Career Training Path › Cosmetology schools › Wisconsin
Cosmetology schools in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has 30 accredited campuses awarding cosmetology credentials. If you finish and work as a cosmetologist in Wisconsin, expect to start around $23,790–$29,470 and reach a median of $36,230 with experience; the top quarter earn $47,060 or more (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025, Wisconsin). Graduates of these Wisconsin programs — every graduate, whatever job they took — earned a median of $20,064 in their first year, against $17,178 nationally; that is the figure used to rank campuses below.
What hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists earn in Wisconsin
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; 6,260 employed in Wisconsin. National median: $35,790.
Campuses in Wisconsin, ranked by what their graduates earned
Cities: AppletonAshwaubenonBeloitEau ClaireFennimoreFond du LacGreen BayGreenfieldJanesvilleKenoshaMadisonMilwaukeeOnalaskaPewaukeeRhinelanderRice LakeWaupunWausauWauwatosaWisconsin Rapids
| Campus | City | Type | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Program debt | Completion | Cost / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | Eau Claire | Public | 25 | $25,996 | $8,174 | 50% | not reported |
| The Institute of Beauty and Wellness | Milwaukee | for-profit | 55 | $24,507 | $6,333 | 90% | $16,190 |
| Aveda Institute-Madison | Madison | for-profit | 21 | $24,507 | $6,333 | 97% | $14,592 |
| Waukesha County Technical College | Pewaukee | Public | 32 | $24,225 | $8,675 | 44% | not reported |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Onalaska | Onalaska | for-profit | 31 | $23,830 | $12,000 | 93% | $21,829 |
| Madison Area Technical College | Madison | Public | 25 | $23,161 | $8,875 | not reported | not reported |
| The Professional Hair Design Academy | Eau Claire | for-profit | 21 | $23,126 | $10,500 | 77% | $22,783 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton | Appleton | for-profit | 10 | $22,163 | $10,311 | 82% | $23,344 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Milwaukee | Wauwatosa | for-profit | 23 | $21,541 | $10,666 | 7.7% | $24,097 |
| Advanced College of Cosmetology | Waupun | for-profit | 15 | $20,981 | $11,110 | 88% | $16,840 |
| VICI Beauty School | Greenfield | for-profit | 68 | $20,455 | $6,216 | 88% | $15,743 |
| Mid-State Technical College | Wisconsin Rapids | Public | 27 | $20,403 | $5,250 | 52% | not reported |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Madison | Madison | for-profit | 11 | $20,096 | $10,194 | not reported | not reported |
| Northwood Technical College | Rice Lake | Public | 43 | $20,032 | $5,500 | 56% | not reported |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Janesville | Janesville | for-profit | 26 | $19,749 | $13,333 | not reported | $18,821 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Kenosha | Kenosha | for-profit | 19 | $18,747 | $10,194 | 70% | $35,671 |
| Gateway Technical College | Kenosha | Public | 74 | $18,406 | $6,334 | 51% | not reported |
| Empire Beauty School-Green Bay | Ashwaubenon | for-profit | 42 | $17,698 | $12,500 | 73% | $21,059 |
| Empire Beauty School-Milwaukee | Milwaukee | for-profit | 34 | $17,698 | $12,500 | 47% | $21,954 |
| Academy of Beauty Professionals | Green Bay | for-profit | 12 | $17,147 | $9,833 | 56% | not reported |
| Academy of Beauty Professionals | Madison | for-profit | 6 | $17,147 | $9,833 | 93% | $23,360 |
| Academy of Beauty Professionals | Appleton | for-profit | 5 | $17,147 | $9,833 | 79% | not reported |
| First Class Cosmetology School | Beloit | for-profit | 29 | $13,520 | $10,194 | 87% | $23,048 |
| Moraine Park Technical College | Fond du Lac | Public | 35 | not reported | not reported | 58% | not reported |
| Fox Valley Technical College | Appleton | Public | 31 | not reported | not reported | 65% | not reported |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Public | 28 | not reported | $9,500 | 25% | not reported |
| Nicolet Area Technical College | Rhinelander | Public | 21 | not reported | not reported | 44% | not reported |
| State College of Beauty Culture Inc | Wausau | for-profit | 14 | not reported | not reported | 90% | $21,652 |
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College | Fennimore | Public | 13 | not reported | not reported | 66% | not reported |
| Northcentral Technical College | Wausau | Public | 10 | not reported | not reported | 45% | 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.