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Cosmetology schools
1,420 colleges and career schools report cosmetology programs to IPEDS, with 56,301 completions in 2023-24.
Cosmetology Schools by state
| State | Programs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 25 | $29,150 |
| Arkansas | 25 | $28,830 |
| Arizona | 22 | $36,810 |
| California | 125 | $38,660 |
| Colorado | 27 | $37,690 |
| Connecticut | 9 | $44,620 |
| District of Columbia | 2 | $54,570 |
| Delaware | 4 | $34,350 |
| Florida | 109 | $29,530 |
| Georgia | 44 | $34,560 |
| Hawaii | 3 | $35,040 |
| Iowa | 18 | $35,700 |
| Idaho | 14 | $35,480 |
| Illinois | 61 | $34,040 |
| Indiana | 29 | $32,830 |
| Kansas | 21 | $29,710 |
| Kentucky | 24 | $29,840 |
| Louisiana | 30 | $26,030 |
| Massachusetts | 16 | $37,290 |
| Maryland | 16 | $36,420 |
| Maine | 3 | $44,000 |
| Michigan | 41 | $34,820 |
| Minnesota | 18 | $39,170 |
| Missouri | 25 | $30,750 |
| Mississippi | 26 | $27,560 |
| Montana | 5 | $38,000 |
| North Carolina | 64 | $38,410 |
| North Dakota | 4 | $34,850 |
| Nebraska | 5 | $34,320 |
| New Hampshire | 5 | $34,650 |
| New Jersey | 22 | $36,150 |
| New Mexico | 15 | $37,750 |
| Nevada | 11 | $33,840 |
| New York | 34 | $35,760 |
| Ohio | 49 | $36,260 |
| Oklahoma | 44 | $29,650 |
| Oregon | 17 | $57,580 |
| Pennsylvania | 54 | $36,790 |
| Rhode Island | 3 | $31,200 |
| South Carolina | 25 | $33,700 |
| South Dakota | 4 | $49,800 |
| Tennessee | 44 | $31,310 |
| Texas | 137 | $30,680 |
| Utah | 25 | $35,140 |
| Virginia | 19 | Not published |
| Vermont | 1 | $48,650 |
| Washington | 22 | $59,510 |
| Wisconsin | 30 | $36,230 |
| West Virginia | 11 | $34,480 |
| Wyoming | 3 | $29,170 |
Programs counts IPEDS schools. Median pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual.
Cosmetology Schools in the largest metro areas
- Los Angeles area42 programs · median pay $43,500
- Chicago area43 programs · median pay $34,260
- Miami area34 programs · median pay $29,790
- New York area36 programs · median pay $36,120
- Dallas area23 programs · median pay $33,960
- Houston area20 programs · median pay $31,080
- Philadelphia area18 programs · median pay $37,320
- Riverside area16 programs · median pay $36,410
- San Antonio area16 programs · median pay $30,460
- Pittsburgh area14 programs · median pay $38,100
- Tampa area13 programs · median pay $29,520
- Jacksonville area10 programs · median pay $28,900
- San Diego area10 programs · median pay $37,290
- San Francisco area10 programs · median pay $42,400
- Austin area8 programs · median pay $35,220
- Sacramento area8 programs · median pay $36,780
- Cape Coral area7 programs · median pay $29,760
- Cincinnati area7 programs · median pay $36,790
- Cleveland area7 programs · median pay $35,640
- Columbus area7 programs · median pay $36,260
- Orlando area7 programs · median pay $29,470
- Fresno area6 programs · median pay $35,880
- McAllen area6 programs · median pay $27,310
- Buffalo area5 programs · median pay $32,950
Paying for cosmetology training
Cosmetology questions, answered from the data
How long is cosmetology training?
Among 1,141 certificate programs that report a length to IPEDS, the middle one takes 11 months; half take between 10 months and 13 months. Clock-hour programs run 1,200 to 1,500 hours (middle 1,500).
How much does a cosmetology program cost?
The middle whole-program tuition among 1,137 certificate programs reporting one to IPEDS for 2024-25 is $16,750; half cost between $13,750 and $19,260.
What do hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists earn?
The national median annual wage for hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists was $35,790 in May 2025 ($17 an hour), from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; the lowest-paid tenth earned under $27,040.