San Diego, California
Cosmetology Schools in San Diego, CA, Ranked (2026)
Published
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
The cosmetology schools in San Diego split down the middle: six inside the city limits and six more within commuting distance, twelve in all. Every one of them has a federal completion figure and a cohort large enough to rank, so nothing in reach drops out. That makes this a rare list where the comparison is straight across.
The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology approves ten schools at San Diego addresses, and five of those ten never reach a ranked card, which is ordinary in a field where most schools are clock-hour institutions outside federal reporting. Board approval is the thing that makes your hours count toward a California license, so it is worth checking before anything else.
Figures in this section: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology; BLS OEWS, May 2025; College Scorecard, June 2026.
The 12 Cosmetology Schools in and Near San Diego, Ranked on Completion
12 cosmetology programs report to the US Department of Education from inside San Diego or within 30 miles of downtown. Every one of them had at least 40 students and a published completion figure, and they are ordered on the share of students who finish within half again the program's normal length.
Where a school's board record was matched, the card carries it. A school that appears here without one is not unlicensed; it means the board's file and the federal file did not agree on its name, and the California page links the board's own lookup.
| # | School | Miles | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego | 0 | 99% |
| 2 | Palomar Institute of Cosmetology | 29 | 89% |
| 3 | California Hair Design Academy | 9 | 87% |
| 4 | Associated Barber College of San Diego | 0 | 81% |
| 5 | Southern California College of Barber and Beauty | 29 | 80% |
| 6 | Bellus Academy-Poway | 18 | 73% |
| 7 | Bellus Academy-El Cajon | 14 | 72% |
| 8 | Bellus Academy-Chula Vista | 8 | 68% |
| 9 | California Barber and Beauty College | 5 | 59% |
| 10 | San Diego Miramar College | 14 | 48% |
| 11 | Riggins Urban Barber College | 4 | 41% |
| 12 | San Diego City College | 1 | 30% |
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#1
Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego
San Diego, CA · Board-approved school
99%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Barbering
- 73 exam candidates
- $15,575 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego trains in San Diego, licensed by the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. 47 of its 73 first-time candidates passed the state written exam, a rate of 64 percent. Most of its candidates, 43 of 73, tested in cosmetology, so that is what it mainly trains people to do. The result is uneven by license: 82 percent in esthetics against 56 percent in cosmetology. Against the 69 percent statewide rate it sits 5 points below, though a single school's cohort moves more than a state's does. It is one of the larger testing centers in the state by candidate volume. San Diego has 10 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 99 percent of its students finish, out of 225 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $15,575 for the full program. Paul Mitchell campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $7,232 in federal loans at the median over 70 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $77 a month. 27 points more of its students finish than the 72 percent median, priced within 3 percent of the $15,913 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. It awarded 140 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, the median cosmetologist earns $37,290, the bottom tenth $35,500 and the top tenth $62,130. 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. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 2,870 people.
Exam results by license
cosmetology 24 of 43 56% esthetics 18 of 22 82% barbering 5 of 8 63% Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, read 2026-08-28.
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#2
Palomar Institute of Cosmetology
San Marcos, CA · Board-approved school
89%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Nail technology
- 101 exam candidates
- $16,250 program cost
What the record shows
Based in San Marcos, Palomar Institute of Cosmetology is on the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology register. The board recorded 101 first-time candidates from this school, 77 of whom passed, at 76 percent. That runs above the 64 percent median across the schools ranked here. Its cosmetology candidates passed at 87 percent, 34 of 39, which is where most of the school's result comes from. Candidates sat exams in cosmetology, esthetics and nail technology. Against the 69 percent statewide rate it sits 7 points above, though a single school's cohort moves more than a state's does. Few schools in the state put through more candidates. Of the 193 students in its fall count, 89 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $16,250 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $6,333 in federal loans, measured over 106 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. 17 points more of its students finish than the 72 percent median, priced within 3 percent of the $15,913 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. It awarded 231 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 193, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. Verify the school's standing with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists in California runs from $35,360 at the tenth percentile to $68,640 at the ninetieth, with a median of $38,660. Starting pay and typical pay are close together in this state, which cuts both ways: less of a lean first year, and less immediate reward for getting quicker. On concentration, California is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
Exam results by license
cosmetology 34 of 39 87% esthetics 25 of 37 68% nail technology 18 of 25 72% Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, read 2026-08-28.
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#3
California Hair Design Academy
La Mesa, CA · Board-approved school
87%
Share of students who finish
- Esthetics
- Cosmetology
- Barbering
- 36 exam candidates
- $16,250 program cost
What the record shows
Based in La Mesa, California Hair Design Academy is on the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology register. Of 36 first-time candidates sitting the state written exam, 26 passed, giving 72 percent. That runs above the 64 percent median across the schools ranked here. The 64 percent there, 9 of 14, sets much of the overall figure. Candidates sat exams in esthetics, cosmetology and barbering. Statewide, first-time candidates pass at 69 percent, so this runs 3 points above. Its 36 candidates over two quarters make it a mid-sized program by state standards. The board lists no other licensed school in La Mesa. 87 percent of students see the course through, out of 98 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $16,250 for the full program. 115 graduates borrowed, at a median of $6,333 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. 15 points more of its students finish than the 72 percent median, priced within 3 percent of the $15,913 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. 118 credentials in the year from a fall count of 98: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. Confirm the school's current license with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology first: that entry is what qualifies your hours, whatever the federal figures say.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists in California, the range runs $35,360 to $68,640 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $38,660. 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 occupation is about as common in California as it is nationally.
Exam results by license
esthetics 9 of 14 64% cosmetology 9 of 12 75% barbering 8 of 10 80% Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, read 2026-08-28.
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#4
Associated Barber College of San Diego
San Diego, CA · Board-approved school
81%
Share of students who finish
- Barbering
- Cosmetology
- 16 exam candidates
- $22,245 program cost
What the record shows
Associated Barber College of San Diego trains in San Diego, licensed by the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. It trains toward a barber license only, which is a similar hour count to cosmetology, leads to men's cutting, shaving and beard work, and does not license color, chemical services or the full cosmetology scope. That makes it a different decision from the full cosmetology schools on this page rather than a smaller version of one. The board recorded 16 first-time candidates from this school, 6 of whom passed, at 38 percent. The median across the schools ranked here is 64 percent. Most of its candidates, 14 of 16, tested in barbering, so that is what it mainly trains people to do. Statewide, first-time candidates pass at 69 percent, so this runs 31 points below. The cohort is small, which makes the rate move more from year to year. San Diego has 10 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 81 percent of students see the course through, out of 121 enrolled. The published cost is $22,245 for the full program. The median graduate left with $15,835 in federal loans, across 51 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $168 a month. Completion is the one figure that compares across trades, and 81 percent, 9 points over the 72 percent median, is a good sign. $22,245 is 40 percent over the $15,913 median for a similar hour count, which needs a reason. 67 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Check its license with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for barbers in California runs from $35,900 at the tenth percentile to $69,530 at the ninetieth, with a median of $38,380. 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. On concentration, California is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
Exam results by license
barbering 5 of 14 36% cosmetology 1 of 2 50% Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, read 2026-08-28.
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#5
Southern California College of Barber and Beauty
Escondido, CA · Board-approved school
80%
Share of students who finish
- Esthetics
- Barbering
- Cosmetology
- 22 exam candidates
- $16,575 program cost
What the record shows
Southern California College of Barber and Beauty operates in Escondido under license from the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. The board recorded 22 first-time candidates from this school, 15 of whom passed, at 68 percent. Esthetics is its largest cohort at 9 of 22 candidates, which makes it the school's center of gravity. The statewide first-time rate is 69 percent, so it is about average on this measure. It is a small program, so the rate rests on a modest number of candidates. 80 percent of its students finish, out of 59 enrolled in the fall count. It charges $16,575 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. $16,575 is within 5 percent of the $15,913 median, and the completion is not ordinary: 80 percent against 72. That is the better half of the trade. It awarded 59 beauty credentials in the reporting year. From 59 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. Confirm the school's current license with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology first: that entry is what qualifies your hours, whatever the federal figures say.
Where it leads
In California, the median cosmetologist earns $38,660, the bottom tenth $35,360 and the top tenth $68,640. Wages start near the local middle, so the question here is not surviving the first year but whether you build a book in it. California employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 27,080 people.
Exam results by license
esthetics 6 of 9 67% barbering 3 of 7 43% cosmetology 6 of 6 100% Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, read 2026-08-28.
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#6
Bellus Academy-Poway
Poway, CA · Board-approved school
73%
Share of students who finish
- Esthetics
- Cosmetology
- Nail technology
- Barbering
- 139 exam candidates
- $15,465 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Poway, Bellus Academy-Poway is on the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology register. Of 139 first-time candidates sitting the state written exam, 107 passed, giving 77 percent. That runs above the 64 percent median across the schools ranked here. Most of its candidates, 70 of 139, tested in esthetics, so that is what it mainly trains people to do. The result is uneven by license: 83 percent in nail technology against 50 percent in barbering. Against the 69 percent statewide rate it sits 8 points above, though a single school's cohort moves more than a state's does. Few schools in the state put through more candidates. 73 percent of the 324 students it enrolls finish. The published cost is $15,465 for the full program. 476 graduates borrowed, at a median of $9,376 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $99 a month. Completion and price both sit close to the page median, 73 percent against 72 and $15,465 against $15,913, so the number that separates it is debt: 61 percent of the price arrives as federal loans, more than at the typical school here. It awarded 364 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 324, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. Confirm the school's current license with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology first: that entry is what qualifies your hours, whatever the federal figures say.
Where it leads
In California, the median cosmetologist earns $38,660, the bottom tenth $35,360 and the top tenth $68,640. 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. Local concentration in California sits near the national average.
Exam results by license
esthetics 56 of 70 80% cosmetology 31 of 41 76% nail technology 15 of 18 83% barbering 5 of 10 50% Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, read 2026-08-28.
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#7
Bellus Academy-El Cajon
El Cajon, CA · Board-approved school
72%
Share of students who finish
- Esthetics
- Cosmetology
- Nail technology
- 55 exam candidates
- $15,465 program cost
What the record shows
Bellus Academy-El Cajon is licensed by the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology and trains in El Cajon. Of 55 first-time candidates sitting the state written exam, 35 passed, giving 64 percent. Esthetics is its largest cohort at 23 of 55 candidates, which makes it the school's center of gravity. Performance varies by license, from 80 percent in nail technology down to 57 percent in esthetics. Against the 69 percent statewide rate it sits 5 points below, though a single school's cohort moves more than a state's does. Its 55 candidates over two quarters make it a mid-sized program by state standards. The board lists no other licensed school in El Cajon. 72 percent of students see the course through, out of 157 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $15,465 for the full program. 203 graduates borrowed, at a median of $7,917 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $84 a month. It is close to the median school on this page on completion, price and borrowing, 72 percent, exactly the median and $15,465 against $15,913, 51 percent of the price borrowed against 51 for the page, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. 146 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. From 157 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. The license from the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology is the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists in California runs from $35,360 at the tenth percentile to $68,640 at the ninetieth, with a median of $38,660. Statewide, 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. The occupation is about as common in California as it is nationally.
Exam results by license
esthetics 13 of 23 57% cosmetology 14 of 22 64% nail technology 8 of 10 80% Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, read 2026-08-28.
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#8
Bellus Academy-Chula Vista
Chula Vista, CA · Board-approved school
68%
Share of students who finish
- Esthetics
- Cosmetology
- Nail technology
- Barbering
- 132 exam candidates
- $9,917 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Chula Vista, Bellus Academy-Chula Vista is on the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology register. Of 132 first-time candidates sitting the state written exam, 80 passed, giving 61 percent. Performance varies by license, from 74 percent in nail technology down to 51 percent in cosmetology. Candidates sat exams in esthetics, cosmetology, nail technology and barbering. Against the 69 percent statewide rate it sits 8 points below, though a single school's cohort moves more than a state's does. It is one of the larger testing centers in the state by candidate volume. 68 percent of its students finish, out of 341 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $9,917 for the full program. The median graduate left with $15,144 in federal loans, across 135 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $161 a month. That median loan is larger than the $9,917 price, so the typical borrower here finances more than tuition. It charges 38 percent less than the $15,913 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. 315 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. From 341 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. Verify the school's standing with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad runs from $35,500 at the tenth percentile to $62,130 at the ninetieth, with a median of $37,290. Starting pay and typical pay are close together in this market, which cuts both ways: less of a lean first year, and less immediate reward for getting quicker. The occupation is about as common around San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad as it is nationally.
Exam results by license
esthetics 28 of 44 64% cosmetology 21 of 41 51% nail technology 20 of 27 74% barbering 11 of 20 55% Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, read 2026-08-28.
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#9
California Barber and Beauty College
San Diego, CA · Board-approved school
59%
Share of students who finish
- Barbering
- 12 exam candidates
- $13,450 program cost
What the record shows
California Barber and Beauty College operates in San Diego under license from the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. 4 of its 12 first-time candidates passed the state written exam, a rate of 33 percent. The median across the schools ranked here is 64 percent. All of its candidates tested in barbering. Against the 69 percent statewide rate it sits 36 points below, though a single school's cohort moves more than a state's does. It is a small program, so the rate rests on a modest number of candidates. San Diego has 10 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 59 percent of students see the course through, out of 50 enrolled. The published cost is $13,450 for the full program. Cheap, but 13 points fewer of its students finish than the 72 percent median, and in a clock-hour trade an unfinished course is the expensive outcome: you have paid for hours that never become a license. It awarded 26 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad earn under $37,290, with the tenth percentile at $35,500 and the ninetieth at $62,130. 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. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 2,870 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, read 2026-08-28.
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#10
San Diego Miramar College
San Diego, CA
48%
Share of students who finish
- Associate degree
- Public institution
What the record shows
San Diego Miramar College runs its cosmetology program in San Diego and reports to the US Department of Education. 48 percent of students across the college finish, out of 11,271 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 48 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. This is one of the few cosmetology programs recorded as awarding an associate degree; the state license still turns on the clock hours and the exam, not the degree. It is a public college, so the cosmetology course is priced at in-district tuition rather than at an academy price. Its hours count only under a current entry with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, so search that register by the school's legal name before any deposit.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad runs from $35,500 at the tenth percentile to $62,130 at the ninetieth, with a median of $37,290. Starting pay and typical pay are close together in this market, which cuts both ways: less of a lean first year, and less immediate reward for getting quicker. On concentration, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#11
Riggins Urban Barber College
San Diego, CA · Board-approved school
41%
Share of students who finish
- Barbering
- Cosmetology
- 15 exam candidates
- $18,000 program cost
What the record shows
Riggins Urban Barber College trains in San Diego, licensed by the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. It trains toward a barber license only, which is a similar hour count to cosmetology, leads to men's cutting, shaving and beard work, and does not license color, chemical services or the full cosmetology scope. That makes it a different decision from the full cosmetology schools on this page rather than a smaller version of one. 8 of its 15 first-time candidates passed the state written exam, a rate of 53 percent. The median across the schools ranked here is 64 percent. Barbering is its largest cohort at 14 of 15 candidates, which makes it the school's center of gravity. Statewide, first-time candidates pass at 69 percent, so this runs 16 points below. The cohort is small, which makes the rate move more from year to year. San Diego has 10 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 41 percent of students see the course through, out of 85 enrolled. The published cost is $18,000 for the full program. Completion is the one figure that compares across trades, and 41 percent, 31 points under the 72 percent median, is the first thing to ask about. $18,000 is 13 percent over the $15,913 median for a similar hour count, which needs a reason. It awarded 22 beauty credentials in the reporting year. From 85 enrolled that is slow throughput for a clock-hour course, and it belongs beside the completion figure above. Confirm the school's current license with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology first: that entry is what qualifies your hours, whatever the federal figures say.
Where it leads
For barbers in California, the range runs $35,900 to $69,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $38,380. Starting pay and typical pay are close together in this state, which cuts both ways: less of a lean first year, and less immediate reward for getting quicker. The occupation is about as common in California as it is nationally.
Exam results by license
barbering 7 of 14 50% cosmetology 1 of 1 100% Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, read 2026-08-28.
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#12
San Diego City College
San Diego, CA · Board-approved school
30%
Share of students who finish
- Esthetics
- Nail technology
- Cosmetology
- 59 exam candidates
What the record shows
San Diego City College is licensed by the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology and trains in San Diego. Of 59 first-time candidates sitting the state written exam, 54 passed, giving 92 percent. That runs above the 64 percent median across the schools ranked here. The bulk of its testing is esthetics, 37 of 59 candidates, though it is licensed more widely than that. There, 33 of 37 passed, so the headline rate is mostly that program. That is 23 points above the 69 percent statewide first-time rate, which is the comparison that holds whatever list you are reading. Two quarters produced 59 candidates here, a mid-sized cohort for the state. San Diego has 10 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 30 percent of students across the college finish, out of 10,441 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 56 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 10,441. It is a public college, so the cosmetology course is priced at in-district tuition rather than at an academy price. Ask the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, the median cosmetologist earns $37,290, the bottom tenth $35,500 and the top tenth $62,130. Starting pay and typical pay are close together in this market, which cuts both ways: less of a lean first year, and less immediate reward for getting quicker. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 2,870 people.
Exam results by license
esthetics 33 of 37 89% nail technology 16 of 17 94% cosmetology 5 of 5 100% Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, read 2026-08-28.
Other Licensed Cosmetology Schools in San Diego
California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology lists 10 currently licensed schools in San Diego. These 5 appear above, either because the school takes no federal aid and so reports no completion figure, or because its cohort was too small to rank. Being on this list means the board licenses the school, which is the thing that makes your hours count.
| School | License |
|---|---|
| AAA Beauty College | Board-approved school |
| American Beauty Institute LLC | Board-approved school |
| California Beauty College | Board-approved school |
| Jasmine Beauty School | Board-approved school |
| Riggins Urban Barber and Beauty College | Board-approved school |
Board Approval Is What Makes Your San Diego Hours Count
California asks 1,000 hours for a cosmetologist license, at the short end of the national range. The agency is the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, and the detail that costs students the most money is this one: the hours count only if the school held board approval while you were sitting in the chair earning them.
There is a second approval and it is not a substitute. A private school in California also needs approval from the state's bureau for private postsecondary education, a separate process for a separate purpose. Neither one stands in for the other, so holding one is not evidence of holding the other.
The board's Approved School List is a PDF, currently the June to July 2026 edition. It names schools without license numbers, status or expiry dates, which is why this page pairs it with the federal completion data rather than leaning on either alone. The California ranking and the Los Angeles list use the same two sources.
Figures in this section: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology; BLS OEWS, May 2025; College Scorecard, June 2026.
What the Ranked List Shows in San Diego
Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego leads at 99% of 225 students, inside the city itself, at $15,575 tuition with a median debt of $7,232. Its five-year earnings figure, $25,624, is measured across 832 graduates, the largest earnings cohort here, which makes it the steadiest wage number on the page.
Palomar Institute of Cosmetology is second at 89% of 193 students for $16,250, though at twenty-nine miles out in San Marcos it is at the far edge of what this page counts as reachable. California Hair Design Academy in La Mesa is third at 87% of 98 students, same $16,250, nine miles from the center.
Two public colleges sit near the bottom, and the reason matters. San Diego City College at 30% and San Diego Miramar College at 48% report completion across the whole institution, 10,441 and 11,271 students, with cosmetology one program among many. The private schools above them teach nothing else, so their figures are about beauty students only.
Price is not doing much work in this ordering either. Bellus Academy-Chula Vista charges $9,917, the cheapest private school here, and finished 68% of 341 students. Associated Barber College of San Diego charges $22,245, the most, and finished 81% of 121.
Figures in this section: BLS OEWS, May 2025; College Scorecard, June 2026.
What Beauty Work Pays in the San Diego Metro
The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro employs 2,870 hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists at a median of $37,290. California's statewide median is $38,660, so San Diego runs about $1,370 under the state.
The compression at the bottom is the thing to notice. The metro's tenth percentile is $35,500 against that $37,290 median, less than $1,800 apart, so the gap between starting out and the middle of the trade is small. The trade-off shows at the top, where the metro's ninetieth percentile is $62,130 while California's is $68,640.
Nail work carries the volume. The metro has 4,180 manicurists and pedicurists, more people than it has hairdressers, at 2.77 times the national concentration and a $36,670 median. Skincare specialists number 1,130 at a $37,640 median with a top tenth of $77,160. Nail technician pay and esthetician pay carry the national percentiles.
Read every figure above as employee pay. A San Diego stylist who rents her station is self-employed and never enters the BLS series, so the numbers describe salon jobs and not the whole trade.
Figures in this section: BLS OEWS, May 2025; College Scorecard, June 2026.
What Cosmetology Careers Pay in San Diego
Median annual pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, from the May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. A cosmetologist here earns a median of $37,290 against $38,660 across California, with 2,870 employed in the metro. Booth renters and salon owners are self-employed and outside the survey, so these figures describe stylists on a payroll.
- Estheticians $37,640 $37,640
- Cosmetologists $37,290 $37,290
- Nail technicians $36,670 $36,670
| Occupation | Metro median | California median |
|---|---|---|
| Estheticians | $37,640 | $38,770 |
| Cosmetologists | $37,290 | $38,660 |
| Nail technicians | $36,670 | $36,630 |
Each occupation has its own salary page with the range and every state, and a career page on the work and the license it needs.
Cosmetology Schools in Nearby Cities
Common Questions About Cosmetology School in San Diego
Answers draw on California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, the College Scorecard and the May 2025 BLS wage release.
How many hours do you need for a cosmetologist license in San Diego?
How many beauty schools does the California board approve in San Diego?
Which San Diego cosmetology school has the highest completion rate?
Can you study cosmetology at a community college in San Diego?
What do hairdressers earn in San Diego?
Is nail technician work bigger in San Diego than in the rest of California?
Sources
- California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, school license records, read 2026-08-28. Hour requirement for a cosmetologist license: 1,000 clock hours, cited to the rule.
- US Department of Education, College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Completion, enrollment, cost and location for every cosmetology program (CIP 12.04) within 30 miles of downtown San Diego. Each card links its institution's Scorecard page.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Metro-area wages and employment for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA area.