Hair Styling and Design: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Specialized training in hair styling and design equips individuals with the technical expertise and creative insight needed to excel in the dynamic field of personal grooming and beauty. This comprehensive program emphasizes both artistic expression and professional standards, preparing students for licensure as skilled cosmetologists, hairdressers, or barbers across diverse settings.
- Hair design theory and concepts: Explores foundational principles of form, balance, proportion, and trend forecasting to guide creative hair styling and visual presentation.
- Hair anatomy and physiology: Provides in-depth understanding of hair structure, growth cycles, and scalp health to inform safe and effective styling and treatment practices.
- Hair coloring and chemical applications: Covers the science and technique behind color formulation, toning, highlights, and permanent wave processes, including safety protocols.
- Scalp health and disease management: Focuses on identifying common scalp conditions and implementing appropriate treatments to support overall hair wellness.
- Hair cutting and styling techniques: Develops proficiency in precision cutting, texturizing, layering, and styling methods for various hair types and client needs.
- Hair braiding and extension application: Teaches advanced braiding patterns, knotting techniques, and integration of extensions for protective and decorative styling.
- Wig and hairpiece fitting: Trains students in selecting, customizing, and fitting prosthetic hair systems to achieve natural, client-specific results.
- Customer service and client consultation: Builds interpersonal skills for assessing client needs, managing expectations, and delivering personalized service experiences.
- Health, safety, and sanitation protocols: Ensures compliance with hygiene standards and safety regulations to maintain a professional and secure salon environment.
- Shop management and industry regulations: Introduces operational fundamentals, including scheduling, inventory control, billing, and adherence to local and state licensing laws.
Hair Styling and Design Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Hair Styling and Design Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Hair Styling and Design degrees, including Barbers and Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 313,560 professionals.
National Average Salaries
Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
Barbers 39-5011 | $38,960 | $27,770 - $78,440 | 18,100 | $18.73 |
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists 39-5012 | $35,250 | $24,580 - $70,220 | 295,460 | $16.95 |
Hair Styling and Design Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $25,575 in Arkansas to $75,210 in District of Columbia—a 194% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Washington, and Iowa. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 313,560 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Hair Styling and Design by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 90 institutions offering Hair Styling and Design programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Hair Styling and Design is found at Futura Career Institute (216 graduates), Parisian Beauty School (204 graduates), Clarendon College (100 graduates), Penrose Academy (60 graduates), and Shear Excellence Hair Academy (54 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,386 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Futura Career Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
216 | Hialeah, Florida | Private | futuracareerinstitute.net |
Parisian Beauty School |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
204 | Hackensack, New Jersey | Private | paulmitchell.edu |
Clarendon College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
100 | Clarendon, Texas | Public | clarendoncollege.edu |
Penrose Academy |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
60 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Private | penrose.edu |
Shear Excellence Hair Academy |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
54 | Tampa, Florida | Private | shearexcell.edu |
Northland Pioneer College (NPC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
44 | Holbrook, Arizona | Public | npc.edu |
Century College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
26 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | centurycollege.edu |
Studio Academy of Beauty |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
26 | Chandler, Arizona | Private | tsaob.com |
NUC University (NUC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
25 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) |
Other Award
|
24 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Public | faytechcc.edu |
Mountainland Technical College (MTECH) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
24 | Lehi, Utah | Public | mtec.edu |
TIGI Hairdressing Academy (TIGI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
24 | Guilford, Connecticut | Private | tigiguilford.edu |
Academy of Hair Design |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
22 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Private | ahdvegas.com |
Salon Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
22 | Toledo, Ohio | Private | saloninstitute.edu |
Johnny Matthew's Hairdressing Training School |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
22 | Salem, Oregon | Private | johnnymatthews.com |
Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
21 | West Jordan, Utah | Private | taylorandrew.com |
Boca Beauty Academy |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
20 | Boca Raton, Florida | Private | bocabeautyacademy.edu |
Phagans School of Hair Design |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
18 | Happy Valley, Oregon | Private | phagans.com |
Aveda Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
17 | Denver, Colorado | Private | avedainspiregreatness.com |
Phagans Central Oregon Beauty College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
16 | Bend, Oregon | Private | phagans-schools.com |
The Barber School |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
16 | Midvale, Utah | Private | thebarberschool.com |
Emma's Beauty Academy |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
15 | Mayaguez, Puerto Rico | Private | emmasbeautyacademy.net |
Aveda Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
14 | Portland, Oregon | Private | avedapdx.com |
Summit Salon Academy |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
13 | Tigard, Oregon | Private | summitsalonacademyportland.com |
Aveda Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
13 | Tempe, Arizona | Private | avedainspiregreatness.com |
Cameo College of Essential Beauty |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
12 | Murray, Utah | Private | cameocollege.com |
Davis Technical College (DATC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
12 | Kaysville, Utah | Public | davistech.edu |
Clarksburg Beauty Academy and School of Massage Therapy |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
12 | Clarksburg, West Virginia | Private | clarksburgbeautyacademywv.com |
Huntington School of Beauty Culture |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
12 | Huntington, West Virginia | Private | huntingtonschoolofbeauty.com |
Keune Academy by 124 |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
12 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Private | keuneacademyby124.edu |
Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
12 | Provo, Utah | Private | taylorandrew.com |
Phagans Grants Pass College of Beauty |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
11 | Grants Pass, Oregon | Private | phagans-schools.com |
Paul Mitchell the School (PMTS) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
11 | Holladay, Utah | Private | paulmitchell.edu |
Trenz Beauty Academy |
Other Award
|
11 | Calumet City, Illinois | Private | trenzbeautyacademy.com |
Academy of Cosmetology |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
10 | Merritt Island, Florida | Private | academyofcosmetology.edu |
Northwest College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
10 | Springfield, Oregon | Private | nwcollege.edu |
Beau Monde Academy of Barbering and Cosmetology |
Other Award
|
10 | Portland, Oregon | Private | beaumondeacademy.com |
Victoria's Academy of Cosmetology |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | Kennewick, Washington | Private | victoriasacademy.edu |
Aveda Institute Portland |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
8 | Vancouver, Washington | Private | avedapdx.com |
MAK Beauty Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
8 | Cumming, Georgia | Private | makbeautyinstitute.com |
Eastern Arizona College (EAC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Thatcher, Arizona | Public | eac.edu |
MTI College (MTI) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
7 | Sacramento, California | Private | campus.edu |
Phagans Beauty College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Corvallis, Oregon | Private | phagans-schools.com |
Emma's Beauty Academy |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico | Private | ebajuanadiaz.com |
Daytona College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Ormond Beach, Florida | Private | daytonacollege.edu |
United Beauty College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Denver, Colorado | Private | ubcdenver.edu |
Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) |
Other Award
|
6 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Public | fvtc.edu |
GateWay Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
6 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | gatewaycc.edu |
Tigi Hairdressing Academy |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
6 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Private | tigihairdressingacademy.com |
Paul Mitchell the School (PMTS) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
6 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Private | paulmitchell.edu |
Barber and Beauty Academy of Pennsylvania |
Other Award
|
6 | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | Private | barberandbeautyacademyofpa.com |
Olympian Academy of Cosmetology |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
5 | LAS CRUCES, New Mexico | Private | olympianacademy.edu |
Phagans Medford Beauty School |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
5 | Medford, Oregon | Private | phagans-schools.com |
Liceo de Arte-Dise-O y Comercio |
Other Award
|
5 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | Private | liceocaguas.com |
Pineville Beauty School |
Residency
|
4 | Pineville, Louisiana | Private | pinevillebeauty.com |
Northwest College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Happy Valley, Oregon | Private | nwcollege.edu |
International Beauty School 4 |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Martinsburg, West Virginia | Private | theinternationalbeautyschool.com |
Brown Aveda Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Strongsville, Ohio | Private | brownaveda.com |
Aveda Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Bel Air, Maryland | Private | avedainstitutemd.edu |
The Spa School |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | salonschools.ohiostate.edu |
College of Hair Design Careers (CHDC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Salem, Oregon | Private | collegeofhairdesigncareers.com |
Phagans School of Beauty |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Salem, Oregon | Private | phagans-schools.com |
Ohio State School of Cosmetology (OSSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Heath, Ohio | Private | salonschools.ohiostate.edu |
Tucson College of Beauty (TCOB) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Tucson, Arizona | Private | tucsoncollegeofbeauty.com |
Aveda Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Provo, Utah | Private | avedainstituteprovo.com |
Renaissance Academie |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Provo, Utah | Private | race.edu |
Northwest College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Medford, Oregon | Private | nwcollege.edu |
IBS School of Cosmetology and Massage |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Kahului, Hawaii | Private | ibs-hi.com |
Winonah's International School of Cosmetology |
Residency
|
3 | Hoover, Alabama | Private | winonah.net |
Celebrity Stylist Beauty School |
Other Award
|
2 | Monroe, Louisiana | Private | celebritystylistbeautyschool.com |
Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Morganton, North Carolina | Public | wpcc.edu |
Ohio State School of Cosmetology |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | CANAL WINCHESTER, Ohio | Private | salonschools.ohiostate.edu |
Northwest College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Beaverton, Oregon | Private | nwcollege.edu |
Everett Community College (EvCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Everett, Washington | Public | everettcc.edu |
Charleston School of Beauty Culture |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Charleston, West Virginia | Private | wvcsbc.net |
Morgantown Beauty College Inc |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Private | morgantownbeautycollege.edu |
Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Torrington, Wyoming | Public | ewc.wy.edu |
Cheeks Beauty Academy |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Cheyenne, Wyoming | Private | cheeksusa.com |
Cheeks Beauty Academy |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Loveland, Colorado | Private | cheeksusa.com |
Turning Point Beauty College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Chandler, Arizona | Private | turningpointbeauty.com |
Paul Mitchell the School (PMTS) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Private | paulmitchell.edu |
Sierra Academy of Style |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Carson City, Nevada | Private | sascarsoncity.com |
Northern Michigan University (NMU) |
Other Award
|
1 | Marquette, Michigan | Public | nmu.edu |
Laurel Business Institute (LBI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Uniontown, Pennsylvania | Private | laurel.edu |
International Academy of Style |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Reno, Nevada | Private | internationalacademyofstyle.com |
Northwest College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Tualatin, Oregon | Private | nwcollege.edu |
Aveda Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Tucson, Arizona | Private | avedainstitutetucson.com |
Bonnie Joseph Academy of Cosmetology & Barbering |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Heber City, Utah | Private | bonniejosephacademy.edu |
International Beauty Education Center (IBEC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Airway Heights, Washington | Private | spokanebeautyschool.com |
Zorganics Institute of Beauty and Wellness |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Bellingham, Washington | Private | zorganicsinstitute.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Hair Styling and Design programs
How much can I earn with a Hair Styling and Design degree?
Salaries for Hair Styling and Design graduates vary by role and location. Barbers earn a median of $38,960 annually, while Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists earn around $35,250. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $75,210 compared to $25,575 in Arkansas. Approximately 313,560 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Hair Styling and Design programs?
Currently 90 accredited institutions offer Hair Styling and Design degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Futura Career Institute (216 graduates), Parisian Beauty School (204 graduates), and Clarendon College (100 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Hair Styling and Design growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,481 in 2010 to 1,386 in 2023-24. This represents a 6% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Hair Styling and Design degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Barbers, Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists, . Related occupations employ approximately 313,560 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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