Cosmetic Science Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Science of developing and formulating cosmetic and personal care products.
Starting Salary
$68K
median
Mid-Career
$95K
salary
ROI Payback
3 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
2%
rate
Cosmetic Science Overview
Science of developing and formulating cosmetic and personal care products.
Category
STEM
Degree Level
Bachelor's/Master's
Graduation Rate
82%
Enrollment Trend
growing
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
5%
Lifetime Premium
$50K
Female Graduates
65%
Cosmetic Science Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$18,900
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$18,900
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$31,100
Lifetime earnings premium ($50,000) minus net degree cost ($18,900)
Cosmetic Science Salary Progression
Common Cosmetic Science Careers
Cosmetic Chemist
Product Developer
R&D Scientist
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Cosmetic Science
#1
University of Cincinnati
#2
Fairleigh Dickinson
#3
University of Toledo
#4
Long Island University
#5
IPCI
Cosmetic Science Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
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