Alabama
Best cosmetology programs in Alabama 2026
Birmingham skyline. Photo by Tony Webster, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Ranked on the share of students who finish what they started, within half again the program's normal length, as reported per institution to the US Department of Education. In a clock-hour trade this is the outcome that matters most: the license needs the full hour count, so a student who leaves early has paid for hours that will never qualify them.
There is no such thing as an accredited cosmetology program, in Alabama or anywhere else, because the field has no programmatic accreditor. NACCAS, the body most beauty schools advertise, accredits the institution rather than the course, so an accredited school and an unaccredited one can run the same program. What that accreditation buys a student is federal financial aid eligibility. The license from Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering is what decides whether your hours count toward the exam.
52
schools currently licensed
27
qualify to be ranked
2
excluded, under 40 enrolled students
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#1
Brown Beauty Barber School
Bessemer, AL · Private Schools regulated by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
83%
Share of students who finish
- Barbering
- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
- $16,000 program cost
What the record shows
Brown Beauty Barber School trains in Bessemer, licensed by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. Its license covers barbering, cosmetology and instructor training. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Bessemer. 83 percent of students see the course through, out of 54 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $16,000 for the full program. 22 graduates borrowed, at a median of $16,500 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $175 a month. That median loan is larger than the $16,000 price, so the typical borrower here finances more than tuition. 22 points more of its students finish than the 61 percent private-school median, priced within 3 percent of the $16,335 private-school median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. The page median is set by public colleges, so that comparison is against the other private schools here. 38 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The board files it under license 928410; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
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Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, read 2026-08-31.
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#2
Blue Cliff Career College
Mobile, AL · Private Schools regulated by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
80%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- $14,800 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Mobile, Blue Cliff Career College is on the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering register. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics and instructor training. 80 percent of the 107 students it enrolls finish. The published cost is $14,800 for the full program. 19 points more of its students finish than the 61 percent private-school median, priced within 10 percent of the $16,335 private-school median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. It awarded 35 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Its board record is license 926273, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Mobile, the range runs $21,840 to $59,190 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $29,700. Neither end of this market is extreme: the top tenth earns about 2.0 times the median and the floor sits 26 percent under it, which makes the first year a budget question rather than a survival one. The occupation is about as common around Mobile as it is nationally.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, read 2026-08-31.
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#3
The Salon Professional Academy-Huntsville
Huntsville, AL · Private Schools regulated by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
72%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
- $19,730 program cost
What the record shows
The Salon Professional Academy-Huntsville is licensed by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering and trains in Huntsville. Its license covers cosmetology and instructor training. Huntsville has 6 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 72 percent of students see the course through across two years of students, out of 53 enrolled. It charges $19,730 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Borrowing here runs to a median of $9,833 in federal loans, measured over 36 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. Paying 21 percent over the $16,335 private-school median buys 11 points of completion over the 61 percent private-school median, and whether that is worth it depends on how sure you are of finishing anywhere. It awarded 30 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Its board record is license 926881, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Around Huntsville, the median cosmetologist earns $29,150, the bottom tenth $21,050 and the top tenth $55,920. Huntsville employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 550 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, read 2026-08-31.
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#4
Alabama School of Nail Technology & Cosmetology
Jackson, AL · Private Schools regulated by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
62%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Nail technology
- $18,458 program cost
What the record shows
Alabama School of Nail Technology & Cosmetology is licensed by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering and trains in Jackson. Its license covers cosmetology and nail technology. The board lists no other licensed school in Jackson. 62 percent of students see the course through, out of 97 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $18,458 for the full program. It charges 13 percent over the $16,335 private-school median and finishes about as many of its students as the typical private school here, so the extra price is not buying a better completion rate. 34 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Its board record is license 927939, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists in Alabama earn under $29,150, with the tenth percentile at $21,300 and the ninetieth at $56,700. Neither end of this market is extreme: the top tenth earns about 1.9 times the median and the floor sits 27 percent under it, which makes the first year a budget question rather than a survival one. Alabama employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 3,300 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, read 2026-08-31.
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#5
Winonah's International School of Cosmetology
Hoover, AL · Private Schools regulated by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
61%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- Natural hair styling
- $13,250 program cost
What the record shows
Winonah's International School of Cosmetology is licensed by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering and trains in Hoover. Its license covers cosmetology, instructor training, nail technology and natural hair styling. 61 percent of its students finish, out of 120 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $13,250 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $6,861 in federal loans at the median, 25 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $73 a month. $13,250 is 19 percent under the $16,335 private-school median, and completion is within 0 points of the 61 percent private-school median, which is the cheap-without-a-catch pairing. It awarded 37 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Its board record is license 925107, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Around Birmingham, the median cosmetologist earns $29,000, the bottom tenth $21,830 and the top tenth $55,230. The upside is capped near 1.9 times the median and the floor is 25 percent under it, a market where the first year is tight rather than dangerous and the ceiling is earned slowly. Local concentration around Birmingham sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, read 2026-08-31.
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#6
Reid State Technical College
Evergreen, AL
59%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 22 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Evergreen, Reid State Technical College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Across all 416 students at the college, 59 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. At 59 percent the college as a whole keeps its students better than most schools on this page. It is a good sign about the institution; the cosmetology program's own completion is a separate number to ask the cosmetology department for. Its 22 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 416. Look this school up on the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering register by its legal name before you pay, because that entry and not this one is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
undefined The ninetieth percentile at $56,700 is 1.9 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 27 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states.
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#7
Paul Mitchell the School-Birmingham
Hoover, AL · Private Schools regulated by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
56%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- $18,841 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Birmingham is licensed by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering and trains in Hoover. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics and instructor training. 56 percent of students see the course through, out of 129 enrolled. It charges $18,841 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. 104 graduates borrowed, at a median of $9,833 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. That is the pairing to be wary of: 5 points fewer of its students finish than the 61 percent private-school median, at a price 15 percent over the $16,335 private-school median. Ask the school directly why students leave before you commit. 67 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Its board record is license 918396, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Birmingham earn under $29,000, with the tenth percentile at $21,830 and the ninetieth at $55,230. The ninetieth percentile at $55,230 is 1.9 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 25 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. Around Birmingham, esthetics pays a $39,260 median, about 35 percent above cosmetology. Birmingham employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 1,050 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, read 2026-08-31.
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#8
Northeast Alabama Community College
Rainsville, AL
56%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 29 graduates a year
What the record shows
Northeast Alabama Community College teaches cosmetology in Rainsville, with its results published federally. 56 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,629 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. At 56 percent the college as a whole keeps its students better than most schools on this page. It is a good sign about the institution; the cosmetology program's own completion is a separate number to ask the cosmetology department for. Its 29 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,629. The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering holds the record that counts your hours; find this school on it by its legal name and check it is current before a deposit.
Where it leads
In Alabama, the median cosmetologist earns $29,150, the bottom tenth $21,300 and the top tenth $56,700. Alabama employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 3,300 people.
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#9
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville
Hanceville, AL
51%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 23 graduates a year
What the record shows
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville teaches cosmetology in Hanceville, with its results published federally. 51 percent of students across the college finish, out of 4,423 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That completion rate is 10 points above the 41 percent median, but it is every program on campus, so treat it as a fact about the college and not about the cosmetology floor. Its 23 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 4,423. The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering holds the record that counts your hours; find this school on it by its legal name and check it is current before a deposit.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists in Alabama, the range runs $21,300 to $56,700 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $29,150. Neither end of this market is extreme: the top tenth earns about 1.9 times the median and the floor sits 27 percent under it, which makes the first year a budget question rather than a survival one. The occupation is about as common in Alabama as it is nationally.
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#10
Fortis College
Mobile, AL
49%
Share of students who finish
- $16,669 program cost
What the record shows
Fortis College runs its cosmetology program in Mobile and reports to the US Department of Education. Of 315 enrolled in the fall count, 49 percent finish. The published cost is $16,669 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $10,800 in federal loans at the median, 43 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $114 a month. 12 points fewer of its students finish than the 61 percent private-school median, priced within 3 percent of the $16,335 private-school median, so you would be paying the going rate for worse odds of getting through. Ask the school what happens to the ones who leave. Licensing is the business of the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where it leads
Around Mobile, the median cosmetologist earns $29,700, the bottom tenth $21,840 and the top tenth $59,190. An ordinary shape: the top tenth at 2.0 times the median and a floor 26 percent below it, so a good first year and a good tenth year here are separated by a client book rather than by a cliff. Local concentration around Mobile sits near the national average.
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#11
Remington College-Mobile Campus
Mobile, AL · Private Schools regulated by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
42%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Remington College-Mobile Campus trains in Mobile, licensed by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. The board licenses it to train toward cosmetology. 42 percent of students across the college finish, out of 257 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 42 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. It awarded 56 beauty credentials in the reporting year. The school is a private nonprofit, a category covering only a handful of cosmetology providers nationally. Its board record is license 927127, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Around Mobile, the median cosmetologist earns $29,700, the bottom tenth $21,840 and the top tenth $59,190. Mobile employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 350 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, read 2026-08-31.
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#12
Lurleen B Wallace Community College
Andalusia, AL
41%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 54 graduates a year
What the record shows
Lurleen B Wallace Community College runs its cosmetology program in Andalusia and reports to the US Department of Education. Across all 1,097 students at the college, 41 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 41 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. Its 54 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,097. Look this school up on the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering register by its legal name before you pay, because that entry and not this one is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
In Alabama, the median cosmetologist earns $29,150, the bottom tenth $21,300 and the top tenth $56,700. The upside is capped near 1.9 times the median and the floor is 27 percent under it, a market where the first year is tight rather than dangerous and the ceiling is earned slowly. Alabama employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 3,300 people.
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#13
George C Wallace State Community College-Selma
Selma, AL
41%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 11 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Selma, George C Wallace State Community College-Selma is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Across all 855 students at the college, 41 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 41 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. Its 11 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 855. Licensing is the business of the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists in Alabama earn under $29,150, with the tenth percentile at $21,300 and the ninetieth at $56,700. An ordinary shape: the top tenth at 1.9 times the median and a floor 27 percent below it, so a good first year and a good tenth year here are separated by a client book rather than by a cliff. Alabama employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 3,300 people.
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#14
Northwest Shoals Community College
Muscle Shoals, AL
39%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 27 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Muscle Shoals, Northwest Shoals Community College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Across all 1,969 students at the college, 39 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Read that 39 percent as the college's rate, not the cosmetology floor's, so it neither ranks this program up nor down. Its 27 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,969. The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering holds the record that counts your hours; find this school on it by its legal name and check it is current before a deposit.
Where it leads
undefined The ninetieth percentile at $45,010 is 1.6 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 26 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. Florence-Muscle Shoals employs the trade at only about 0.4 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
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#15
Gadsden State Community College
Gadsden, AL
38%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 88 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Gadsden, Gadsden State Community College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Across all 3,548 students at the college, 38 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 38 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. The school conferred 88 credentials in the year reported. That is roughly 9 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, so it is one of the larger training operations here. Licensing is the business of the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Gadsden runs from $21,770 at the tenth percentile to $35,210 at the ninetieth, with a median of $27,070. The ninetieth percentile at $35,210 is 1.3 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 20 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.7 times the usual concentration around Gadsden, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
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#16
Bevill State Community College
Jasper, AL
38%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 4 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Jasper, Bevill State Community College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 38 percent of students across the college finish, out of 2,177 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 38 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. 4 credentials in a year means the cosmetology program barely ran; ask whether it is enrolling this term before anything else. Licensing is the business of the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where it leads
undefined
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#17
Bishop State Community College
Mobile, AL
36%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 38 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Mobile, Bishop State Community College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 36 percent of students across the college finish, out of 2,437 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 36 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 38 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 2,437. Licensing is the business of the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where it leads
undefined The ninetieth percentile at $59,190 is 2.0 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 26 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states.
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#18
Southern Union State Community College
Wadley, AL
36%
Share of students who finish
- Associate degree
- Public institution
What the record shows
Southern Union State Community College runs its cosmetology program in Wadley and reports to the US Department of Education. 36 percent of students across the college finish, out of 4,173 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 36 percent is low for this page, but it is the college's rate and the cosmetology program is a small part of it; the cosmetology department's own completions are the check. The award here is an associate degree rather than the certificate most cosmetology programs issue, so the hours come with transferable college credit attached. Its hours count only under a current entry with the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, so search that register by the school's legal name before any deposit.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists in Alabama runs from $21,300 at the tenth percentile to $56,700 at the ninetieth, with a median of $29,150. An ordinary shape: the top tenth at 1.9 times the median and a floor 27 percent below it, so a good first year and a good tenth year here are separated by a client book rather than by a cliff. The occupation is about as common in Alabama as it is nationally.
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#19
George C Wallace Community College-Dothan
Dothan, AL
35%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 73 graduates a year
What the record shows
George C Wallace Community College-Dothan runs its cosmetology program in Dothan and reports to the US Department of Education. Across all 3,017 students at the college, 35 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 35 percent is low for this page, but it is the college's rate and the cosmetology program is a small part of it; the cosmetology department's own completions are the check. Its 73 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 3,017. Look this school up on the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering register by its legal name before you pay, because that entry and not this one is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
undefined It is a small occupational market locally, so openings are fewer and word of mouth carries more weight than a resume.
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#20
Central Alabama Community College
Alexander City, AL
33%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 17 graduates a year
What the record shows
Central Alabama Community College teaches cosmetology in Alexander City, with its results published federally. 33 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,203 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 33 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 17 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,203. Licensing is the business of the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists in Alabama runs from $21,300 at the tenth percentile to $56,700 at the ninetieth, with a median of $29,150. An ordinary shape: the top tenth at 1.9 times the median and a floor 27 percent below it, so a good first year and a good tenth year here are separated by a client book rather than by a cliff. On concentration, Alabama is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#21
Coastal Alabama Community College
Bay Minette, AL
31%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 35 graduates a year
What the record shows
Coastal Alabama Community College runs its cosmetology program in Bay Minette and reports to the US Department of Education. Across all 4,798 students at the college, 31 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Most of the students behind that 31 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 35 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 4,798. The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering holds the record that counts your hours; find this school on it by its legal name and check it is current before a deposit.
Where it leads
undefined The ninetieth percentile at $56,700 is 1.9 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 27 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. Alabama employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 3,300 people.
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#22
New Beginning College of Cosmetology
Albertville, AL · Private Schools regulated by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
31%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- $15,150 program cost
What the record shows
New Beginning College of Cosmetology is licensed by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering and trains in Albertville. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics and instructor training. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Albertville. Of the 81 students in its fall count, 31 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $15,150 for the full program. Only 31 in a hundred finish here, 30 points under the 61 percent private-school median. Treat that as the headline, not a footnote, and hold the $15,150 price against it. 40 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The board files it under license 918319; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
In Alabama, the median cosmetologist earns $29,150, the bottom tenth $21,300 and the top tenth $56,700.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, read 2026-08-31.
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#23
Shelton State Community College
Tuscaloosa, AL
30%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 52 graduates a year
What the record shows
Shelton State Community College runs its cosmetology program in Tuscaloosa and reports to the US Department of Education. 30 percent of students across the college finish, out of 3,148 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 30 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 52 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 3,148. The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering holds the record that counts your hours; find this school on it by its legal name and check it is current before a deposit.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Tuscaloosa earn under $30,250, with the tenth percentile at $21,920 and the ninetieth at $58,440. Few people hold this occupation locally, so a graduate is competing in a small pool and is likely to be known in it quickly. Tuscaloosa employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 160 people.
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#24
Lawson State Community College
Birmingham, AL
27%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 20 graduates a year
What the record shows
Lawson State Community College runs its cosmetology program in Birmingham and reports to the US Department of Education. 27 percent of students across the college finish, out of 2,900 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 27 percent is low for this page, but it is the college's rate and the cosmetology program is a small part of it; the cosmetology department's own completions are the check. Its 20 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 2,900. Look this school up on the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering register by its legal name before you pay, because that entry and not this one is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
undefined The ninetieth percentile at $55,230 is 1.9 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 25 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states.
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#25
J F Ingram State Technical College
Deatsville, AL
21%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 94 graduates a year
What the record shows
J F Ingram State Technical College runs its cosmetology program in Deatsville and reports to the US Department of Education. 21 percent of students across the college finish, out of 960 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 21 percent is low for this page, but it is the college's rate and the cosmetology program is a small part of it; the cosmetology department's own completions are the check. It awarded 94 beauty credentials in the reporting year. That is roughly 9 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, so it is one of the larger training operations here. Its hours count only under a current entry with the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, so search that register by the school's legal name before any deposit.
Where it leads
Around Montgomery, the median cosmetologist earns $30,530, the bottom tenth $21,660 and the top tenth $59,270. It is a small occupational market locally, so openings are fewer and word of mouth carries more weight than a resume. Montgomery employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 260 people.
- Brown Beauty Barber School 83% 83%
- Blue Cliff Career College 80% 80%
- The Salon Professional Academy-H... 72% 72%
- Alabama School of Nail Technolog... 62% 62%
- Winonah's International School o... 61% 61%
- Reid State Technical College 59% 59%
- Paul Mitchell the School-Birming... 56% 56%
- Northeast Alabama Community Coll... 56% 56%
- George C Wallace State Community... 51% 51%
- Fortis College 49% 49%
Which other cosmetology schools in Alabama are state licensed?
These Alabama cosmetology schools hold a current license from Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering but have no published earnings figure, because the ranking above reads federal data that covers only schools taking federal financial aid. Their hours count toward the Alabama exam exactly as the ranked schools' hours do. They are listed by city rather than ordered, since nothing published about them supports an ordering.
| School | City | Board record | Approved to teach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dreamer’s School of Cosmetology | Alabaster | No. 932299 | barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology, natural-hair |
| The Martin Academy of Cosmetology and Barbering | Anniston | No. 900153 | barbering, cosmetology, instructor |
| East Alabama School of Esthetics | Auburn | No. 935864 | esthetics |
| Body Logic School of Cosmetology and Esthetics | Birmingham | No. 926821 | cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology, natural-hair |
| Haircare Resource Institute | Birmingham | No. 933104 | cosmetology, instructor, nail-technology, natural-hair |
| J Jireh’s Shalom International School of Cosmetology and Barbering | Birmingham | No. 928813 | barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology, natural-hair |
| Ms. Ivory's International School of Cosmetology, Esthetics, & Nail Technology | Birmingham | No. 934351 | esthetics, nail-technology |
| Nu2Hair | Birmingham | No. 932979 | cosmetology, esthetics, nail-technology, natural-hair |
| School of Nail Technology | Birmingham | No. 916600 | nail-technology |
| Southeastern School of Cosmetology | Birmingham | No. 912218 | cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology, natural-hair |
| LanStylez School of Cosmetology & Barbering | Center Point | No. 936588 | barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology, natural-hair |
| The Works School of Cosmetology | Centre | No. 933044 | cosmetology, instructor |
| Apex Adult Education & Vocational Training Center | Chickasaw | No. 934082 | instructor |
| Universal Heights Academy | Clanton | No. 936117 | barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology, natural-hair |
| Alabama Beauty College | Decatur | No. 912284 | cosmetology, instructor, nail-technology |
| Alabama School of Barbering | Decatur | No. 932380 | barbering, esthetics, instructor |
| Bennett School of Cosmetology | Decatur | No. 935191 | cosmetology, instructor |
| Beverly’s Beauty Institute | Dothan | No. 932223 | barbering, cosmetology, instructor, nail-technology, natural-hair |
| Hairoglyphics Academy | Dothan | No. 935889 | barbering, nail-technology, natural-hair |
| Cambridge College of Cosmetology | Enterprise | No. 911065 | cosmetology |
| Bay Style Academy of Cosmetology | Fairhope | No. 928408 | cosmetology, instructor |
| Modern Academy of Cosmetology, LLC | Florence | No. 930836 | barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology, natural-hair |
| Shoals Hair Co. Academy | Florence | No. 936581 | barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, natural-hair |
| Shoals Hair Co. Academy | Florence | No. 934488 | barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology |
| Aveda Institute | Hoover | No. 926632 | cosmetology, esthetics |
Showing 25 of the 27 remaining licensed schools, ordered by city. The full file is with Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering .
How do you become a cosmetologist in Alabama in 2026?
To become a cosmetologist in Alabama you need 1,500 clock hours at a school licensed by Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, then a passing score on the state exam. At the pace most clock-hour schools run, that is roughly 11.5 months full time. 13 states set a lower requirement and the rest set a higher one, in a national range topping out at 2,000 hours.
Those hours only count if the school held a license from Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering while you were enrolled, so check the license before the brochure when comparing cosmetology programs.
How much do cosmetologists make in Alabama in 2026?
Cosmetologists in Alabama earn a median of $29,150 , with the bottom tenth on $21,300 and the top tenth on $56,700 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.
- Cosmetologists $29,150 $29,150
- Salon managers $40,810 $40,810
- Nail technicians $30,300 $30,300
- Estheticians $39,260 $39,260
What is different about cosmetology licensing in Alabama?
The board licenses PRIVATE schools only; Alabama Code 34-7B expressly carves out "any public trade school or other public school or school program under the purview of the State Board of Education or a local board of education," so community-college cosmetology programs are 'registered' rather than board-licensed and the board's site files them under a separate taxonomy, 'Schools regulated by Other Agencies.' Alabama also ties its own distance-learning rule to a private accreditor: a school's distance-learning policy "must be in compliance with the NACCAS Policy on Distance Education, Policy VI.02," and students must sign a disclaimer acknowledging online hours may not be accepted for reciprocity in other states. Read Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering's own rules .
Where do cosmetologists make the most money in Alabama?
Cosmetologists make the most money in Alabama around Montgomery, where the median is $30,530, and the least around Gadsden at $27,070. The 13 percent gap between them is modest by national standards, so pay is fairly even across Alabama.
The statewide median sits at $29,150, so the metros above it are carrying the average up.
- Montgomery $30,530 $30,530
- Tuscaloosa $30,250 $30,250
- Columbus $29,790 $29,790
- Mobile $29,700 $29,700
- Huntsville $29,150 $29,150
- Birmingham $29,000 $29,000
- Florence-Muscle Shoals $28,550 $28,550
- Decatur $28,430 $28,430
- Dothan $28,150 $28,150
- Auburn-Opelika $27,980 $27,980
Where are the cosmetology schools in Alabama?
The licensed cosmetology schools in Alabama cluster hardest in Birmingham, which holds 7 of the 52 the board currently lists. That is only 13 percent of the state total, so schools are spread more evenly here than in states with a single dominant city.
16 towns have exactly one licensed school, which is worth knowing if you cannot easily move: losing that school means losing the option locally.
- Birmingham 7 7
- Huntsville 6 6
- Hoover 4 4
- Mobile 4 4
- Decatur 3 3
- Florence 3 3
- Montgomery 3 3
- Dothan 2 2
- Jasper 2 2
- Madison 2 2
Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech in Alabama?
In Alabama, salon managers are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $40,810 median. Cosmetologists in Alabama sit at $29,150, below that, which is worth weighing before committing to the longest of the licenses.
Hour requirements differ by license too, so a route that pays slightly less can still reach a paycheck sooner.
| Occupation | Median pay | Employed in state |
|---|---|---|
| Salon managers | $40,810 | 1,280 |
| Estheticians | $39,260 | 590 |
| Nail technicians | $30,300 | 920 |
Can you use a cosmetology license from another state in Alabama?
Using a cosmetology license from another state in Alabama means satisfying Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other South states, Alabama is it asks 70 more hours than the regional average of 1,430, and it pays about 13 percent below the regional average.
Someone who expects to follow work across the region should train to the heavier requirement, because hours are easier to hold than to add later.
| State | Hours required | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama (this state) | 1,500 | $29,150 |
| District of Columbia | 1,250 | $54,570 |
| North Carolina | 1,500 | $38,410 |
| Maryland | 1,500 | $36,420 |
| Georgia | 1,500 | $34,560 |
| West Virginia | 2,000 | $34,480 |
| Delaware | $34,350 | |
| South Carolina | 1,500 | $33,700 |
| Tennessee | 1,500 | $31,310 |
| Texas | 1,000 | $30,680 |
| Kentucky | 1,500 | $29,840 |
| Oklahoma | 1,500 | $29,650 |
| Florida | 1,200 | $29,530 |
| Arkansas | 1,500 | $28,830 |
| Mississippi | 1,500 | $27,560 |
| Louisiana | 1,500 | $26,030 |
| Virginia | 1,000 |
Which Alabama cosmetology schools have lapsed or lost their license?
1 Alabama cosmetology school appears in Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering's file with a license that is no longer current. Some closed, some let the license lapse, and some had it taken away. They are here because they still appear in commercial school directories, and because a reader holding a brochure from one of them deserves to know.
| School | City | Board status |
|---|---|---|
| April’s Mane Academy | Mobile | Revoked by the board (Revoked 2/5/2024) |
What does this Alabama cosmetology program ranking not tell you?
This Alabama cosmetology program ranking does not tell you everything you need. This is a completion rate, not a teaching inspection, and a school can lift it by enrolling only students likely to finish just as easily as by teaching well. It is reported for the institution rather than for the cosmetology course alone, which is exact at the beauty schools that teach nothing else and broader at a community college, where cosmetology is one program among many; each card says which kind it is describing. Schools enrolling fewer than 40 students are left out, because a completion rate over a handful of people moves too far on one person's decision to be worth ordering on. It covers only schools that take federal financial aid, a large share of the field but not all of it, so a school missing here takes no federal aid rather than performing badly. Finishing also says nothing about whether a school's hours will count toward your license, which is what the board record on this page is for.
Check a school against the NACCAS accredited school search if federal financial aid matters to you, and against Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering for the license itself.
Common questions about cosmetology programs in Alabama
What makes the best cosmetology programs in Alabama rank highly here?
How many cosmetology programs in Alabama hold a current license?
Should you choose a NACCAS-accredited school in Alabama?
How much does cosmetology school cost in Alabama?
Are the best cosmetology programs in Alabama accredited?
Where does this Alabama cosmetology program data come from?
This Alabama cosmetology program data comes from Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, read on 2026-08-31, from the board's own license records rather than from any school directory. The cost and debt figures come from the US Department of Education's College Scorecard , which publishes them per institution for cosmetology programs at every school taking federal financial aid. The board licenses PRIVATE schools only; Alabama Code 34-7B expressly carves out "any public trade school or other public school or school program under the purview of the State Board of Education or a local board of education," so community-college cosmetology programs are 'registered' rather than board-licensed and the board's site files them under a separate taxonomy, 'Schools regulated by Other Agencies.' Alabama also ties its own distance-learning rule to a private accreditor: a school's distance-learning policy "must be in compliance with the NACCAS Policy on Distance Education, Policy VI.02," and students must sign a disclaimer acknowledging online hours may not be accepted for reciprocity in other states.
Alabama Board of Cosmetology and BarberingRead 2026-08-31.
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 , metro and state pay, employment and concentration behind every wage figure on this page
- US Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study CIP 12.04 , full program cost, median federal debt and the monthly cost of that debt, per institution
On this page
- Other licensed schools
- How to become one
- What it pays
- What is different in Alabama
- Where do cosmetologists make the most money
- Where are the cosmetology schools
- Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech
- Can you use a cosmetology license from another state
- Lapsed and revoked licenses
- What this does not tell you
- Common questions
- Sources