5 Best Beauty Schools in New York (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Vespera Quill, Expert in Local Experiences and Cultural Analysis · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 8 min read

Choosing a beauty school in New York usually comes down to which license you're chasing, cosmetology, makeup artistry or nail tech, and that decision matters more than the school's overall star rating. Between them, the beauty schools on this page have logged over 2,000 Google reviews, and Total Image Beauty Academy's 4.9 sits at the top with more than 600 of those behind it. The programs range from full cosmetology licensing tracks to five-week makeup-artist certificates, so what you're training for should drive the choice more than the ranking.

Short answer: Total Image Beauty Academy holds the highest rating on this list at 4.9 across 608 reviews, closely followed by Empire Beauty School (4.8, 706 reviews, the most of any New York beauty school). Both run full cosmetology licensing programs. If makeup artistry specifically is the goal, The Makeup Academy NYC and The New York Make Up Academy both sit at 4.8 with focused, shorter-format training.

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1. Empire Beauty School
2. Total Image Beauty Aca…
3. The Makeup Academy NYC
4. Formula B Parisien Bea…
5. The New York Make Up A…
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How New York's Beauty Schools Compare

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Empire Beauty School	4.8 ★	706	Cosmetology licensing / most-reviewed	View ›
2	Total Image Beauty Academy	4.9 ★	608	Highest rating / bilingual instruction	View ›
3	The Makeup Academy NYC	4.8 ★	259	Makeup artistry / fashion week training	View ›
4	Formula B Parisien Beauty School	4.7 ★	273	Spanish-language cosmetology (Queens)	View ›
5	The New York Make Up Academy	4.8 ★	237	Makeup artistry / international fashion weeks	View ›

5 Best Beauty Schools in New York (2026)

Our top picks, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Empire Beauty School

4.8706 Google reviews

Empire Beauty School is a Queens campus of the national Empire chain, offering full cosmetology licensing along with hair, skin and nail services performed by students in a working student salon. It runs Monday-through-Friday classes with community outreach events, including free day-of-beauty services for local patrons. The school has the largest Google review base of any beauty school on this list.

What people praise

Most-reviewed beauty school on this list, over 700 Google reviews
Structured, well-organized cosmetology curriculum from students' accounts
Instructors get specific praise for patience and clear teaching
Student salon lets you get real client-facing practice before graduating

Worth knowing

A few students note the schedule runs long, since it includes evening and Saturday hours

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume706 · 97th

Confidencehigh

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown89% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The most-reviewed name here and a solid, structured choice for full cosmetology licensing, backed by a large national chain's resources.

Website +1845-402-8229 Directions

38-15 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11103

#2🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Total Image Beauty Academy

4.9608 Google reviews

Total Image Beauty Academy in Union City, NJ, just across from Manhattan, offers cosmetology, skincare, nail, braiding and teacher-training programs with instruction available in Spanish. It's licensed for out-of-state transfers, so students moving their cosmetology license from another state can complete the process here. The school describes itself as building both technical skill and confidence for a beauty career.

What people praise

Highest rating on this list at 4.9 across over 600 reviews
Bilingual (Spanish/English) instruction, a specific draw for many reviewers
Staff described as treating students like family, from front desk to instructors
Handles license transfers from other states

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume608 · 92nd

Confidencehigh

Recency5 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown96% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The highest-rated full-service beauty school on this list, with bilingual instruction a genuine differentiator for Spanish-speaking students.

Website +1732-769-0069 Directions

3900 Bergenline Ave 2nd floor, Union City, NJ 07087

#3🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

The Makeup Academy NYC

4.8259 Google reviews

The Makeup Academy NYC is a Midtown makeup school with training programs that lead into fashion, editorial and bridal makeup work, plus a rentable studio space used for photo and video shoots. Students in its Master Program have worked backstage at New York Fashion Week as part of the training. The academy also runs shorter workshops in hairstyling and portfolio building for working makeup artists.

What people praise

Graduates get real backstage experience at New York Fashion Week
Studio space doubles as a professional shoot location
Instructors get consistent praise for hands-on, personalized teaching
Alumni describe strong industry connections after graduating

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume259 · 82nd

Confidencehigh

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown95% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The strongest pick specifically for makeup artistry with a fashion-industry pipeline, rather than a general cosmetology license.

Website +1888-610-9444 Directions

545 8th Ave #1015, New York, NY 10018

#4🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Formula B Parisien Beauty School

4.7273 Google reviews

Formula B Parisien Beauty School in Woodside, Queens, is the only Spanish-language beauty school on this list, run by president Carmen Ledesma and licensed by New York State's Education Department. It teaches cosmetology, barbering, nail technology, waxing and laser cosmetics, with over a decade of graduates. Classes and the site are conducted primarily in Spanish.

What people praise

Full instruction in Spanish, filling a real gap for Spanish-speaking students
Licensed by New York State to award cosmetology, barbering and nail licenses
Long track record, with reviewers citing over a decade of graduates
Instructors cited for patience with students learning multiple techniques

Worth knowing

Primarily Spanish-language instruction, so it may not suit English-only students

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume273 · 87th

Confidencehigh

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown89% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The clear choice for Spanish-speaking students in Queens seeking a full beauty license, with a long local track record behind it.

Website +1347-624-1117 Directions

50-15 Roosevelt Ave, Woodside, NY 11377

#5🕑 Open 7 days

The New York Make Up Academy

4.8237 Google reviews

The New York Make Up Academy is a Midtown makeup school offering programs from professional certificate courses to an elite artistry track, with students placed backstage at fashion weeks in New York, Miami, Dubai, Milan, London and Paris. It's internationally accredited through the International Makeup Union and runs both in-person and online formats. The school also offers a special-effects makeup track separate from its beauty and bridal programs.

What people praise

International fashion week placements across multiple cities, not just New York
Wide range of specialty tracks, including SFX makeup
Online course option for students who can't attend in person
Instructors get repeated praise for being hands-on and encouraging

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume237 · 66th

Confidencehigh

Recency5 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown94% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong alternative to The Makeup Academy NYC for students specifically chasing international fashion-week experience across multiple cities, not just New York.

Website +1718-913-2286 Directions

29 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018

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How we score

Every number on this page comes from public Google data on the date shown, not opinion or payment. Rating is each school’s live Google average. Review volume measures how many people have rated them, ranked against other New York beauty schools. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.9 from hundreds of students counts for more than a 4.9 from a dozen. Recency reflects how recently people are still leaving reviews. No school can pay to change these numbers.

How much does beauty school cost in New York? (2026)

Cosmetology licensing programs typically run far longer, and cost more, than a focused makeup-artistry certificate. None of the schools on this page publish a single price we can independently verify, so ask each one directly for current tuition, since prices also depend on financial aid and payment-plan options.

Serving all of New York

These beauty schools cover Queens, the Lower East Side, Midtown and just across the river in Union City, NJ, all within easy reach of Manhattan by subway or PATH train. Searching for a beauty school near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and address so you can check current program schedules.

What to ask before you enroll in beauty school

What license does this program prepare me for, and is the school approved by New York State?
How long is the program, and what’s the class schedule?
What’s included in tuition, kits, tools, exam fees?
Is financial aid or a payment plan available?
Does the school offer job placement help after graduation?
Is instruction available in my preferred language?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these beauty schools?

We started from beauty schools in New York with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (August 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

What’s the difference between cosmetology school and a makeup academy?

Cosmetology schools like Empire and Total Image train and license students across hair, skin and nails, typically leading to a state license. Makeup academies like The Makeup Academy NYC and The New York Make Up Academy focus specifically on makeup artistry, often without a state cosmetology license attached.

Are any of these schools Spanish-language?

Formula B Parisien Beauty School teaches primarily in Spanish, and Total Image Beauty Academy offers bilingual Spanish and English instruction.

The bottom line

If you’re after a full cosmetology license, Total Image Beauty Academy’s 4.9 rating and bilingual instruction make it the safest default, with Empire Beauty School a close, higher-volume alternative. If makeup artistry is the specific goal, either makeup academy on this list has a real fashion-week pipeline. Confirm which license or certificate the program actually leads to before enrolling.

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