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Cosmetology schools in Ohio

Ohio has 50 accredited campuses awarding cosmetology credentials. If you finish and work as a cosmetologist in Ohio, expect to start around $23,520–$28,030 and reach a median of $36,260 with experience; the top quarter earn $57,840 or more (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025, Ohio). Graduates of these Ohio programs — every graduate, whatever job they took — earned a median of $17,089 in their first year, against $17,178 nationally; that is the figure used to rank campuses below.

What hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists earn in Ohio

$23,520starting (10th percentile)
$28,030early career (25th)
$36,260median, all experience
$57,840experienced (75th)
$77,330top earners (90th)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; 12,890 employed in Ohio. National median: $35,790.

Campuses in Ohio, ranked by what their graduates earned

50campuses in Ohio
1,684credentials awarded / yr
$17,089median earnings, yr 1 (Ohio)
$17,178median earnings, yr 1 (U.S.)

Cities: AkronAllianceBoardmanBrecksvilleBridgeportBrunswickCanal WinchesterCantonChesapeakeChillicotheCincinnatiClevelandColumbusDaytonFairfieldHeathJeffersonLebanonLimaLorainMansfieldMentorMiddleburg HeightsMilanMount VernonNelsonvilleNew PhiladelphiaNewarkNilesNorwalkOntarioPerrysburgPortsmouthRio GrandeSmithvilleStrongsvilleSylvaniaTiffinToledoTwinsburg

CampusCityTypeGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Program debtCompletionCost / yr
Paul Mitchell the School-Columbus Columbus for-profit 81 $22,233 $9,833 81% $30,941
Aveda Fredric's Institute-Cincinnati West Chester for-profit 126 $21,232 $9,823 80% $27,852
Aveda Institute-Columbus Columbus for-profit 67 $20,826 $6,333 74% $26,656
The Spa School Columbus for-profit 92 $20,499 $7,916 70% $25,856
Salon Institute-Toledo Campus Toledo for-profit 77 $18,947 $12,000 61% $22,219
Summit Salon Academy-Perrysburg Perrysburg for-profit 33 $18,849 $7,916 85% $19,163
Ohio State School of Cosmetology-Heath Heath for-profit 39 $18,453 $9,833 84% $21,691
Ohio State School of Cosmetology-Canal Winchester Canal Winchester for-profit 32 $18,251 $9,833 61% $24,137
Paul Mitchell the School-Cincinnati Cincinnati for-profit 116 $17,949 $13,833 79% $30,859
Paul Mitchell the School-Toledo Sylvania for-profit 66 $17,949 $13,833 46% $29,848
Elite School of Cosmetology Norwalk for-profit 26 $17,098 $12,000 65% $35,636
Brown Aveda Institute-Strongsville Strongsville for-profit 60 $17,089 $7,917 85% $21,985
Brown Aveda Institute-Mentor Mentor for-profit 48 $17,089 $7,917 86% $21,311
Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Inc-Niles Niles for-profit 27 $16,665 $8,152 58% $27,078
Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Inc-Brunswick Brunswick for-profit 16 $16,665 $8,152 66% $29,388
Paul Mitchell the School-Cleveland Twinsburg for-profit 75 $16,591 $9,833 62% $31,576
Ohio State Beauty Academy Lima for-profit 44 $16,562 $9,500 57% $10,540
Moler-Pickens Beauty Academy Fairfield for-profit 50 $16,281 $6,333 96% $18,098
Moler Hollywood Beauty Academy Cincinnati for-profit 33 $16,161 $6,333 71% $13,940
Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-North Dayton Dayton for-profit 39 $16,135 $9,833 74% $16,456
Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology-South Dayton Dayton for-profit 29 $16,135 $9,833 78% $15,878
Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Inc-Alliance Alliance for-profit 106 $15,958 $6,618 66% $24,951
Warren County Career Center Lebanon Public 12 $15,850 not reported 77% $27,799
National Beauty College Canton for-profit 38 $14,977 $6,333 not reported not reported
Empire Beauty School-Cincinnati Cincinnati for-profit 45 $14,844 $16,500 44% $22,715
Casal Aveda Institute Niles for-profit 24 $14,272 $7,917 63% $19,572
Gerbers Akron Beauty School Akron for-profit 4 $14,197 not reported 60% $13,809
Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Inc-Boardman Boardman for-profit 33 $12,248 $7,444 58% $23,606
Tiffin Academy of Hair Design Tiffin for-profit 30 not reported not reported 58% $14,347
Apex Academy Hair Skin Nails School of Cosmetology Ontario for-profit 27 not reported not reported 96% $17,085
Elite Academy of Hair Design Bridgeport for-profit 27 not reported not reported 84% $18,517
Northern Institute of Cosmetology Lorain for-profit 21 not reported not reported 44% $13,083
Portage Lakes Career Center Uniontown Public 20 not reported not reported 69% $27,236
Polaris Career Center Middleburg Heights Public 17 not reported not reported 77% $17,171
EHOVE Career Center Milan Public 15 not reported not reported 96% not reported
Buckeye Hills Career Center Rio Grande Public 12 not reported not reported 90% $23,041
Paramount Beauty Academy Portsmouth for-profit 11 not reported not reported 93% $16,230
Hair Academy Chillicothe for-profit 10 not reported not reported not reported $20,378
Cuyahoga Valley Career Center Brecksville Public 9 not reported not reported 81% $32,003
Buckeye Joint Vocational School New Philadelphia Public 7 not reported not reported 88% $11,864
Remington College-Cleveland Campus Cleveland non-profit 7 not reported not reported 55% not reported
Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus Jefferson Public 5 not reported not reported 58% $14,919
Knox County Career Center Mount Vernon Public 5 not reported not reported 100% not reported
Madison Adult Career Center Mansfield Public 5 not reported not reported 85% $19,858
Tri-County Adult Career Center Nelsonville Public 5 not reported not reported 85% not reported
Wayne County Schools Career Center Smithville Public 5 not reported not reported 70% $33,356
Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County Newark Public 4 not reported not reported 79% not reported
Collins Career Technical Center Chesapeake Public 3 not reported not reported 55% $15,814
Central Ohio Technical College Newark Public 1 not reported not reported not reported not reported
Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Brunswick 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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