Researched shortlist · reviewed 23 October 2026
Best Cosmetology Schools: Researched Shortlist
An unranked shortlist of verified cosmetology programs that publish enough checkable detail to compare.
An explicitly unranked editorial shortlist: grouped by kind of provider and alphabetical within each group. Numerical ranking is not defensible with the evidence available, and no school paid to be included.
Beauty, cosmetology and barber schools
Aspen Beauty Academy - Laurel: Cosmetology
Cosmetology school · Laurel, Maryland, United States
No formal awardPrior qualification required$20,790 whole program, classes starting 11/09/2026
Why it is here: Cosmetology school that publishes 1,500 contact hours; publishes tuition ($20,790, full program); states its entry requirements; states whether a kit is included.
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: practice and assessment arrangements are not published; no recognition record is on file.
Empire Beauty School (Florida campuses): Cosmetology
Beauty school / academy · Tampa, Florida, United States
No formal awardEntry requirements not publishedPrice not published
Why it is here: Beauty school / academy that publishes 1,200 contact hours; describes how practice and assessment work; states whether a kit is included; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: tuition is not published; entry requirements are not published.
Eric Fisher Academy: Cosmetology
Cosmetology school · Wichita, Kansas, United States
CosmetologyEntry requirements not published$18,000 whole program
Why it is here: Cosmetology school that publishes 1,500 contact hours; publishes tuition ($18,000, full program); states whether a kit is included; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: entry requirements are not published; practice and assessment arrangements are not published.
Millennium Beauty Institute: Cosmetology
Cosmetology school · Norcross, Georgia, United States
CosmetologyEntry requirements not published$19,000 whole program
Why it is here: Cosmetology school that publishes 1,500 contact hours; publishes tuition ($19,000, full program); states whether a kit is included; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: entry requirements are not published; practice and assessment arrangements are not published.
Nathan Layne Institute: Cosmetology
Beauty school / academy · Boise, Idaho, United States
CosmetologyEntry requirements not published$20,868 whole program
Why it is here: Beauty school / academy that publishes 1,600 contact hours; publishes tuition ($20,868, full program); describes how practice and assessment work; states whether a kit is included; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: entry requirements are not published.
Paul Mitchell the School Nashville: Cosmetology
Cosmetology school · Hendersonville, Tennessee, United States
No formal awardEntry requirements not published$18,900 whole program
Why it is here: Cosmetology school that publishes 1,500 contact hours; publishes tuition ($18,900, full program); describes how practice and assessment work; has a recognition record verified in an official register.
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: entry requirements are not published; kit inclusion is not published.
Sami Halaseh Institute: Cosmetology
Cosmetology school · Andover, Kansas, United States
CosmetologyEntry requirements not published$16,885 whole program
Why it is here: Cosmetology school that publishes 1,500 contact hours; publishes tuition ($16,885, full program); states whether a kit is included; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: entry requirements are not published; practice and assessment arrangements are not published.
San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology: Cosmetology (1000 hour)
Cosmetology school · San Francisco, California, United States
No formal awardEntry requirements not published$18,000 whole program
Why it is here: Cosmetology school that publishes 1,000 contact hours; publishes tuition ($18,000, full program); states whether a kit is included; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: entry requirements are not published; practice and assessment arrangements are not published.
Shore Beauty School: Cosmetology & Hairstyling
Cosmetology school · Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, United States
No formal awardPrior qualification requiredPrice not published
Why it is here: Cosmetology school that publishes 1,200 contact hours; states its entry requirements; describes how practice and assessment work; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: tuition is not published; kit inclusion is not published.
Specialist and brand academies
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Atlanta: Cosmetology
Brand-operated academy · Atlanta, Georgia, United States
CosmetologyEntry requirements not published$20,350 whole program
Why it is here: Brand-operated academy that publishes 1,500 contact hours; publishes tuition ($20,350, full program); states whether a kit is included; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: entry requirements are not published; practice and assessment arrangements are not published.
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Charlotte: Cosmetology
Brand-operated academy · Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
No formal awardPrior qualification required$20,700 whole program
Why it is here: Brand-operated academy that publishes 1,500 contact hours; publishes tuition ($20,700, full program); states its entry requirements; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: practice and assessment arrangements are not published; kit inclusion is not published.
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute New York: Cosmetology
Brand-operated academy · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States
No formal awardPrior qualification required$19,350 whole program
Why it is here: Brand-operated academy that publishes 1,000 contact hours; publishes tuition ($19,350, full program); states its entry requirements; describes how practice and assessment work; states whether a kit is included; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Brown Aveda Institute: Cosmetology (Hair, Skin and Nails) - Mentor
Brand-operated academy · Mentor, Ohio, United States
No formal awardEntry requirements not published$21,190 whole program
Why it is here: Brand-operated academy that publishes 1,500 contact hours; publishes tuition ($21,190, full program); states whether a kit is included; has a recognition record verified in an official register.
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: entry requirements are not published; practice and assessment arrangements are not published.
Paul Mitchell The School Costa Mesa: Cosmetology
Brand-operated academy · Costa Mesa, California, United States
No formal awardEntry requirements not published$14,500 whole program
Why it is here: Brand-operated academy that publishes 1,000 contact hours; publishes tuition ($14,500, full program); describes how practice and assessment work; states whether a kit is included; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: entry requirements are not published.
Paul Mitchell The School Grand Rapids: Cosmetology
Brand-operated academy · Kentwood, Michigan, United States
No formal awardPrior qualification required$18,150 whole program
Why it is here: Brand-operated academy that publishes 1,500 contact hours; publishes tuition ($18,150, full program); states its entry requirements; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: practice and assessment arrangements are not published; kit inclusion is not published.
Paul Mitchell The School Las Vegas: Cosmetology
Brand-operated academy · Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
No formal awardPrior qualification required$22,497.08 whole program
Why it is here: Brand-operated academy that publishes 1,600 contact hours; publishes tuition ($22,497.08, full program); states its entry requirements; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: practice and assessment arrangements are not published; kit inclusion is not published.
Paul Mitchell The School Michigan: Cosmetology
Brand-operated academy · Sterling Heights, Michigan, United States
No formal awardPrior qualification required$22,500 whole program
Why it is here: Brand-operated academy that publishes 1,500 contact hours; publishes tuition ($22,500, full program); states its entry requirements; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: practice and assessment arrangements are not published; kit inclusion is not published.
Paul Mitchell the School Missouri Columbia: Cosmetology All
Brand-operated academy · Columbia, Missouri, United States
No formal awardPrior qualification required$16,080 whole program
Why it is here: Brand-operated academy that publishes 1,500 contact hours; publishes tuition ($16,080, full program); states its entry requirements; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: practice and assessment arrangements are not published; kit inclusion is not published.
Paul Mitchell The School Portsmouth: Cosmetology
Brand-operated academy · Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States
No formal awardPrior qualification required$20,330 whole program
Why it is here: Brand-operated academy that publishes 1,500 contact hours; publishes tuition ($20,330, full program); states its entry requirements; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: practice and assessment arrangements are not published; kit inclusion is not published.
Paul Mitchell The School Reno: Cosmetology
Brand-operated academy · Reno, Nevada, United States
No formal awardPrior qualification required$19,705.09 whole program
Why it is here: Brand-operated academy that publishes 1,600 contact hours; publishes tuition ($19,705.09, full program); states its entry requirements; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: practice and assessment arrangements are not published; kit inclusion is not published.
Colleges and universities
Meridian Technology Center: Cosmetology - Evening (adult)
College · Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States
No formal awardApplication or interview$4,500 whole program
Why it is here: College that publishes 1,250 contact hours; publishes tuition ($4,500, full program); states its entry requirements; describes how practice and assessment work.
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: kit inclusion is not published; no recognition record is on file.
San Diego City College - School of Cosmetology: Cosmetology
College · San Diego, California, United States
No formal awardEntry requirements not published$1,104 whole program, in-state residents
Why it is here: College that publishes 1,000 contact hours; publishes tuition ($1,104, full program); describes how practice and assessment work; states whether a kit is included; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: entry requirements are not published.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville: Cosmetology
College · Nashville, Tennessee, United States
No formal awardPrior qualification required$7,306 whole program
Why it is here: College that publishes 1,500 contact hours; publishes tuition ($7,306, full program); states its entry requirements; cites a recognition (stated by the school, not yet verified in an official register).
Limitations: Not shown on the pages checked: practice and assessment arrangements are not published; kit inclusion is not published.