Arizona
Best cosmetology programs in Arizona 2026
Phoenix skyline. Photo by Alan Stark, 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.
No cosmetology program anywhere is accredited, because nothing accredits the program itself. NACCAS, the name on most beauty school marketing, is an institutional accreditor whose practical effect is access to federal financial aid, and an accredited school says nothing about the course it runs. In Arizona the binding credential is the school's license from Barbering and Cosmetology Board.
123
schools currently licensed
19
qualify to be ranked
6
excluded, under 40 enrolled students
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#1
Pure Aesthetics Natural Skincare School
Tucson, AZ · Aesthetician School License
91%
Share of students who finish
- Esthetics
- $12,717 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Tucson, Pure Aesthetics Natural Skincare School is on the Barbering and Cosmetology Board register. It trains toward an esthetics license only, which is a fraction of the hours a cosmetology license takes, leads to skincare, facials and hair removal rather than hair, and does not license you to cut or color hair. That makes it a different decision from the full cosmetology schools on this page rather than a smaller version of one. With 16 licensed schools in Tucson, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. The school graduates 91 percent, on a fall headcount of 53. Tuition is reported at $12,717 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $6,333 in federal loans, measured over 62 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. Completion is the one figure that compares across trades, and 91 percent, 15 points over the 76 percent median, is a good sign. $12,717 is 17 percent under the $15,325 median, but for a course shorter than cosmetology that is a smaller discount than the length would justify, so it is on the dear side for esthetics. 45 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Barbering and Cosmetology Board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around Tucson, the median skincare specialist earns $51,030, the bottom tenth $37,670 and the top tenth $70,310. Tucson employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 200 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#2
Penrose Academy
Scottsdale, AZ · Cosmetology School License
90%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $12,675 program cost
What the record shows
Penrose Academy operates in Scottsdale under license from the Barbering and Cosmetology Board. The school graduates 90 percent, on a fall headcount of 403. Tuition is reported at $12,675 for the full program. 344 graduates borrowed, at a median of $6,333 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. 14 points more of its students finish than the 76 percent median, and it charges 17 percent less than the $15,325 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. 380 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. That is roughly 11 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, so it is one of the larger training operations here. Verify the school's standing with the Barbering and Cosmetology Board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, the range runs $31,340 to $56,890 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $36,810. The lower end of this market is unusually close to its middle, so what changes a graduate's income here is building a following, not surviving an underpaid stretch. Concentration around Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.4 times, or 6,440 people in the occupation.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#3
Xtylo Beauty and Barber College
Phoenix, AZ · Barber School License, Cosmetology School License
88%
Share of students who finish
- Barbering
- Cosmetology
- $14,250 program cost
What the record shows
Xtylo Beauty and Barber College trains in Phoenix, licensed by the Barbering and Cosmetology Board. Its license covers barbering and cosmetology. Phoenix has 32 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. Of the 57 students in its fall count, 88 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $14,250 for the full program. 12 points more of its students finish than the 76 percent median, priced within 8 percent of the $15,325 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. It awarded 27 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Barbering and Cosmetology Board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
undefined Local pay is compressed near the bottom, so the first years look much like the middle and progression comes from clientele rather than from a job title. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler employs the trade at about 1.4 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#4
Turning Point Beauty College
Chandler, AZ · Cosmetology School License
86%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $6,350 program cost
What the record shows
Turning Point Beauty College is licensed by the Barbering and Cosmetology Board and trains in Chandler. Chandler has 6 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. The school graduates 86 percent, on a fall headcount of 106. Tuition is reported at $6,350 for the full program. The median graduate left with $6,922 in federal loans, across 36 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $73 a month. That median loan is larger than the $6,350 price, so the typical borrower here finances more than tuition. More finish here than at the typical school on this page, 86 percent against 76, and the price is 59 percent under the $15,325 median: the two numbers point the same way. 104 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. From 106 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. Check its license with the Barbering and Cosmetology Board before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Around Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, the median cosmetologist earns $36,810, the bottom tenth $31,340 and the top tenth $56,890. The lower end of this market is unusually close to its middle, so what changes a graduate's income here is building a following, not surviving an underpaid stretch. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler employs the trade at about 1.4 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#5
Avalon Institute-Mesa
Mesa, AZ · Cosmetology School License
84%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $17,600 program cost
What the record shows
Avalon Institute-Mesa is licensed by the Barbering and Cosmetology Board and trains in Mesa. Mesa has 13 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 84 percent of its students finish, out of 298 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $17,600 for the full program. The median graduate left with $7,426 in federal loans, across 860 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $79 a month. Paying 15 percent over the $15,325 median buys 8 points of completion over the 76 percent median, and whether that is worth it depends on how sure you are of finishing anywhere. 323 credentials in the year from a fall count of 298: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. Check its license with the Barbering and Cosmetology Board before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler runs from $31,340 at the tenth percentile to $56,890 at the ninetieth, with a median of $36,810. Wages start near the local middle, so the question here is not surviving the first year but whether you build a book in it. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler employs the trade at about 1.4 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#6
Empire Beauty School-Tucson
Tucson, AZ · Cosmetology School License
83%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $19,200 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Tucson, Empire Beauty School-Tucson is on the Barbering and Cosmetology Board register. With 16 licensed schools in Tucson, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. The school graduates 83 percent, on a fall headcount of 203. Tuition is reported at $19,200 for the full program. Borrowing is pooled across Empire Beauty campuses in the federal file, 817 borrowers at a median of $13,000 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $138 a month. Paying 25 percent over the $15,325 median buys 7 points of completion over the 76 percent median, and whether that is worth it depends on how sure you are of finishing anywhere. 126 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Check its license with the Barbering and Cosmetology Board before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
undefined Tucson employs the trade at about 1.2 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#7
Aveda Institute-Tucson
Tucson, AZ · Cosmetology School License
82%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $12,200 program cost
What the record shows
Aveda Institute-Tucson operates in Tucson under license from the Barbering and Cosmetology Board. Tucson has 16 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. Of the 240 students in its fall count, 82 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $12,200 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $6,333 in federal loans, measured over 416 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. More finish here than at the typical school on this page, 82 percent against 76, and the price is 20 percent under the $15,325 median: the two numbers point the same way. It awarded 183 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Barbering and Cosmetology Board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Tucson runs from $30,580 at the tenth percentile to $61,620 at the ninetieth, with a median of $38,590. The upside is capped near 1.6 times the median and the floor is 21 percent under it, a market where the first year is tight rather than dangerous and the ceiling is earned slowly. Concentration around Tucson runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.2 times, or 890 people in the occupation.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#8
Avalon Institute-Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ · Cosmetology School License
80%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $17,650 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Phoenix, Avalon Institute-Phoenix is on the Barbering and Cosmetology Board register. Phoenix has 32 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. Of 219 enrolled in the fall count, 80 percent finish. Tuition is reported at $17,650 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $7,426 in federal loans at the median, 860 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $79 a month. It charges 15 percent over the $15,325 median and finishes about as many of its students as the typical school here, so the extra price is not buying a better completion rate. It awarded 409 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 219, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. The license from the Barbering and Cosmetology Board is the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
undefined
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#9
Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona, LLC
Chandler, AZ
77%
Share of students who finish
- 77% finish
- 645 graduates a year
- $9,940 program cost
What the record shows
Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona, LLC runs its cosmetology program in Chandler and reports to the US Department of Education. The school graduates 77 percent, on a fall headcount of 570. It charges $9,940 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. The median graduate left with $6,227 in federal loans, across 763 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $66 a month. $9,940 is 35 percent under the $15,325 median, and completion is within 1 points of the 76 percent median, which is the cheap-without-a-catch pairing. 645 credentials in the year from a fall count of 570: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. The Barbering and Cosmetology Board 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler employs the trade at about 1.4 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
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#10
Tucson College of Beauty
Tucson, AZ · Cosmetology School License
76%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $7,800 program cost
What the record shows
Tucson College of Beauty trains in Tucson, licensed by the Barbering and Cosmetology Board. Tucson has 16 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. The school graduates 76 percent, on a fall headcount of 144. It charges $7,800 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 $6,333 in federal loans, measured over 123 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. That is most of the $7,800 price arriving as debt, so the published cost and what a student actually finances are close to the same number here. It charges 49 percent less than the $15,325 median and finishes about as many of its students as the typical school here, so the saving is real rather than a discount for worse odds. 120 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Confirm the school's current license with the Barbering and Cosmetology Board first: that entry is what qualifies your hours, whatever the federal figures say.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Tucson runs from $30,580 at the tenth percentile to $61,620 at the ninetieth, with a median of $38,590. The upside is capped near 1.6 times the median and the floor is 21 percent under it, a market where the first year is tight rather than dangerous and the ceiling is earned slowly. Tucson employs the trade at about 1.2 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#11
Charles of Italy Beauty College
Lake Havasu City, AZ · Cosmetology School License
74%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $15,325 program cost
What the record shows
Charles of Italy Beauty College is licensed by the Barbering and Cosmetology Board and trains in Lake Havasu City. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Lake Havasu City. Of 76 enrolled in the fall count, 74 percent finish. The published cost is $15,325 for the full program. On completion and price it is close to the median school on this page, 74 percent against 76 and $15,325, exactly the median, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. 36 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Ask the Barbering and Cosmetology Board directly whether the license is in good standing, because a lapse while you are enrolled costs you the hours rather than the school.
Where it leads
undefined The metro median runs about 8 percent below the Arizona figure. Lake Havasu City-Kingman employs the trade at only about 0.7 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#12
Empire Beauty School-Chandler
Chandler, AZ · Cosmetology School License
71%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $19,200 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Chandler, Empire Beauty School-Chandler is on the Barbering and Cosmetology Board register. Chandler has 6 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. The school graduates 71 percent, on a fall headcount of 104. Tuition is reported at $19,200 for the full program. Borrowing is pooled across Empire Beauty campuses in the federal file, 987 borrowers at a median of $12,090 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $128 a month. That is the pairing to be wary of: 5 points fewer of its students finish than the 76 percent median, at a price 25 percent over the $15,325 median. Ask the school directly why students leave before you commit. It awarded 23 beauty credentials in the reporting year. From 104 enrolled that is slow throughput for a clock-hour course, and it belongs beside the completion figure above. Ask the Barbering and Cosmetology Board directly whether the license is in good standing, because a lapse while you are enrolled costs you the hours rather than the school.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, the range runs $31,340 to $56,890 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $36,810. There is little distance between entry pay and the median locally, so the early climb is flatter than in most trades. Concentration around Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.4 times, or 6,440 people in the occupation.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#13
East Valley Institute of Technology
Mesa, AZ · Cosmetology School License
68%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $5,500 program cost
What the record shows
East Valley Institute of Technology operates in Mesa under license from the Barbering and Cosmetology Board. Mesa has 13 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. Across all 377 students at the school, 68 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 68 percent is low for this page, but it is the school's rate and the cosmetology program is a small part of it; the cosmetology department's own completions are the check. The published tuition is $5,500. That price is 64 percent under the $15,325 median, which is what public pricing looks like and the reason it is a fraction of the academies here. It awarded 57 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Barbering and Cosmetology Board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, the range runs $31,340 to $56,890 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $36,810. Entry and median pay nearly meet locally. The money comes later and it comes from repeat clients. Concentration around Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.4 times, or 6,440 people in the occupation.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#14
Aveda Institute-Phoenix
Tempe, AZ · Cosmetology School License
68%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $20,700 program cost
What the record shows
Aveda Institute-Phoenix trains in Tempe, licensed by the Barbering and Cosmetology Board. 68 percent of students see the course through, out of 218 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $20,700 for the full program. The median graduate left with $6,333 in federal loans, across 416 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. That is the pairing to be wary of: 8 points fewer of its students finish than the 76 percent median, at a price 35 percent over the $15,325 median. Ask the school directly why students leave before you commit. 220 credentials in the year from a fall count of 218: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. Ask the Barbering and Cosmetology Board directly whether the license is in good standing, because a lapse while you are enrolled costs you the hours rather than the school.
Where it leads
Around Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, the median cosmetologist earns $36,810, the bottom tenth $31,340 and the top tenth $56,890.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#15
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts
Tempe, AZ
67%
Share of students who finish
- 165 graduates a year
- $15,975 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Tempe, Southwest Institute of Healing Arts is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 67 percent of the 534 students it enrolls finish. Tuition is reported at $15,975 for the full program. The price is close to the $15,325 median and the completion is not: 67 percent against 76. In a clock-hour course that is the wrong half of the trade, and the reason to ask hard questions before a deposit. It awarded 165 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Its hours count only under a current entry with the Barbering and Cosmetology Board, so search that register by the school's legal name before any deposit.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler earn under $36,810, with the tenth percentile at $31,340 and the ninetieth at $56,890. The bottom and the middle sit close together here, which means early pay is predictable and the upside has to be built rather than waited for. The work is somewhat more concentrated around Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler than nationally, at roughly 1.4 times the usual rate.
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#16
GateWay Community College-Central City
Phoenix, AZ · Cosmetology School License
55%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $4,715 program cost
What the record shows
GateWay Community College-Central City trains in Phoenix, licensed by the Barbering and Cosmetology Board. Phoenix has 32 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 55 percent of students across the college finish, out of 595 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 55 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Tuition is reported at $4,715. That price is 69 percent under the $15,325 median, which is what public pricing looks like and the reason it is a fraction of the academies here. 104 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Barbering and Cosmetology Board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
undefined Local pay is compressed near the bottom, so the first years look much like the middle and progression comes from clientele rather than from a job title.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#17
Empire Beauty School-Avondale
Avondale, AZ · Cosmetology School License
53%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $19,200 program cost
What the record shows
Empire Beauty School-Avondale is licensed by the Barbering and Cosmetology Board and trains in Avondale. The school graduates 53 percent, on a fall headcount of 236. It charges $19,200 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Empire Beauty campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $12,500 in federal loans at the median over 838 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $133 a month. 23 points fewer finish than the 76 percent median and it costs 25 percent over the $15,325 median, so before enrolling ask what happens to the students who do not get through. It awarded 72 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Check its license with the Barbering and Cosmetology Board before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Around Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, the median cosmetologist earns $36,810, the bottom tenth $31,340 and the top tenth $56,890. Entry and median pay nearly meet locally. The money comes later and it comes from repeat clients. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler employs the trade at about 1.4 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#18
Paul Mitchell the School-Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ · Barber School License, Cosmetology School License
53%
Share of students who finish
- Barbering
- Cosmetology
- $17,975 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Phoenix trains in Phoenix, licensed by the Barbering and Cosmetology Board. Its license covers barbering and cosmetology. Phoenix has 32 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. Of the 137 students in its fall count, 53 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $17,975 for the full program. The median graduate left with $17,559 in federal loans, across 123 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $186 a month. That is most of the $17,975 price arriving as debt, so the published cost and what a student actually finances are close to the same number here. 23 points fewer finish than the 76 percent median and it costs 17 percent over the $15,325 median, so before enrolling ask what happens to the students who do not get through. 77 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Confirm the school's current license with the Barbering and Cosmetology Board first: that entry is what qualifies your hours, whatever the federal figures say.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler earn under $36,810, with the tenth percentile at $31,340 and the ninetieth at $56,890. The first rung and the middle of this market are close enough that the early years are less about pay than about who comes back. Concentration around Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.4 times, or 6,440 people in the occupation.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#19
International Barber College
Chandler, AZ · Barber School License
43%
Share of students who finish
- Barbering
- $18,400 program cost
What the record shows
International Barber College is licensed by the Barbering and Cosmetology Board and trains in Chandler. The license here is a barber license, which means men's cutting, shaving and beard work. It takes a similar hour count to cosmetology and is a narrower ticket, and for someone who already knows they want that end of the trade, the narrowness is the point. With 6 licensed schools in Chandler, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. 43 percent of its students finish, out of 45 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $18,400 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $16,500 in federal loans, measured over 33 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $175 a month. That is most of the $18,400 price arriving as debt, so the published cost and what a student actually finances are close to the same number here. Completion is the one figure that compares across trades, and 43 percent, 33 points under the 76 percent median, is the first thing to ask about. $18,400 is 20 percent over the $15,325 median for a similar hour count, which needs a reason. It awarded 23 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Check its license with the Barbering and Cosmetology Board before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
undefined Cosmetologists are the nearest series BLS carries to barbers here.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
- Pure Aesthetics Natural Skincare... 91% 91%
- Penrose Academy 90% 90%
- Xtylo Beauty and Barber College 88% 88%
- Turning Point Beauty College 86% 86%
- Avalon Institute-Mesa 84% 84%
- Empire Beauty School-Tucson 83% 83%
- Aveda Institute-Tucson 82% 82%
- Avalon Institute-Phoenix 80% 80%
- Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona, ... 77% 77%
- Tucson College of Beauty 76% 76%
Which other cosmetology schools in Arizona are state licensed?
These Arizona cosmetology schools hold a current license from Barbering and Cosmetology Board 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 Arizona 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinal Community College District - Superstition Mountain Campus | Apache Junction | Aesthetician School License | esthetics |
| Aveda Institute Avondale | Avondale | Cosmetology School License | cosmetology |
| Madrid Beauty Academy | Avondale | Barber School License | barbering |
| Madrid Beauty Academy | Avondale | Cosmetology School License | cosmetology |
| Southwest Hairstyling at West-Mec | Buckeye | Cosmetology School License | cosmetology |
| Charles Of Italy Beauty College | Bullhead City | Cosmetology School License | cosmetology |
| Glitz School of Cosmetology | Casa Grande | Barber School License, Cosmetology School License | barbering, cosmetology |
| G Skin & Beauty Institute | Chandler | Aesthetician School License | esthetics |
| Raw Beauty Skin and Lash Academy | Chandler | Aesthetician School License | esthetics |
| The Studio Academy of Beauty - East Valley | Chandler | Cosmetology School License | cosmetology |
| Canyon De Chelly School of Cosmetology | Chinle | Cosmetology School License | cosmetology |
| Institution of Barber & Styling | Chino Valley | Barber School License | barbering |
| Wildcats Beauty School | Cibecue | Cosmetology School License | cosmetology |
| CAVIT Academy of Cosmetology | Coolidge | Cosmetology School License, Hairstyling School License | cosmetology |
| CAVIT- Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology | Coolidge | Barber School License | barbering |
| Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education (VACTE) | Cottonwood | Cosmetology School License | cosmetology |
| Blessed Hands Barber Academy | Cottonwood | Barber School License | barbering |
| Global Academys of Barbers & Beauty | Eloy | Barber School License | barbering |
| Kuttz Barber College | Flagstaff | Barber School License | barbering |
| Kuttz Beauty College | Flagstaff | Cosmetology School License | cosmetology |
| Jacksons Barber College | Fort Mohave | Barber School License | barbering |
| Project Esty Aesthetics Academy | Gilbert | Aesthetician School License | esthetics |
| Wildflower Skin Institute | Gilbert | Aesthetician School License | esthetics |
| All American Barber Academy | Glendale | Barber School License | barbering |
| Hinojos Barber College | Glendale | Barber School License | barbering |
Showing 25 of the 104 remaining licensed schools, ordered by city. The full file is with Barbering and Cosmetology Board .
How do you become a cosmetologist in Arizona in 2026?
To become a cosmetologist in Arizona you need 1,500 clock hours at a school licensed by Barbering and Cosmetology Board, then a passing score on the state exam. At the pace most clock-hour schools run, that is roughly 11.5 months full time. Only 13 states ask less, so this is at the shorter end of a range that reaches 2,000 hours.
A cosmetology program whose school lost its license mid-course takes your hours with it, which is the argument for checking Barbering and Cosmetology Board first.
How much do cosmetologists make in Arizona in 2026?
Cosmetologists in Arizona earn a median of $36,810 , with the bottom tenth on $31,050 and the top tenth on $57,790 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.
- Cosmetologists $36,810 $36,810
- Nail technicians $35,290 $35,290
- Estheticians $50,470 $50,470
- Salon managers $47,690 $47,690
What is different about cosmetology licensing in Arizona?
Arizona abolished its two separate boards: HB2029 (2021) consolidated the Board of Barbers and the Board of Cosmetology into a single Barbering and Cosmetology Board effective January 1, 2022, and the merged board now licenses barbering, cosmetology, aesthetics, nail technology and a distinct 1,000-hour 'hairstylist' credential. Its virtual-learning rule is unusually permissive in form: it caps nothing by percentage, instead permitting theory curriculum wholesale online while leaving all practical hours on-site, where most states write a flat 50% ceiling. Arizona statute also formally deems a board-licensed school a 'postsecondary educational institution' (A.R.S. 32-565), which few states do in the licensing act itself. Arizona is a Cosmetology Licensure Compact state, with multistate compact licenses offered at renewal beginning in 2026. Read Barbering and Cosmetology Board's own rules .
Where do cosmetologists make the most money in Arizona?
Cosmetologists make the most money in Arizona around Tucson, where the median is $38,590, and the least around Lake Havasu City-Kingman at $33,810. At 14 percent, the spread across Arizona is narrow, and location will not decide your income the way it does in some states.
Against a statewide median of $36,810, roughly half these metros pay above and half below.
- Tucson $38,590 $38,590
- Flagstaff $37,390 $37,390
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler $36,810 $36,810
- Yuma $34,970 $34,970
- Prescott Valley-Prescott $34,710 $34,710
- Lake Havasu City-Kingman $33,810 $33,810
Where are the cosmetology schools in Arizona?
The licensed cosmetology schools in Arizona cluster hardest in Phoenix, which holds 32 of the 123 the board currently lists. One city holding 26 percent of the state's licensed schools means a reader elsewhere is often choosing between two or three, not twenty.
Another 24 towns hold a single licensed school apiece, so in much of the state the practical choice is one school or a commute.
- Phoenix 32 32
- Tucson 16 16
- Mesa 13 13
- Chandler 6 6
- Yuma 6 6
- Avondale 4 4
- Scottsdale 4 4
- Goodyear 3 3
- Tempe 3 3
- Coolidge 2 2
Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech in Arizona?
In Arizona, estheticians are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $50,470 median. That is above the $36,810 cosmetologist median, so the longer general license is not automatically the better-paid route here.
Each is a separate license with its own program and its own hour count, which is why the highest median is not automatically the best return on the time.
| Occupation | Median pay | Employed in state |
|---|---|---|
| Estheticians | $50,470 | 1,710 |
| Salon managers | $47,690 | 1,620 |
| Nail technicians | $35,290 | 2,440 |
Can you use a cosmetology license from another state in Arizona?
Using a cosmetology license from another state in Arizona means satisfying Barbering and Cosmetology Board, which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other West states, Arizona is its 1,500 hour requirement is about the regional norm, and it pays about 6 percent below the regional average.
Reciprocity is decided case by case, and the state you trained in is only the starting point for that conversation.
| State | Hours required | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona (this state) | 1,500 | $36,810 |
| Washington | 1,600 | $59,510 |
| Oregon | $57,580 | |
| California | 1,000 | $38,660 |
| Montana | 1,500 | $38,000 |
| New Mexico | 1,600 | $37,750 |
| Colorado | 1,500 | $37,690 |
| Idaho | 1,600 | $35,480 |
| Utah | 1,250 | $35,140 |
| Hawaii | 1,800 | $35,040 |
| Nevada | 1,600 | $33,840 |
| Alaska | 1,650 | $32,150 |
| Wyoming | 1,600 | $29,170 |
What does this Arizona cosmetology program ranking not tell you?
This Arizona 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 Barbering and Cosmetology Board for the license itself.
Common questions about cosmetology programs in Arizona
What makes the best cosmetology programs in Arizona rank highly here?
How many cosmetology programs in Arizona hold a current license?
Should you choose a NACCAS-accredited school in Arizona?
How much does cosmetology school cost in Arizona?
Are the best cosmetology programs in Arizona accredited?
Where does this Arizona cosmetology program data come from?
This Arizona cosmetology program data comes from Barbering and Cosmetology Board, 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. Arizona abolished its two separate boards: HB2029 (2021) consolidated the Board of Barbers and the Board of Cosmetology into a single Barbering and Cosmetology Board effective January 1, 2022, and the merged board now licenses barbering, cosmetology, aesthetics, nail technology and a distinct 1,000-hour 'hairstylist' credential. Its virtual-learning rule is unusually permissive in form: it caps nothing by percentage, instead permitting theory curriculum wholesale online while leaving all practical hours on-site, where most states write a flat 50% ceiling. Arizona statute also formally deems a board-licensed school a 'postsecondary educational institution' (A.R.S. 32-565), which few states do in the licensing act itself. Arizona is a Cosmetology Licensure Compact state, with multistate compact licenses offered at renewal beginning in 2026.
Barbering and Cosmetology BoardRead 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 Arizona
- 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
- What this does not tell you
- Common questions
- Sources