Ranking

Best Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Colleges in North Carolina 2026

26 North Carolina colleges offering Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services, ranked by EduGradify value grade.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $1,776
Top earnings 10y: $38,654
Public / Private: 25 / 0

Johnston Community College

A+

Smithfield, NC · Public

ROI score: 52.52
Net price: $1,776
Earnings 10y: $37,310
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Rockingham Community College

A+

Wentworth, NC · Public

ROI score: 39.42
Net price: $2,060
Earnings 10y: $32,480
Acceptance: Open / not reported

College of the Albemarle

A+

Elizabeth City, NC · Public

ROI score: 36.88
Net price: $2,253
Earnings 10y: $33,234
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Central Piedmont Community College

A+

Charlotte, NC · Public

ROI score: 28.30
Net price: $3,345
Earnings 10y: $37,865
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Vance-Granville Community College

A+

Henderson, NC · Public

ROI score: 26.10
Net price: $3,286
Earnings 10y: $34,304
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Craven Community College

A+

New Bern, NC · Public

ROI score: 26.02
Net price: $3,289
Earnings 10y: $34,231
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Robeson Community College

A+

Lumberton, NC · Public

ROI score: 25.10
Net price: $2,892
Earnings 10y: $29,036
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Sandhills Community College

A+

Pinehurst, NC · Public

ROI score: 19.04
Net price: $4,157
Earnings 10y: $31,656
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Southwestern Community College

A+

Sylva, NC · Public

ROI score: 16.39
Net price: $5,207
Earnings 10y: $34,145
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#10

Central Carolina Community College

Sanford, NC · Public

ROI score: 15.39
Net price: $5,446
Earnings 10y: $33,525
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#11

Mayland Community College

Spruce Pine, NC · Public

ROI score: 14.79
Net price: $5,861
Earnings 10y: $34,663
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#12

Western Piedmont Community College

Morganton, NC · Public

ROI score: 13.26
Net price: $6,448
Earnings 10y: $34,195
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#13

Roanoke-Chowan Community College

Ahoskie, NC · Public

ROI score: 13.16
Net price: $5,570
Earnings 10y: $29,324
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#14

Haywood Community College

Clyde, NC · Public

ROI score: 12.93
Net price: $6,723
Earnings 10y: $34,770
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#15

Mitchell Community College

Statesville, NC · Public

ROI score: 12.84
Net price: $6,481
Earnings 10y: $33,298
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#16

McDowell Technical Community College

Marion, NC · Public

ROI score: 10.61
Net price: $7,784
Earnings 10y: $33,035
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#17

Tri-County Community College

Murphy, NC · Public

ROI score: 10.33
Net price: $7,799
Earnings 10y: $32,232
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#18

Brunswick Community College

Bolivia, NC · Public

ROI score: 10.18
Net price: $9,009
Earnings 10y: $36,668
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#19

Cape Fear Community College

Wilmington, NC · Public

ROI score: 10.06
Net price: $9,610
Earnings 10y: $38,654
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#20

Coastal Carolina Community College

Jacksonville, NC · Public

ROI score: 9.63
Net price: $9,461
Earnings 10y: $36,444
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#21

Catawba Valley Community College

Hickory, NC · Public

ROI score: 8.78
Net price: $10,528
Earnings 10y: $36,977
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#22

Halifax Community College

Weldon, NC · Public

ROI score: 8.75
Net price: $9,040
Earnings 10y: $31,644
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#23

Southeastern Community College

Whiteville, NC · Public

ROI score: 8.28
Net price: $9,148
Earnings 10y: $30,284
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#24

Bladen Community College

Dublin, NC · Public

ROI score: 8.01
Net price: $9,551
Earnings 10y: $30,591
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#25

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute

Hudson, NC · Public

ROI score: 7.98
Net price: $10,810
Earnings 10y: $34,515
Acceptance: Open / not reported

How we picked this list

This list starts with North Carolina schools with positive Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services program-share evidence, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 17.79 (25 public, 0 private).

Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Johnston Community College in Smithfield, NC tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A+.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many North Carolina colleges are in this list?

26 North Carolina colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.