Cosmetology programs in Minnesota
22 cosmetology programs at 18 Minnesota schools are in the federal data. Where earnings are reported (13 programs), the state median is $26,789 one year after completion, 16% above the national median of $23,061. Median borrower debt is $10,268.
| School | City | Program | Credential | Completers/yr | 1-yr earnings | Median debt | Monthly payment* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Paul College | Saint Paul, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | 118 | $33,280 | $12,316 | $140 |
| Nova Academy of Cosmetology | Rochester, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | 132 | $32,641 | $9,999 | $114 |
| Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis | Minneapolis, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | 313 | $31,243 | $10,194 | $116 |
| PCI Academy-Plymouth | Plymouth, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | 93 | $29,449 | $9,388 | $107 |
| Century College | White Bear Lake, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | 63 | $27,457 | $13,733 | $156 |
| Ridgewater College | Willmar, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | 31 | $27,239 | $10,679 | $121 |
| Model College of Hair Design | Saint Cloud, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | 93 | $26,789 | $8,780 | $100 |
| Riverland Community College | Austin, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | 16 | $26,415 | $11,000 | $125 |
| Empire Beauty School-Bloomington | Bloomington, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | 95 | $26,071 | $11,003 | $125 |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Granite Falls, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | 23 | $23,787 | $12,000 | $136 |
| Empire Beauty School-Spring Lake Park | Spring Lake Park, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | 42 | $23,015 | $14,177 | $161 |
| Minnesota State College Southeast | Winona, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | 26 | $22,784 | $9,500 | $108 |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Fergus Falls, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | 40 | $18,601 | $10,268 | $117 |
| Northwest Technical College | Bemidji, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | – | not reported | – | – |
| Saint Paul College | Saint Paul, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | – | – |
| Ridgewater College | Willmar, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 10 | not reported | – | – |
| Minnesota State College Southeast | Winona, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | – | – |
| Century College | White Bear Lake, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | – | – |
| Hastings Beauty School | Hastings, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | 9 | not reported | $10,194 | $116 |
| Avalon School of Cosmetology | Worthington, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | 23 | not reported | – | – |
| The Salon Professional Academy Maplewood | Maplewood, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | 54 | not reported | $6,416 | $73 |
| Townsend Barber Institute | Roseville, MN | Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate | – | not reported | – | – |
*Scorecard's estimated monthly payment on the median debt over 10 years. “Not reported” means the Department suppressed or did not publish the figure.
Compare schools near you
Use the data on this page to shortlist two or three schools, then contact them directly with the links provided. Ask each school the questions listed on the page.
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Before you choose a cosmetology school in Minnesota
Every state licenses cosmetologists and sets its own required training hours, so a program must meet your state board's hour requirement to let you sit for the licensing exam. Check the state board first.
- Does the program meet my state board's required hours?
- What is the board exam pass rate for graduates?
- How are kit and supply costs billed?
More programs in Minnesota
All Minnesota programs · Cosmetology, Barbering & Esthetics nationwide
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study and Institution files (release dated 10/15/2026). Earnings are median annual earnings of completers working and not enrolled one year after finishing; debt is median federal loan debt of borrowers; both describe past cohorts and small programs are suppressed by the Department. See our methodology.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best-paying cosmetology program in Minnesota?
By reported one-year earnings, Saint Paul College leads at $33,280 in the certificate program, but compare cost and local jobs too.
How many cosmetology programs are in Minnesota?
The Scorecard lists 22 certificate or associate programs in this field at 18 schools in Minnesota.