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Cosmetology schools in New York

New York has 39 accredited campuses awarding cosmetology credentials. If you finish and work as a cosmetologist in New York, expect to start around $33,960–$34,580 and reach a median of $35,760 with experience; the top quarter earn $58,320 or more (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025, New York). Graduates of these New York programs — every graduate, whatever job they took — earned a median of $17,969 in their first year, against $17,178 nationally; that is the figure used to rank campuses below.

What hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists earn in New York

$33,960starting (10th percentile)
$34,580early career (25th)
$35,760median, all experience
$58,320experienced (75th)
$88,540top earners (90th)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; 20,740 employed in New York. National median: $35,790.

Campuses in New York, ranked by what their graduates earned

39campuses in New York
2,062credentials awarded / yr
$17,969median earnings, yr 1 (New York)
$17,178median earnings, yr 1 (U.S.)

Cities: AlbanyAstoriaBronxBrooklynCheektowagaElmiraFlushingForest HillsHauppaugeHempsteadIslandiaLathamLevittownLiverpoolMattydaleMount VernonNanuetNew YorkNorthportOakdalePeekskillPlattsburghRiverheadRochesterSchenectadyStaten IslandTonawandaWest SenecaWilliamsville

CampusCityTypeGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Program debtCompletionCost / yr
New York Institute of Beauty Islandia for-profit 59 $23,968 $5,456 87% $30,066
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-New York New York for-profit 87 $23,006 $6,333 80% $25,321
Aesthetic Science Institute Latham for-profit 14 $22,752 $3,666 94% $13,325
Arrojo Cosmetology School New York for-profit 108 $21,760 $6,500 98% $25,579
Erie 1 BOCES West Seneca Public 67 $20,847 $5,023 96% $17,365
Christine Valmy International School for Esthetics, Skin Care & Makeup New York for-profit 3 $20,655 $5,250 94% $18,364
Continental School of Beauty Culture-Mattydale Mattydale for-profit 86 $20,359 $6,333 82% $24,833
Continental School of Beauty Culture-Rochester Rochester for-profit 73 $20,359 $6,333 70% $18,380
The Salon Professional Academy-Tonawanda Tonawanda for-profit 56 $20,006 $6,333 71% $20,816
Schuyler Steuben Chemung Tioga Allegany BOCES Elmira Public 36 $19,796 $5,500 75% $26,025
Western Suffolk BOCES Northport Public 18 $18,885 $5,278 84% not reported
Continental School of Beauty Culture-West Seneca West Seneca for-profit 21 $18,814 $6,333 78% $17,709
Shear Ego International School of Hair Design Rochester for-profit 80 $18,280 $6,077 91% $34,853
Paul Mitchell the School-Schenectady Schenectady for-profit 41 $18,237 $6,492 94% $27,283
Empire Beauty School-Buffalo Cheektowaga for-profit 43 $18,217 $11,743 46% $22,293
Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES Liverpool Public 18 $18,185 not reported 73% $27,908
Empire Beauty School-Manhattan New York for-profit 193 $17,754 $10,667 51% $24,504
Empire Beauty School-Brooklyn Brooklyn for-profit 85 $17,754 $10,667 not reported not reported
Empire Beauty School-Rochester Rochester for-profit 45 $17,754 $10,667 61% $22,977
Capri Cosmetology Learning Centers Nanuet for-profit 129 $17,716 $6,012 89% $23,158
Brittany Beauty Academy Brooklyn for-profit 41 $17,584 $6,333 54% $28,596
Long Island Beauty School-Hempstead Hempstead for-profit 59 $17,578 $9,500 89% $34,183
Empire Beauty School-Peekskill Peekskill for-profit 33 $17,144 $10,599 89% $23,093
Long Island Beauty School-Hauppauge Hauppauge for-profit 92 $16,814 $6,265 75% $29,063
Brittany Beauty Academy Levittown for-profit 62 $16,113 $6,333 94% $25,065
Brittany Beauty Academy Bronx for-profit 28 $16,113 $6,333 72% $27,725
Career School of NY Staten Island non-profit 14 $16,087 not reported 82% $9,753
Empire Beauty School-Queens Astoria for-profit 106 $15,988 $12,000 61% $23,382
Grace International Beauty School Flushing for-profit 66 $14,179 not reported not reported not reported
Paul Mitchell the School-NYC Staten Island for-profit 44 $12,203 $5,500 84% $28,772
American Beauty School Bronx for-profit 53 not reported not reported 50% $20,087
Berkowits School of Electrolysis Forest Hills for-profit 51 not reported $6,333 84% not reported
Westchester School of Beauty Culture Mount Vernon for-profit 46 not reported not reported 77% $19,386
Orlo School of Hair Design and Cosmetology Albany for-profit 45 not reported not reported 77% $20,096
Eastern Suffolk BOCES Oakdale Public 24 not reported not reported 76% $15,960
Eastern Suffolk BOCES Riverhead Public 15 not reported not reported 86% $17,758
Leon Studio One School of Beauty Knowledge Williamsville for-profit 15 not reported not reported 100% $25,492
Clinton Essex Warren Washington BOCES Plattsburgh Public 6 not reported not reported 89% $19,642
Beauty Culture Academy Staten Island not reported not reported not reported not reported

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Ranked by median earnings of this program's graduates one year after completion (College Scorecard field-of-study, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026); campuses without a reported figure follow, by credentials awarded. "Program debt" is the median federal loan debt for graduates of this program at this campus. Completion is the campus-wide 150%-of-time rate. "Not reported" means the federal file suppresses the value for privacy.

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