Home › Georgia › Cosmetology schools
43 schools in Georgia offer cosmetology-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data. Prefer to earn while you learn? 6 registered apprenticeship sponsors in Georgia train cosmetology apprentices — see apprenticeships. Federal program data groups cosmetology with barbering — schools below may offer any of these.
Georgia requires a state Master Cosmetologist license from the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers, housed under the Secretary of State. Applicants complete either 1,500 hours at a board-approved school (minimum 9 months) or an 18-month, 3,000-hour apprenticeship under an experienced master cosmetologist, then pass both written and practical exams through PSI with at least 70% on each. Minimum requirements are age 17 and a high school diploma or GED.
Official source: Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers (Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards) · Exam: Both a written and a practical examination (minimum 70% each), administered through PSI; Georgia adopted PSI National exam standards in August 2025 · Typical requirement: 1,500 hours at a board-approved school over at least 9 months (or equivalent technical-college credit hours) OR a 3,000-hour apprenticeship; minimum age 17 with high school diploma or GED
| School | City | Type | Net price / yr | Completion | Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | Valdosta | public | $614 | 46.8% | $30,864 |
| Southern Regional Technical College | Thomasville | public | $813 | 47.7% | $31,293 |
| South Georgia Technical College | Americus | public | $1,164 | 52.6% | $30,364 |
| West Georgia Technical College | Waco | public | $2,457 | 35.5% | $35,479 |
| Chattahoochee Technical College | Marietta | public | $3,407 | 30.4% | $37,138 |
| Columbus Technical College | Columbus | public | $4,001 | 30.3% | $34,238 |
| North Georgia Technical College | Clarkesville | public | $4,005 | 39.7% | $32,932 |
| Albany Technical College | Albany | public | $4,524 | 44.5% | $30,541 |
| Gwinnett Technical College | Lawrenceville | public | $6,696 | 34% | $45,025 |
| Southern Crescent Technical College | Griffin | public | $5,661 | 46.3% | $36,104 |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College | Rome | public | $5,720 | 47.9% | $35,759 |
| Savannah Technical College | Savannah | public | $6,114 | 43% | $33,018 |
| Athens Technical College | Athens | public | $6,949 | 40.6% | $35,951 |
| Lanier Technical College | Gainesville | public | $7,799 | 41.1% | $37,623 |
| Ogeechee Technical College | Statesboro | public | $6,542 | 53% | $31,248 |
| Central Georgia Technical College | Warner Robins | public | $7,052 | 44.8% | $30,848 |
| Augusta Technical College | Augusta | public | $10,485 | 36.8% | $33,523 |
| Southeastern Technical College | Vidalia | public | $10,612 | 45.5% | $30,329 |
| Georgia Piedmont Technical College | Clarkston | public | $13,761 | 38.9% | $34,619 |
| Oconee Fall Line Technical College | Sandersville | public | $12,844 | 43.6% | $30,899 |
| Keune Academy by 124 | Lawrenceville | private for-profit | $14,097 | 87.1% | $30,962 |
| Georgia Career Institute | Conyers | private for-profit | $14,966 | 70% | $23,686 |
| Empire Beauty School-Kennesaw | Kennesaw | private for-profit | $15,027 | 57.1% | $23,589 |
| Profile Institute of Barber-Styling | Atlanta | private for-profit | $16,685 | 80.9% | $25,629 |
| Georgia Institute of Cosmetology | Athens | private for-profit | $14,397 | 50.3% | $21,432 |
| Empire Beauty School-Northlake | Atlanta | private for-profit | $16,685 | 29.2% | $24,407 |
| Empire Beauty School-Gwinnett | Lawrenceville | private for-profit | $16,203 | 54.6% | $23,589 |
| Empire Beauty School-Morrow | Morrow | private for-profit | $16,962 | 32.7% | $24,397 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Esani | Roswell | private for-profit | $18,522 | 76.6% | $26,287 |
| Empire Beauty School-Augusta | Augusta | private for-profit | $16,955 | 23.8% | $23,921 |
| Pro Way Hair School | Stone Mountain | private for-profit | $15,458 | 63% | $21,586 |
| Empire Beauty School-Savannah | Savannah | private for-profit | $17,707 | 45.4% | $24,022 |
| Rivertown School of Beauty Barber Skin Care and Nails | Columbus | private for-profit | $16,487 | 41.8% | $22,139 |
| Atlanta Technical College | Atlanta | public | $-914 | 37.9% | $30,350 |
| International School of Skin Nailcare & Massage Therapy | Sandy Springs | private for-profit | not reported | 60% | $25,452 |
| Elaine Sterling Institute | Atlanta | private for-profit | $30,314 | 63.5% | not reported |
| Coastal Pines Technical College | Waycross | public | $-126 | 55.2% | $30,214 |
| Dalton Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology | Dalton | private for-profit | $11,944 | 28.3% | not reported |
| MAK Beauty Institute | Cumming | private for-profit | $13,085 | 74.5% | not reported |
| Hogan Institute of Cosmetology and Esthetics | Lilburn | private for-profit | $32,724 | 82.7% | not reported |
| Webb's Barber School of Arts | Macon | private for-profit | $13,568 | 55.9% | not reported |
| Beaver Beauty Academy | Decatur | private for-profit | $9,194 | 53.9% | not reported |
| Albany Beauty Academy | Albany | private for-profit | $9,417 | not reported | 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.
Federal and state aid programs have windows and deadlines. Get them for your trade and state, plus program matches.
We may share your info with matched school and program partners so they can contact you about enrollment. Unsubscribe anytime. See our privacy & editorial policy.