Federal data
Highest earning certificate cosmetology programs in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania cosmetology programs, ranked by median earnings one year after completion, from the College Scorecard field-of-study file (September 18, 2026). Only programs with at least 30 counted graduates in the earnings sample are shown, and at least 5 programs must qualify for this list to exist.
| Rank | School | City | Sector | Median earnings, 1 year after | Graduates counted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metro Beauty Academy | Allentown | For-profit, under 2-year | $21,226 | 84 |
| 2 | Penn Commercial Business/Technical School | Washington | For-profit, 2-year | $20,871 | 46 |
| 3 | South Hills Beauty Academy | Pittsburgh | For-profit, under 2-year | $20,852 | 190 |
| 4 | Douglas Education Center | Monessen | For-profit, 2-year | $20,532 | 50 |
| 5 | Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork | Lancaster | For-profit, under 2-year | $19,624 | 142 |
| 6 | The Salon Professional Academy | Altoona | For-profit, under 2-year | $19,048 | 109 |
| 7 | Empire Beauty School | Pottsville | For-profit, under 2-year | $18,639 | 721 |
| 8 | Premier Barber Institute | Norristown | For-profit, under 2-year | $18,424 | 35 |
| 9 | Altoona Beauty School Inc | Altoona | For-profit, under 2-year | $18,188 | 55 |
| 10 | Barber School of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | For-profit, under 2-year | $17,890 | 85 |
| 11 | Laurel Technical Institute | Hermitage | For-profit, 2-year | $17,251 | 48 |
| 12 | Great Lakes Institute of Technology | Erie | For-profit, 2-year | $16,280 | 89 |
| 13 | Bella Capelli Academy | Monroeville | For-profit, under 2-year | $16,192 | 202 |
Earnings cover federally aided graduates only, as published by College Scorecard.
How to read this. A smaller program can show a high or low figure from just a few graduates, and this earnings figure only ever covers students who received federal aid, so it does not describe every graduate.