of students who finish
- 43 graduates a year
- $24,900 program cost
What the record shows
The Salon Professional Academy-Onalaska teaches cosmetology in Onalaska, with its results published federally. Of 67 enrolled in the fall count, 93 percent finish. The published cost is $24,900 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $12,000 in federal loans at the median, 54 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $127 a month. More of its students finish than at most schools on this page, 93 percent against 65, and the price is 40 percent over the $17,781 median. The premium buys better odds of reaching the exam, and the course you do not finish is the one that costs the most. The school conferred 43 credentials in the year reported. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around La Crosse-Onalaska, the range runs $24,130 to $47,780 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $35,090. The local occupation is small in absolute terms, which tends to mean hiring runs through personal contacts. On concentration, La Crosse-Onalaska is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#3
Academy of Beauty Professionals
Madison, WI
93%
Share of students who finish
- 93% finish
- 52 graduates a year
- $12,140 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Madison, Academy of Beauty Professionals is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of the 53 students in its fall count, 93 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $12,140 for the full program. The federal file reports borrowing for Academy of Beauty Professionals campuses together rather than for this one: a median of $9,833 in federal loans across 42 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. 28 points more of its students finish than the 65 percent median, and it charges 32 percent less than the $17,781 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. The school conferred 52 credentials in the year reported. From 53 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. Verify the school's standing with the state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
undefined The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for.
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#4
The Institute of Beauty and Wellness
Milwaukee, WI
90%
Share of students who finish
- 201 graduates a year
- $11,498 program cost
What the record shows
The Institute of Beauty and Wellness teaches cosmetology in Milwaukee, with its results published federally. Of 186 enrolled in the fall count, 90 percent finish. The published cost is $11,498 for the full program. The federal file reports borrowing for The Institute of Beauty and Wellness campuses together rather than for this one: a median of $6,333 in federal loans across 295 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. 25 points more of its students finish than the 65 percent median, and it charges 35 percent less than the $17,781 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. 201 credentials in the year from a fall count of 186: 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 state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around Milwaukee-Waukesha, the median cosmetologist earns $38,190, the bottom tenth $26,740 and the top tenth $59,620. Neither end of this market is extreme: the top tenth earns about 1.6 times the median and the floor sits 30 percent under it, which makes the first year a budget question rather than a survival one. Milwaukee-Waukesha employs the trade at about 1.3 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
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#5
State College of Beauty Culture
Wausau, WI
90%
Share of students who finish
- 90% finish
- 49 graduates a year
- $14,900 program cost
What the record shows
State College of Beauty Culture runs its cosmetology program in Wausau and reports to the US Department of Education. Of the 57 students in its fall count, 90 percent complete the course they started. It charges $14,900 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. 25 points more of its students finish than the 65 percent median, and it charges 16 percent less than the $17,781 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. It awarded 49 beauty credentials in the reporting year. The license from the state board is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Wausau, the range runs $25,510 to $61,990 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $34,050. The local occupation is small in absolute terms, which tends to mean hiring runs through personal contacts. The occupation is about as common around Wausau as it is nationally.
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#6
VICI Beauty School
Greenfield, WI
88%
Share of students who finish
- 88% finish
- 113 graduates a year
- $19,138 program cost
What the record shows
VICI Beauty School trains in Greenfield, and because it takes federal financial aid its outcomes are published per program. The school graduates 88 percent, on a fall headcount of 109. Tuition is reported at $19,138 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $6,216 in federal loans, measured over 117 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $66 a month. $19,138 is within 8 percent of the $17,781 median, and the completion is not ordinary: 88 percent against 65. That is the better half of the trade. 113 credentials in the year from a fall count of 109: 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 state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
undefined Milwaukee-Waukesha employs the trade at about 1.3 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
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#7
First Class Cosmetology School
Beloit, WI
86%
Share of students who finish
- 49 graduates a year
- $18,490 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Beloit, First Class Cosmetology School is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of 92 enrolled in the fall count, 86 percent finish. Tuition is reported at $18,490 for the full program. The median graduate left with $10,194 in federal loans, across 22 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $108 a month. $18,490 is within 4 percent of the $17,781 median, and the completion is not ordinary: 86 percent against 65. That is the better half of the trade. It awarded 49 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Janesville-Beloit earn under $35,500, with the tenth percentile at $23,640 and the ninetieth at $59,570. Few people hold this occupation locally, so a graduate is competing in a small pool and is likely to be known in it quickly. Janesville-Beloit employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 140 people.
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#8
The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton
Appleton, WI
82%
Share of students who finish
- 82% finish
- 27 graduates a year
- $18,600 program cost
What the record shows
The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton teaches cosmetology in Appleton, with its results published federally. 82 percent of students see the course through, out of 81 enrolled. The published cost is $18,600 for the full program. The median graduate left with $10,311 in federal loans, across 66 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $109 a month. 17 points more of its students finish than the 65 percent median, priced within 5 percent of the $17,781 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. 27 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The license from the state board is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
undefined The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. Appleton is a small market, about 280 in the trade, but a dense one for its size at 1.2 times the national rate.
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#9
The Professional Hair Design Academy
Eau Claire, WI
76%
Share of students who finish
- 21 graduates a year
- $11,900 program cost
What the record shows
The Professional Hair Design Academy runs its cosmetology program in Eau Claire and reports to the US Department of Education. 76 percent of the 60 students it enrolls finish. The published cost is $11,900 for the full program. 25 graduates borrowed, at a median of $10,500 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $111 a month. That is most of the $11,900 price arriving as debt, so the published cost and what a student actually finances are close to the same number here. 11 points more of its students finish than the 65 percent median, and it charges 33 percent less than the $17,781 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. It awarded 21 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Ask the state board directly whether the license is in good standing, because a lapse while you are enrolled costs you the hours rather than the school.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Eau Claire runs from $25,890 at the tenth percentile to $49,020 at the ninetieth, with a median of $35,140. It is a small occupational market locally, so openings are fewer and word of mouth carries more weight than a resume. On concentration, Eau Claire is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#10
Empire Beauty School-Green Bay
Ashwaubenon, WI
73%
Share of students who finish
- 73% finish
- 42 graduates a year
- $18,182 program cost
What the record shows
Empire Beauty School-Green Bay trains in Ashwaubenon, and because it takes federal financial aid its outcomes are published per program. Of the 100 students in its fall count, 73 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $18,182 for the full program. Borrowing is pooled across Empire Beauty campuses in the federal file, 838 borrowers at a median of $12,500 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $133 a month. 8 points more of its students finish than the 65 percent median, priced within 3 percent of the $17,781 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. The school conferred 42 credentials in the year reported. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Green Bay runs from $26,270 at the tenth percentile to $54,560 at the ninetieth, with a median of $35,490. An ordinary shape: the top tenth at 1.5 times the median and a floor 26 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 occupation is about as common around Green Bay as it is nationally.
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#11
The Salon Professional Academy-Kenosha
Kenosha, WI
70%
Share of students who finish
- 70% finish
- 59 graduates a year
- $23,500 program cost
What the record shows
The Salon Professional Academy-Kenosha teaches cosmetology in Kenosha, with its results published federally. 70 percent of its students finish, out of 130 enrolled in the fall count. It charges $23,500 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Graduates who borrowed took on $10,194 in federal loans at the median, 80 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $108 a month. Paying 32 percent over the $17,781 median buys 5 points of completion over the 65 percent median, and whether that is worth it depends on how sure you are of finishing anywhere. The school conferred 59 credentials in the year reported. Ask the state board directly whether the license is in good standing, because a lapse while you are enrolled costs you the hours rather than the school.
Where it leads
undefined 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 around Kenosha, 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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#12
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Fennimore, WI
66%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 18 graduates a year
What the record shows
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College runs its cosmetology program in Fennimore and reports to the US Department of Education. Across all 1,313 students at the college, 66 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Read that 66 percent as the college's rate, not the cosmetology floor's, so it neither ranks this program up nor down. Its 18 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,313. The license from the state board is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists in Wisconsin runs from $23,790 at the tenth percentile to $58,970 at the ninetieth, with a median of $36,230. Early pay across the state runs well under the median, so budget for a slow first year rather than the headline figure. The occupation is about as common in Wisconsin as it is nationally.
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#13
Fox Valley Technical College
Appleton, WI
65%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 68 graduates a year
What the record shows
Fox Valley Technical College teaches cosmetology in Appleton, with its results published federally. Across all 5,825 students at the college, 65 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 65 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. Its 68 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 5,825. Confirm the school's current license with the state board first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Appleton earn under $36,260, with the tenth percentile at $23,580 and the ninetieth at $69,930. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. Appleton is a small market, about 280 in the trade, but a dense one for its size at 1.2 times the national rate.
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#14
Moraine Park Technical College
Fond du Lac, WI
58%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 43 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 58 percent of students across the college finish, out of 2,464 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 58 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 43 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 2,464. Ask the state board directly whether the license is in good standing, because a lapse while you are enrolled costs you the hours rather than the school.
Where it leads
undefined Fond du Lac is a small market, about 110 in the trade, but a dense one for its size at 1.3 times the national rate.
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#15
Northwood Technical College
Rice Lake, WI
56%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 43 graduates a year
What the record shows
Northwood Technical College teaches cosmetology in Rice Lake, with its results published federally. Across all 2,149 students at the college, 56 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Most of the students behind that 56 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Graduates who borrowed took on $5,500 in federal loans at the median, 41 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $58 a month. Its 43 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 2,149. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists in Wisconsin, the range runs $23,790 to $58,970 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $36,230. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. The occupation is about as common in Wisconsin as it is nationally.
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#16
Academy of Beauty Professionals
Green Bay, WI
56%
Share of students who finish
- 56% finish
- 82 graduates a year
- $4,950 program cost
What the record shows
Academy of Beauty Professionals teaches cosmetology in Green Bay, with its results published federally. The school graduates 56 percent, on a fall headcount of 64. It charges $4,950 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Academy of Beauty Professionals campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $9,833 in federal loans at the median over 42 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. Cheap, but 9 points fewer of its students finish than the 65 percent median, and in a clock-hour trade an unfinished course is the expensive outcome: you have paid for hours that never become a license. It awarded 82 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 64, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. Ask the state board directly whether the license is in good standing, because a lapse while you are enrolled costs you the hours rather than the school.
Where it leads
undefined The ninetieth percentile at $54,560 is 1.5 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 26 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states.
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#17
Mid-State Technical College
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
52%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 42 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Wisconsin Rapids, Mid-State Technical College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Across all 2,288 students at the college, 52 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 52 percent is low for this page, but it is the college's rate and the cosmetology program is a small part of it; the cosmetology department's own completions are the check. The median graduate left with $5,250 in federal loans, across 23 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $56 a month. Its 42 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 2,288. The license from the state board is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists in Wisconsin, the range runs $23,790 to $58,970 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $36,230. Early pay across the state runs well under the median, so budget for a slow first year rather than the headline figure. The occupation is about as common in Wisconsin as it is nationally.
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#18
Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, WI
51%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 78 graduates a year
What the record shows
Gateway Technical College runs its cosmetology program in Kenosha and reports to the US Department of Education. 51 percent of students across the college finish, out of 4,759 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 51 percent is low for this page, but it is the college's rate and the cosmetology program is a small part of it; the cosmetology department's own completions are the check. 41 graduates borrowed, at a median of $6,334 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. Its 78 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 4,759. Ask the state board directly whether the license is in good standing, because a lapse while you are enrolled costs you the hours rather than the school.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Kenosha runs from $24,130 at the tenth percentile to $60,700 at the ninetieth, with a median of $36,520. 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. This is a dense market by national standards, 1.6 times the usual concentration around Kenosha.
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#19
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Eau Claire, WI
50%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 40 graduates a year
What the record shows
Chippewa Valley Technical College runs its cosmetology program in Eau Claire and reports to the US Department of Education. 50 percent of students across the college finish, out of 4,272 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 50 percent is low for this page, but it is the college's rate and the cosmetology program is a small part of it; the cosmetology department's own completions are the check. The median graduate left with $8,174 in federal loans, across 28 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $87 a month. Its 40 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 4,272. Verify the school's standing with the state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around Eau Claire, the median cosmetologist earns $35,140, the bottom tenth $25,890 and the top tenth $49,020.
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#20
Empire Beauty School-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
47%
Share of students who finish
- 47% finish
- 98 graduates a year
- $17,407 program cost
What the record shows
Empire Beauty School-Milwaukee teaches cosmetology in Milwaukee, with its results published federally. The school graduates 47 percent, on a fall headcount of 111. The published cost is $17,407 for the full program. The federal file reports borrowing for Empire Beauty campuses together rather than for this one: a median of $12,500 in federal loans across 838 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $133 a month. 18 points fewer of its students finish than the 65 percent median, priced within 3 percent of the $17,781 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. The school conferred 98 credentials in the year reported. Confirm the school's current license with the state board first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Milwaukee-Waukesha earn under $38,190, with the tenth percentile at $26,740 and the ninetieth at $59,620. A 2.2-to-one spread from bottom to top is ordinary for the trade, and here as everywhere the top belongs to a client book. The work is somewhat more concentrated around Milwaukee-Waukesha than nationally, at roughly 1.3 times the usual rate.
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#21
Northcentral Technical College
Wausau, WI
45%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 10 graduates a year
What the record shows
Northcentral Technical College teaches cosmetology in Wausau, with its results published federally. 45 percent of students across the college finish, out of 3,257 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 45 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 10 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 3,257. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
undefined It is a small occupational market locally, so openings are fewer and word of mouth carries more weight than a resume. Wausau employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 120 people.
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#22
Waukesha County Technical College
Pewaukee, WI
44%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 36 graduates a year
What the record shows
Waukesha County Technical College teaches cosmetology in Pewaukee, with its results published federally. Across all 4,955 students at the college, 44 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Most of the students behind that 44 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. 27 graduates borrowed, at a median of $8,675 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $92 a month. Its 36 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 4,955. The license from the state board is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
Around Milwaukee-Waukesha, the median cosmetologist earns $38,190, the bottom tenth $26,740 and the top tenth $59,620.
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#23
Nicolet Area Technical College
Rhinelander, WI
44%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 21 graduates a year
What the record shows
Nicolet Area Technical College teaches cosmetology in Rhinelander, with its results published federally. Across all 663 students at the college, 44 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Most of the students behind that 44 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 21 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 663. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists in Wisconsin runs from $23,790 at the tenth percentile to $58,970 at the ninetieth, with a median of $36,230. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. The occupation is about as common in Wisconsin as it is nationally.
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#24
Paul Mitchell the School-Milwaukee
Wauwatosa, WI
32%
Share of students who finish
- 32% finish
- 38 graduates a year
- $18,154 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Wauwatosa, Paul Mitchell the School-Milwaukee is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. The school graduates 32 percent across two years of students, on a fall headcount of 140. Tuition is reported at $18,154 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $10,666 in federal loans at the median, 94 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $113 a month. Only 32 in a hundred finish here, 33 points under the 65 percent median. Treat that as the headline, not a footnote, and hold the $18,154 price against it. It awarded 38 beauty credentials in the reporting year. From 140 enrolled that is slow throughput for a clock-hour course, and it belongs beside the completion figure above. Ask the state board directly whether the license is in good standing, because a lapse while you are enrolled costs you the hours rather than the school.
Where it leads
Around Milwaukee-Waukesha, the median cosmetologist earns $38,190, the bottom tenth $26,740 and the top tenth $59,620. Milwaukee-Waukesha employs the trade at about 1.3 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
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#25
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee, WI
25%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 114 graduates a year
What the record shows
Milwaukee Area Technical College runs its cosmetology program in Milwaukee and reports to the US Department of Education. Across all 12,024 students at the college, 25 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Most of the students behind that 25 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. 52 graduates borrowed, at a median of $9,500 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $101 a month. 114 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Milwaukee-Waukesha runs from $26,740 at the tenth percentile to $59,620 at the ninetieth, with a median of $38,190. Neither end of this market is extreme: the top tenth earns about 1.6 times the median and the floor sits 30 percent under it, which makes the first year a budget question rather than a survival one. Concentration around Milwaukee-Waukesha runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.3 times, or 2,070 people in the occupation.
- The Institute of Beauty and Well... 97% 97%
- The Salon Professional Academy-O... 93% 93%
- Academy of Beauty Professionals 93% 93%
- The Institute of Beauty and Well... 90% 90%
- State College of Beauty Culture 90% 90%
- VICI Beauty School 88% 88%
- First Class Cosmetology School 86% 86%
- The Salon Professional Academy-A... 82% 82%
- The Professional Hair Design Aca... 76% 76%
- Empire Beauty School-Green Bay 73% 73%
Where can you find the licensed cosmetology programs in Wisconsin?
The licensed cosmetology programs in Wisconsin are searched one at a time rather than published as a list, so this page links Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services's own records instead of reprinting a commercial directory. The schools above are drawn from the 29 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin in 2026?
To become a cosmetologist in Wisconsin you need 1,550 clock hours at a school licensed by Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, then a passing score on the state exam. At the pace most clock-hour schools run, that is roughly 11.9 months full time. 37 of the 49 states with a published figure ask less, so this sits at the longer end of the national range.
Those hours only count if the school held a license from Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services while you were enrolled, so check the license before the brochure when comparing cosmetology programs.
How much do cosmetologists make in Wisconsin in 2026?
Cosmetologists in Wisconsin earn a median of $36,230 , with the bottom tenth on $23,790 and the top tenth on $58,970 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.
- Cosmetologists $36,230 $36,230
- Salon managers $46,350 $46,350
- Nail technicians $36,680 $36,680
- Estheticians $46,220 $46,220
- Barbers $36,540 $36,540
What is different about cosmetology licensing in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is one of the few states that pairs a clock-hour floor with a CALENDAR-TIME floor: Wis. Stat. 454.06(2)(b) requires "at least 1,550 training hours in not less than 10 months," so a student cannot compress the program however fast they attend. Its remote-delivery rule is also among the most permissive in the country, delegating the decision to the school with board approval and setting no percentage cap at all. And a coverage trap for any directory: schools regulated or approved by the technical college system board are EXEMPT from DSPS school licensing under s. 440.61, so Wisconsin Technical College System cosmetology programs never appear in the DSPS credential list even though their graduates are fully licensable. Read Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services's own rules .
Where do cosmetologists make the most money in Wisconsin?
Cosmetologists make the most money in Wisconsin around Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, where the median is $46,310, and the least around Oshkosh-Neenah at $29,850. That is a 55 percent gap inside one state, which is wider than the gap between many states and worth more than most differences between schools.
The statewide median sits at $36,230, so the metros above it are carrying the average up.
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloom... $46,310 $46,310
- Milwaukee-Waukesha $38,190 $38,190
- Sheboygan $37,210 $37,210
- Kenosha $36,520 $36,520
- Madison $36,490 $36,490
- Appleton $36,260 $36,260
- Janesville-Beloit $35,500 $35,500
- Green Bay $35,490 $35,490
- Racine-Mount Pleasant $35,270 $35,270
- Eau Claire $35,140 $35,140
Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech in Wisconsin?
In Wisconsin, salon managers are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $46,350 median. Cosmetologists in Wisconsin sit at $36,230, below that, which is worth weighing before committing to the longest of the licenses.
Each is a separate license with its own program and its own hour count, which is why the highest median is not automatically the best return on the time.
| Occupation | Median pay | Employed in state |
|---|---|---|
| Salon managers | $46,350 | 4,740 |
| Estheticians | $46,220 | 1,190 |
| Nail technicians | $36,680 | 2,350 |
| Barbers | $36,540 | 450 |
Can you use a cosmetology license from another state in Wisconsin?
Using a cosmetology license from another state in Wisconsin means satisfying Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other Midwest states, Wisconsin is its 1,550 hour requirement is about the regional norm, and pay tracks the regional average closely.
Reciprocity is decided case by case, and the state you trained in is only the starting point for that conversation.
| State | Hours required | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin (this state) | 1,550 | $36,230 |
| South Dakota | 1,500 | $49,800 |
| Minnesota | 1,550 | $39,170 |
| Ohio | 1,500 | $36,260 |
| Iowa | 1,550 | $35,700 |
| North Dakota | 1,500 | $34,850 |
| Michigan | 1,500 | $34,820 |
| Nebraska | 1,800 | $34,320 |
| Illinois | 1,500 | $34,040 |
| Indiana | 1,500 | $32,830 |
| Missouri | 1,500 | $30,750 |
| Kansas | 1,500 | $29,710 |
What does this Wisconsin cosmetology program ranking not tell you?
This Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services for the license itself.
Common questions about cosmetology programs in Wisconsin
What makes the best cosmetology programs in Wisconsin rank highly here?
How many cosmetology schools are there in Wisconsin?
Should you choose a NACCAS-accredited school in Wisconsin?
How much does cosmetology school cost in Wisconsin?
Are the best cosmetology programs in Wisconsin accredited?
Where does this Wisconsin cosmetology program data come from?
This Wisconsin cosmetology program data comes from Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, 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. Wisconsin is one of the few states that pairs a clock-hour floor with a CALENDAR-TIME floor: Wis. Stat. 454.06(2)(b) requires "at least 1,550 training hours in not less than 10 months," so a student cannot compress the program however fast they attend. Its remote-delivery rule is also among the most permissive in the country, delegating the decision to the school with board approval and setting no percentage cap at all. And a coverage trap for any directory: schools regulated or approved by the technical college system board are EXEMPT from DSPS school licensing under s. 440.61, so Wisconsin Technical College System cosmetology programs never appear in the DSPS credential list even though their graduates are fully licensable.
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional ServicesRead 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