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Cosmetology Schools in Georgia
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 programs in Georgia train cosmetology apprentices — see apprenticeships. Federal program data groups cosmetology with barbering — schools below may offer any of these.
Occupation pay is what working cosmetology professionals in Georgia earn (all experience levels) — school "earnings" figures above are medians for each school's recent federally-aided students across all its programs, which read lower.
Cosmetology licensing in Georgia: State license required
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
Official license records related to cosmetology in Georgia
From the U.S. Department of Labor's License Finder — these may include contractor, specialty, or related licenses beyond entry-level requirements:
- Master Cosmetologist — Georgia State Board of Cosmetology
- Hair Designer — Georgia State Board of Cosmetology
- Cosmetology Apprentice — Georgia State Board of Cosmetology
- Hair Designer Instructor — Georgia State Board of Cosmetology
- Barber Apprentice — Georgia State Board of Barbers
- Master Barber — Georgia State Board of Barbers
Wage and license data provided by CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) and Minnesota DEED.
Schools, ranked by earnings per tuition dollar
| 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). Figures are institution-wide federal medians for each school as a whole — not cosmetology graduates specifically. Schools without both figures sort last — "not reported" means the federal dataset lacks the value, not that the school is bad.
Common questions: Cosmetology school in Georgia
- How much do Cosmetology schools cost in Georgia?
- The median annual net price (what students actually pay after aid) across 43 cosmetology schools in Georgia is $10,549. Individual schools range widely — the table above shows each school's real cost, not sticker price.
- Do you need a license to work as a cosmetology in Georgia?
- 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.
- Can you get paid to train as a cosmetology in Georgia?
- Yes — Georgia has 6 registered apprenticeship programs where you earn wages while you train instead of paying tuition. See the cosmetology apprenticeships page for the current list.
- What does a cosmetology earn in Georgia?
- Working cosmetology professionals in Georgia earn a median of $34,560 per year, ranging from about $17,310 to $79,170 (U.S. Department of Labor). This is what people in the job earn, which differs from a school's reported graduate-earnings figure.
Aid deadlines for cosmetology programs in Georgia
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Cosmetology schools in nearby states
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