Home › California › Cosmetology schools
131 schools in California offer cosmetology-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data. Prefer to earn while you learn? 9 registered apprenticeship sponsors in California train cosmetology apprentices — see apprenticeships. Federal program data groups cosmetology with barbering — schools below may offer any of these.
California requires a state cosmetologist license from the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Since 2022 the training requirement is 1,000 hours at an approved school (down from 1,600), followed by a written-only licensing exam — the practical exam was eliminated under SB 803. California also offers a formal earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship pathway (a roughly two-year, 3,200-hour program) that substitutes for cosmetology school.
Official source: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (Department of Consumer Affairs) · Exam: Written examination only — California eliminated the practical exam under SB 803, effective January 2022 · Typical requirement: 1,000 hours of practical and technical instruction at an approved school (reduced from 1,600 hours in 2022); minimum age 17 and completion of 10th grade or equivalent
| School | City | Type | Net price / yr | Completion | Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of San Mateo | San Mateo | public | $536 | 30.9% | $54,172 |
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia | public | $480 | 33.7% | $39,092 |
| Skyline College | San Bruno | public | $1,738 | 26.7% | $55,702 |
| Irvine Valley College | Irvine | public | $2,090 | 31.3% | $49,156 |
| Santiago Canyon College | Orange | public | $2,129 | 26.5% | $44,956 |
| Cerritos College | Norwalk | public | $2,424 | 30.2% | $41,156 |
| Yuba College | Marysville | public | $2,576 | 26.4% | $39,552 |
| Santa Monica College | Santa Monica | public | $2,779 | 28% | $42,193 |
| San Diego Miramar College | San Diego | public | $3,337 | 22.2% | $48,224 |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana | public | $3,133 | 18.9% | $43,552 |
| Saddleback College | Mission Viejo | public | $4,152 | 28.5% | $50,874 |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena | public | $3,864 | 32.7% | $43,937 |
| Hacienda La Puente Adult Education | La Puente | public | $3,536 | 82.7% | $39,271 |
| Citrus College | Glendora | public | $4,135 | 35.4% | $42,065 |
| Solano Community College | Fairfield | public | $4,669 | 26.3% | $44,170 |
| Golden West College | Huntington Beach | public | $4,824 | 29.6% | $43,145 |
| Allan Hancock College | Santa Maria | public | $5,383 | 25.7% | $42,786 |
| Butte College | Oroville | public | $5,520 | 36.3% | $41,810 |
| Gavilan College | Gilroy | public | $6,542 | 17.1% | $47,169 |
| Fullerton College | Fullerton | public | $6,134 | 27.8% | $43,366 |
| El Camino Community College District | Torrance | public | $5,968 | 29.5% | $41,589 |
| Sacramento City College | Sacramento | public | $6,614 | 18.9% | $42,214 |
| MiraCosta College | Oceanside | public | $7,339 | 28.4% | $43,845 |
| Pomona Unified School District Adult and Career Education | Pomona | public | $6,217 | 83.6% | $34,849 |
| Riverside City College | Riverside | public | $8,377 | 28.2% | $41,091 |
| San Diego City College | San Diego | public | $7,935 | 20.8% | $38,503 |
| Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education | Baldwin Park | public | $6,665 | 62.8% | $32,069 |
| Santa Barbara City College | Santa Barbara | public | $11,315 | 30.7% | $47,647 |
| Santa Ana Beauty Academy | Santa Ana | private for-profit | $9,391 | not reported | $28,107 |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College | Los Angeles | public | $12,323 | 20.2% | $35,233 |
| Barstow Community College | Barstow | public | $12,773 | 19.5% | $35,104 |
| San Jose City College | San Jose | public | $16,959 | 24.6% | $46,215 |
| Compton College | Compton | public | $12,647 | 18.7% | $34,181 |
| CRU Institute of Cosmetology and Barbering | Garden Grove | private for-profit | $9,122 | 59.6% | $20,125 |
| Laney College | Oakland | public | $17,110 | 19.7% | $37,282 |
| MTI College | Sacramento | private for-profit | $21,740 | 70.2% | $45,328 |
| Cinta Aveda Institute | San Francisco | private for-profit | $18,204 | 61% | $34,937 |
| Estes Institute of Cosmetology Arts and Science | Visalia | private for-profit | $14,546 | 67.1% | $26,965 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Sacramento | Sacramento | private for-profit | $16,717 | 81.7% | $30,336 |
| San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc | San Francisco | private for-profit | $18,333 | 52.6% | $32,926 |
| California Beauty College | Modesto | private for-profit | $12,513 | 82.6% | $22,255 |
| Sierra College of Beauty | Merced | private for-profit | $10,794 | 84.4% | $18,519 |
| Universal College of Beauty Inc-Los Angeles 2 | Los Angeles | private for-profit | $10,551 | not reported | $17,821 |
| John Wesley International Barber and Beauty College | Long Beach | private for-profit | $14,158 | 72.7% | $23,643 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Modesto | Modesto | private for-profit | $17,246 | 70% | $28,691 |
| North Adrian's College of Beauty Inc | Modesto | private for-profit | $16,561 | 66.3% | $27,269 |
| Salon Success Academy-Corona | Corona | private for-profit | $14,668 | 91.4% | $22,412 |
| Salon Success Academy-Upland | Upland | private for-profit | $17,658 | 90.3% | $26,956 |
| Institute of Technology | Clovis | private for-profit | $23,159 | 66.7% | $35,095 |
| Salon Success Academy-West Covina | West Covina | private for-profit | $17,928 | 88.6% | $26,956 |
| Blake Austin College | Vacaville | private for-profit | $29,136 | 81.3% | $42,518 |
| Salon Success Academy-Fontana | Fontana | private for-profit | $15,437 | 91.3% | $22,412 |
| Academy of Esthetics and Cosmetology | San Fernando | private for-profit | $24,340 | 58.7% | $35,089 |
| Salon Success Academy-Riverside | Riverside | private for-profit | $15,423 | 80.8% | $21,777 |
| Career Academy of Beauty | Garden Grove | private for-profit | $17,769 | 87.1% | $24,410 |
| Milan Institute-Visalia | Visalia | private for-profit | $24,040 | 49.6% | $32,493 |
| Hilltop Beauty School | Daly City | private for-profit | $18,874 | 72.2% | $25,477 |
| Modern Beauty Academy | Oxnard | private for-profit | $16,906 | 68.6% | $22,477 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Fresno | Fresno | private for-profit | $22,624 | 80% | $29,671 |
| Design's School of Cosmetology | Paso Robles | private for-profit | $18,320 | 75.3% | $23,937 |
| Fredrick and Charles Beauty College | Eureka | private for-profit | $17,024 | 72.3% | $21,826 |
| Federico Beauty Institute | Sacramento | private for-profit | $24,028 | 85.3% | $29,856 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Costa Mesa | Costa Mesa | private for-profit | $21,920 | 84.2% | $26,897 |
| Salon Success Academy-Redlands | Redlands | private for-profit | $18,357 | 85.9% | $22,412 |
| Milan Institute-Palm Desert | Palm Desert | private for-profit | $24,730 | 52.3% | $29,491 |
| Lu Ross Academy | Ventura | private for-profit | $19,444 | 70.1% | $23,148 |
| Bellus Academy-Chula Vista | Chula Vista | private for-profit | $20,738 | 64.7% | $23,576 |
| Advance Beauty College | Garden Grove | private for-profit | $10,358 | 76.4% | $11,575 |
| Lyle's College of Beauty | Bakersfield | private for-profit | $23,572 | 51% | $25,913 |
| International School of Beauty Inc | Palm Desert | private for-profit | $18,347 | 88.5% | $19,799 |
| Milan Institute-Clovis | Clovis | private for-profit | $23,238 | 60.3% | $24,879 |
| Milan Institute-Merced | Merced | private for-profit | $23,396 | 50.4% | $24,879 |
| Bridges Beauty College | Victorville | private for-profit | $16,429 | 84.3% | $17,287 |
| Bellus Academy-El Cajon | El Cajon | private for-profit | $30,049 | 72.6% | $30,807 |
| Milan Institute-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | private for-profit | $24,487 | 52.5% | $24,879 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Pasadena | Pasadena | private for-profit | $26,022 | 58.5% | $25,845 |
| MJ Barber & Beauty Academy | Hemet | private for-profit | $19,849 | 85.6% | $19,665 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Sherman Oaks | Sherman Oaks | private for-profit | $27,101 | 76.8% | $26,262 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-East Bay | Pleasant Hill | private for-profit | $30,680 | 72.1% | $29,418 |
| Coba Academy | Anaheim | private for-profit | $22,217 | 67.6% | $21,208 |
| Milan Institute of Cosmetology-Vacaville | Vacaville | private for-profit | $23,880 | 51% | $22,378 |
| Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy | Santa Fe Springs | private for-profit | $27,156 | not reported | $25,139 |
| Elite Cosmetology School | PALM DESERT | private for-profit | $19,655 | 68.3% | $17,966 |
| American Beauty College | West Covina | private for-profit | $25,781 | 75.3% | $22,481 |
| MJ Barber & Beauty Academy | La Quinta | private for-profit | $22,875 | 83.5% | $19,665 |
| Lytles Redwood Empire Beauty College | Santa Rosa | private for-profit | $23,995 | 81.8% | $20,358 |
| Palomar Institute of Cosmetology | San Marcos | private for-profit | $27,778 | 89.1% | $23,451 |
| Thanh Le College School of Cosmetology | Garden Grove | private for-profit | $15,914 | 71.9% | $13,265 |
| California Hair Design Academy | La Mesa | private for-profit | $23,607 | 85.5% | $19,347 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Temecula | Temecula | private for-profit | $27,850 | 69.4% | $22,452 |
| Lancaster Beauty School | Lancaster | private for-profit | $20,807 | 68.2% | $16,220 |
| Professional Institute of Beauty | El Monte | private for-profit | $21,840 | 72.2% | $16,886 |
| Bellus Academy-Poway | Poway | private for-profit | $32,767 | 69.4% | $25,223 |
| Los Angeles College of Aesthetics | Los Angeles | private for-profit | $21,911 | 85.3% | $16,540 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego | San Diego | private for-profit | $35,975 | 80.2% | $26,897 |
| Lyle's College of Beauty | Fresno | private for-profit | $36,880 | not reported | $25,913 |
| Moler Barber College | Oakland | private for-profit | $23,361 | 31% | $15,204 |
| Coastline Beauty College | Fountain Valley | private for-profit | $22,007 | 85.6% | $11,585 |
| Citrus Heights Beauty College | Citrus Heights | private for-profit | $31,649 | 81.1% | not reported |
| Redondo Beach Beauty College | Torrance | private for-profit | not reported | 94.1% | not reported |
| Shasta School of Cosmetology | Redding | private for-profit | $26,397 | 78.2% | not reported |
| Waynes College of Beauty | Salinas | private for-profit | $13,121 | 83.3% | not reported |
| Asian-American International Beauty College | Westminster | private for-profit | not reported | 88.3% | $12,610 |
| My Le's Beauty College | Sacramento | private for-profit | not reported | 94.6% | $15,070 |
| Borner's Barber College | Los Angeles | private for-profit | $21,275 | not reported | not reported |
| Academy for Salon Professionals | Northridge | private for-profit | $17,137 | 91.2% | not reported |
| International College of Beauty Arts & Sciences | Los Angeles | private for-profit | $21,624 | 90.3% | not reported |
| Diamond Beauty College | South El Monte | private for-profit | $12,282 | 92% | not reported |
| Advance Beauty Techs Academy | Corona | private for-profit | $28,071 | 71.9% | not reported |
| Hinton Barber and Beauty College | Vallejo | private for-profit | $21,612 | 53.7% | not reported |
| Santa Ana Beauty College | Santa Ana | private for-profit | $6,904 | 75.7% | not reported |
| Lawrence & Company College of Cosmetology | Hanford | private for-profit | $17,127 | 55.1% | not reported |
| J D Academy of Salon and Spa | Danville | private for-profit | $34,589 | 82.1% | not reported |
| Lawrence & Company College of Cosmetology | Selma | private for-profit | $21,242 | 76.2% | not reported |
| The Salon Professional Academy-San Jose | San Jose | private for-profit | $18,418 | 92.5% | not reported |
| Associated Barber College of San Diego | San Diego | private for-profit | $23,205 | 78.7% | not reported |
| ZMS The Academy | Los Angeles | private for-profit | $7,812 | 50% | not reported |
| California Barber and Beauty College | San Diego | private for-profit | $11,391 | 65.2% | not reported |
| Hoss Lee Academy | Roseville | private for-profit | $28,065 | 86.8% | not reported |
| ABC Adult School | Cerritos | public | $12,465 | 28.3% | not reported |
| San Bernardino Beauty College | San Bernardino | private for-profit | $29,459 | 81.8% | not reported |
| Urban Barber College | Concord | private for-profit | $24,250 | 71.3% | not reported |
| Princess Institute of Beauty | Reedley | private for-profit | $12,741 | 88.6% | not reported |
| Victory Career College | Carson | private for-profit | not reported | 87.7% | not reported |
| California College of Barbering and Cosmetology | Stockton | private for-profit | $16,245 | 76% | not reported |
| MIXED Institute of Cosmetology & Barber | Sacramento | private for-profit | $20,520 | 71.3% | not reported |
| KC Beauty Academy | Los Angeles | private for-profit | $14,542 | not reported | not reported |
| Paul Mitchell the School-San Jose | San Jose | private for-profit | $31,084 | 29.4% | not reported |
| Riggins Urban Barber College | San Diego | private for-profit | $20,155 | 41.5% | not reported |
| Southern California College of Barber and Beauty | Escondido | private for-profit | $25,745 | 76.6% | not reported |
| Central Valley Barber College | Riverbank | private for-profit | $14,762 | 98.2% | not reported |
Ranking = median earnings 10 years after entry per $1,000 of average yearly net price (methodology). Schools without both figures sort last — "not reported" means the federal dataset lacks the value, not that the school is bad.
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