How Much Does Cosmetology School Cost?

When you begin your education at a place like David Pressley School of Cosmetology, you’re taking the first step toward your future. No matter what career paths you’re interested in within the field, it is exciting to commit to cosmetology school and there are many benefits to entering the profession. However, as with most post-secondary schools, you’re going to have to pay for cosmetology school, which takes some planning.

There are some financial logistics you have to figure out before embarking on this journey. It can be very stressful to think about the financial part of cosmetology school, but you’re not alone—we’re here to help. To make things easier for incoming students, we wanted to create a guide that explains how much beauty school costs. By the time you’re finished reading, you’ll understand the cost of beauty school a little bit more.

Breakdown of Cosmetology School Costs

There are three main things you should expect to pay for if you’re attending cosmetology school: tuition, your kit/supplies, and registration/lab fees. In terms of tuition, this expense covers only the cost of going to classes. Often, the total cosmetology school cost varies based on the school’s cost of tuition.

At David Pressley School of Cosmetology in particular, starting July 1st, our cosmetology tuition is around $19,000. Our esthetics tuition is around $10,500, our cosmetology instructor tuition is $5,000, and our limited skin care specialist instructor tuition is $2,500.

Now, in terms of the kit and supplies for each program, each course you take at cosmetology school will require different supplies, and the cost of these supplies will vary. Also, there are some registration and lab fees that students might encounter. You should factor in a couple thousand dollars to account for the supplies and fees you’ll need to take care of over the length of your time at cosmetology school.

Factors Influencing Cost

Before you start budgeting for cosmetology school, you need to know more about some factors that will affect your program’s cost. Depending on what kind of school you go to—that is, whether you attend a public or private school—the cost will vary. In addition, the prestige of the school and the length of its program will also affect the program’s cost.

If you’re looking to spend a certain amount on cosmetology school, shop around and look into different schools. Some schools are much more expensive than others, so do your research about the cost of attendance and find a school that fits your needs.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Once you’ve determined how much school is going to cost, don’t get too anxious about that price. Financial aid options are available for those who qualify, which can help cover the costs of cosmetology school. To help you with that, you’ll need to apply for financial aid and scholarships. Financial aid and scholarships are available to those who qualify, so let’s go over the logistics of these two forms of aid, here.

Federal Aid

All cosmetology students should fill out the FAFSA form. Although filling out the FAFSA form does not guarantee you’ll see a reduction off your base tuition price, some students do qualify for grants that make school more affordable. Even if you don’t qualify for grants, though, a larger number of students qualify for federal loans—which have lower interest rates when compared to private loans. Again, not every student will qualify for loans, but a sizable portion of David Pressley School of Cosmetology students do.

Scholarships

Scholarships are another form of aid that helps students pay for their time in cosmetology school. You can find scholarships that are merit-based and scholarships that are need-based. One of the best things about scholarships is that there are so many of them—you can find scholarships that pertain to beauty, scholarships that are sponsored by community organizations, and scholarships that cater to certain identity/faith groups you’re a part of, and more.

We should note, though, that scholarships can be really competitive. In order to have the best shot at securing a scholarship, you’ll need to work hard writing any required essays. Be creative in your scholarship essays, and make sure someone else reads over it before you turn it in. Also, if the scholarship requires a CV or resume, ensure it’s thorough and documents how great of student and community member you are.

Long-term Investment

Whether you’re going to school for cosmetology or for any other field, when it comes time to pay for school, you need to think about how much you’ll get out of the investment you’re putting into your education. Attending cosmetology school can be a valuable investment, potentially leading to great opportunities in the beauty industry, depending on your individual effort and market conditions. Makeup artists, hair stylists, estheticians, and other cosmetology professionals has shown growth, and many professionals find ongoing opportunities.

So, when you’re looking at the cost of tuition now, you should keep in mind that these present-day expenses are likely opening up a new world for you. Although your salary after graduation will vary depending on what field you want to enter, if you’re working for yourself or not, and many other factors, you can make a good living working in the cosmetology industry. Between teaching, working at a salon, influencing, consulting, and all the other possible career paths you could embark on, the options are endless for graduates of cosmetology school. So, don’t let tuition costs deter you!

Get started on Your Next Chapter at David Pressley School of Cosmetology

We’ve talked about how much cosmetology school costs and how you can get financial aid at David Pressley School of Cosmetology. By now, you understand that it’s possible to get financial aid (grants and/or loans) and scholarships to help pay for your cosmetology school experience.

You also understand that going to cosmetology school is an expense that can pay off, because there are many different career paths that you can embark on after you graduate. If you’re ready to attend cosmetology school, reach out to us for more information about paying for David Pressley School of Cosmetology.