Cosmetology school cost is one of the most significant considerations for some prospective beauty students who are trying to decide if they want to go to college or not. Compared to other academic courses that don’t require lots of supplies, there is no denying that they can be pretty expensive.
So what are the prices like when everything is included? Just how much is beauty school?
The cost can vary from state to state depending on the length of study and other factors, but a range of $5,500 to $22,000 will cover almost all programs. Community colleges, at the lower end, usually charge between $5,000 and $10,000 — and can sometimes be free. Private schools would be in the upper range, sometimes even topping at $25,000. Check out the table below for some examples in different states:
School Name | Length | Tuition Cost | Books, Kit, and Supplies | Registration and other fees | Total |
Blue Cliff College - Louisiana | 1,500 hours | $16,995 | $1,550 includes fees | included | $18,545 |
EQ School of Hair Design - Iowa | 2,100 hours | $18,750 | $1,875 | included in tuition | $20,625 |
Leon's Beauty School - North Carolina | 1,500 hours | $7,200 | $800 | $100 | $8,100 |
Grabber School of Hair Design - Missouri | 1,500 hours | $15,750 | $4,800 | $150 | $20,700 |
Hudson Valley Community College -- New York | 1,000 hours over 10 months | free if you qualify hvcc.edu/eop/ | free | free | free |
California Beauty College, CA | 1,600 hours | $16,800 | $2,664.90 | $100 | $19,564.90 |
Central Texas Beauty College - Texas | 1,500 hours | $8,700 | $875 | $125 | $9,700 |
Tuition — Why Is It So Expensive?
Tuition is the main expense for most programs in all types of education unless you are in high school. Factored into the price paid are things like the instructor’s wages, the rent for classrooms, administration, taxes, insurance, and so on. In our small sample in the table above, you can see that — unless tuition is free — the expense ranges from around $7,000 to nearly $19,000. Enter your ZIP below to find out how much schools are in your area:
When cosmetology is taught, class sizes need to be smaller than regular academic classes. For example, when arts and science students attend a lecture, it doesn’t matter how many are sitting and listening and taking notes, so there could be 100 pupils with no lack in quality of the learning experience.
However, if there are too many beauty students in a class, the instructor won’t be able to give the trainees the individual attention they need to learn and execute the techniques being taught. So smaller class sizes mean the expenses mentioned above are spread out over fewer individual pupils.
The good news is that loans are not difficult to get as long as an educational institution is accredited and recognized by state authorities. If you have genuine need, the Pell Grant and other financial aid can be applied for via fafsa.ed.gov. And considering the excellent demand for beauty specialists, you should have no problem finding a job to repay a student loan if you need one.
Books and Supplies
In beauty college, you need to spend quite a lot on top of what most other students pay. Nearly all courses require one or more books, but not many programs require the number of supplies that beauticians need.
Books for beauty classes will have an average cost of $200-$300. Supplies, though, can set you back up to $4,000, depending on where you go.
Some courses will cover several aspects of beauty, such as skin care, nail care, makeup, hair styling, and cutting. If you are required to buy tools, supplies, and equipment for all those parts of your training, it can really add up! Check out these pages for essential barber supplies students need and the same for manicurist supplies.
Example of one school’s required books and supplies:
Books:
- Cosmetology Comprehensive Overview $91
- Practical $41
- Theory $41
- Exam Review Book $30
Absolute Minimum Basic Supplies:
- Hair Clippers and attachments $50 – $150
- Shears $20 -$100
- Hair shaper razor and blades $20
- Thinning shears $25
- Mannequin head $25
- Styling combs $10
- Water sprayer $5
Accommodation and Living Expenses
This is one area where you can save a lot of money. If your chosen place to train is close to home and you can live with your parents, you’ll probably be able to cut your expenses considerably.
If you are farther from home or a mature student, you’ll possibly need financial assistance or dip into savings.
Depending on the length of the program and the cost of living in the area where you are training, you could spend $2,000/month on your room and other living expenses. Of course, if you do part of your training online, you can save a lot! You won’t need to pay for transport or extra accommodation away from home.
If you are living in a less expensive, less densely populated area, such as in a small town, you might be able to get by on half that — $10,000 — especially if you share an apartment.
Another possible solution to reducing costs is to work part-time and go to school part-time or on weekends. Of course, it will take you longer to graduate, but you won’t be in debt as much (or at all) upon graduation.
Money-Saving Ideas for Beauty School
Take a shorter course! Do you want and need a full cosmetology program? Some people have already developed a more specific interest in a particular aspect of beauty. For instance, if you don’t want to cut hair and only want to do nail care, you can drastically reduce your training time and the price. The same goes for makeup and esthetics: training time can be reduced by one-half or more.
You might also want to consider online schools though the quality of training you get without an instructor looking over your shoulder is bound to suffer.
Financial Aid
If you want to do a full cosmetology program and don’t have the funds, that shouldn’t stop you. As mentioned above, there are many options for grants and student loans. In addition, the specific institution you are applying to will sometimes offer scholarships to qualified applicants. And the nicest thing about scholarships is that they don’t have to be repaid!
Some Federal aid programs are:
- Pell Grant, as mentioned already
- Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
- Work-Study
- Perkins Loan
In short, your studies can be expensive. But don’t let money stop you from pursuing your passion. If you want to study cosmetology, the cost should not deter you. Some scholarships and grants will pay the bulk of your tuition, textbooks, supplies, and even room and board. And be diligent in your search — there may be some perfect places to train that are entirely free, especially if you are still in high school.