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Cosmetology Schools in Michigan
41 schools in Michigan offer cosmetology-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data. Prefer to earn while you learn? 3 registered apprenticeship programs in Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Michigan: State license required
Michigan requires a state cosmetology license from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). Applicants qualify with either a 1,500-hour course at a licensed cosmetology school or a 2-year apprenticeship in a licensed salon, then pass the NBCP written and practical exams administered through PSI. Minimum requirements are age 17 and a 9th-grade education or equivalent.
Official source: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Board of Cosmetology · Exam: National Barber Cosmetology Program (NBCP) written theory and practical examinations administered through PSI (practical must be passed before the theory exam) · Typical requirement: 1,500-hour course of study at a licensed cosmetology school OR a 2-year apprenticeship in a licensed establishment; minimum age 17 with 9th-grade education or equivalent
Official license records related to cosmetology in Michigan
From the U.S. Department of Labor's License Finder — these may include contractor, specialty, or related licenses beyond entry-level requirements:
- Cosmetologist — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Professional Licensing
- Cosmetologist, Apprentice — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Professional Licensing
- Natural Hair Culturist — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Professional Licensing
- Natural Hair Culturist, Apprentice — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Professional Licensing
- Natural Hair Culturist Instructor — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Professional Licensing
- Electrologist — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Professional Licensing
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schoolcraft Community College District | Livonia | public | $2,260 | 21.3% | $42,722 |
| Delta College | University Center | public | $4,547 | 23.8% | $37,781 |
| Gogebic Community College | Ironwood | public | $5,397 | 34.7% | $40,950 |
| Oakland Community College | Auburn Hills | public | $5,777 | 31.6% | $37,395 |
| Mott Community College | Flint | public | $5,687 | 21.3% | $32,538 |
| Montcalm Community College | Sidney | public | $7,280 | 34.7% | $35,499 |
| Kirtland Community College | Grayling | public | $7,456 | 23% | $35,831 |
| M J Murphy Beauty College of Mount Pleasant | Mount Pleasant | private for-profit | $5,446 | 92.9% | $20,720 |
| Bayshire Academy of Beauty Craft Inc | Bay City | private for-profit | $7,507 | 76.1% | $24,471 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Michigan | Sterling Heights | private for-profit | $12,625 | 83% | $26,897 |
| P&A Scholars Beauty School | Detroit | private for-profit | $10,068 | 69.7% | $20,249 |
| Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design-Hair Lab Detroit Barber School | Southgate | private for-profit | $18,242 | 73.5% | $36,048 |
| Michigan College of Beauty-Monroe | Monroe | private for-profit | $12,564 | 74.7% | $22,766 |
| Protege Academy | Mt. Pleasant | private for-profit | $11,619 | 57.6% | $19,499 |
| Protege Academy | East Lansing | private for-profit | $12,179 | 73.7% | $19,499 |
| French Academy of Cosmetology | Spring Lake | private for-profit | $15,806 | 90.5% | $22,797 |
| Empire Beauty School-Michigan | Grand Rapids | private for-profit | $17,021 | 58.7% | $22,377 |
| Twin City Beauty College | Saint Joseph | private for-profit | $18,125 | 46% | $23,043 |
| Michigan College of Beauty-Troy | Troy | private for-profit | $18,013 | 67.2% | $22,058 |
| Hillsdale Beauty College | Hillsdale | private for-profit | $15,015 | 64% | $17,793 |
| David Pressley School of Cosmetology | Royal Oak | private for-profit | $20,598 | 84.5% | $22,973 |
| Douglas J Aveda Institute | East Lansing | private for-profit | $25,357 | 76.1% | $26,849 |
| Dorsey College | Madison Heights | private for-profit | $28,525 | 59.7% | $29,392 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Battle Creek | Battle Creek | private for-profit | $21,073 | not reported | $21,504 |
| L'esprit Academy | Canton | private for-profit | $22,279 | 88.2% | $22,440 |
| Dorsey College-Roseville | Roseville | private for-profit | $29,232 | 39.4% | $29,392 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Great Lakes | Port Huron | private for-profit | $17,263 | 73.9% | $16,715 |
| Cadillac Institute of Cosmetology | Cadillac | private for-profit | $17,394 | not reported | $16,514 |
| Nuvo College of Cosmetology | Norton Shores | private for-profit | $19,413 | 33.9% | $18,159 |
| Elevate Salon Institute | Royal Oak | private for-profit | $19,409 | 82.6% | $16,853 |
| Dorsey School of Beauty | Taylor | private for-profit | $30,126 | 52.4% | $13,256 |
| Creative Hair School of Cosmetology | Flint | private for-profit | $14,344 | 45.8% | not reported |
| Port Huron Cosmetology College | Waterford | private for-profit | not reported | 69.2% | $22,980 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Grand Rapids | Kentwood | private for-profit | $22,902 | 70.6% | not reported |
| Sharp's Academy of Hairstyling | Grand Blanc | private for-profit | not reported | not reported | $16,266 |
| Marketti Academy of Cosmetology | Waterford | private for-profit | not reported | 91.2% | $14,345 |
| Brighton Institute of Cosmetology | Brighton | private for-profit | $20,810 | 96.5% | not reported |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Farmington Hills | Farmington Hills | private for-profit | $20,192 | 70.6% | not reported |
| Metro Detroit Barber College | Detroit | private nonprofit | $18,217 | 88.2% | not reported |
| The Salon Professional Academy of Holland | Holland | private for-profit | $14,387 | 81.8% | not reported |
| Dymond Designs Beauty School | Detroit | private for-profit | $16,563 | 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 Michigan
- How much do Cosmetology schools cost in Michigan?
- The median annual net price (what students actually pay after aid) across 41 cosmetology schools in Michigan is $16,792. 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 Michigan?
- Michigan requires a state cosmetology license from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). Applicants qualify with either a 1,500-hour course at a licensed cosmetology school or a 2-year apprenticeship in a licensed salon, then pass the NBCP written and practical exams administered through PSI. Minimum requirements are age 17 and a 9th-grade education or equivalent.
- Can you get paid to train as a cosmetology in Michigan?
- Yes — Michigan has 3 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 Michigan?
- Working cosmetology professionals in Michigan earn a median of $34,820 per year, ranging from about $25,960 to $95,370 (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 Michigan
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Cosmetology schools in nearby states
- Cosmetology schools in Illinois
- Cosmetology schools in Indiana
- Cosmetology schools in Alabama
- Cosmetology schools in Arizona
- Cosmetology schools in Arkansas
- Cosmetology schools in California
- Cosmetology schools in Colorado
- Cosmetology schools in Connecticut
- Cosmetology schools in Delaware
- Cosmetology schools in Florida
See all states & the full cosmetology guide →