Best cosmetology programs in Connecticut 2026

• #1

  Branford Academy of Hair & Cosmetology

  Branford, CT · Current Private Schools of Hairdressing/Cosmetology Approved by the Connecticut Department of Public Health

  100%

  Share of students who finish

  • $7,390 program cost

  What the record shows

  Based in Branford, Branford Academy of Hair & Cosmetology is on the state board register. The school graduates 100 percent, on a fall headcount of 51. Tuition is reported at $7,390 for the full program. 39 graduates borrowed, at a median of $9,500 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $101 a month. That median loan is larger than the $7,390 price, so the typical borrower here finances more than tuition. That puts it in the rare corner of this table: 21 points more of its students finish than the 79 percent median, and it charges 61 percent less than the $18,930 median to do it. 20 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. That is a small cohort, which usually buys more chair time with an instructor and a shorter wait for the clinic floor. The license from the state board is the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.

  Where it leads

  In Connecticut, the median cosmetologist earns $44,620, the bottom tenth $34,010 and the top tenth $72,620.

  Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians / Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations, read 2026-08-31.

• #2

  Paul Mitchell the School-North Haven

  North Haven, CT · Current Private Schools of Hairdressing/Cosmetology Approved by the Connecticut Department of Public Health

  92%

  Share of students who finish

  • $21,791 program cost

  What the record shows

  Paul Mitchell the School-North Haven trains in Danbury, licensed by the state board. Of the 178 students in its fall count, 92 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $21,791 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $6,333 in federal loans, measured over 195 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. Paying 15 percent over the $18,930 median buys 13 points of completion over the 79 percent median, and whether that is worth it depends on how sure you are of finishing anywhere. 135 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. That is roughly 17 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 state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.

  Where it leads

  Around Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, the median cosmetologist earns $46,470, the bottom tenth $34,010 and the top tenth $73,820. The ninetieth percentile at $73,820 is 1.6 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. Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury carries roughly 1.9 times the national concentration of this work, among the denser markets in the country.

  Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians / Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations, read 2026-08-31.

• #3

  Cortiva Institute

  Cromwell, CT

  85%

  Share of students who finish

  • 149 graduates a year
  • $17,737 program cost

  What the record shows

  Based in Cromwell, Cortiva Institute is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of 209 enrolled in the fall count, 85 percent finish. The published cost is $17,737 for the full program. 6 points more of its students finish than the 79 percent median, priced within 7 percent of the $18,930 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. 149 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. That is roughly 18 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 state board, so search that register by the school's legal name before any deposit.

  Where it leads

  undefined

  Source: US Department of Education, College Scorecard.

• #4

  TIGI Hairdressing Academy Newtown

  Newtown, CT

  81%

  Share of students who finish

  • 81% finish
  • 73 graduates a year
  • $20,500 program cost

  What the record shows

  TIGI Hairdressing Academy Newtown teaches cosmetology in Newtown, with its results published federally. 81 percent of students see the course through, out of 53 enrolled. It charges $20,500 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 100 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. Completion, price and borrowing all sit near the page's middle here, 81 percent against 79 and $20,500 against $18,930, 48 percent of the price borrowed against 52 for the page. Nothing federal separates it, so the clinic floor and the board file will. 73 credentials in the year from a fall count of 53: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. Its hours count only under a current entry with the state board, so search that register by the school's legal name before any deposit.

  Where it leads

  For cosmetologists in Connecticut, the range runs $34,010 to $72,620 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $44,620. An ordinary shape: the top tenth at 1.6 times the median and a floor 24 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 work is somewhat more concentrated in Connecticut than nationally, at roughly 1.2 times the usual rate.

  Source: US Department of Education, College Scorecard.

• #5

  International Institute of Cosmetology

  Wethersfield, CT · Current Private Schools of Hairdressing/Cosmetology Approved by the Connecticut Department of Public Health

  80%

  Share of students who finish

  • $20,055 program cost

  What the record shows

  International Institute of Cosmetology is licensed by the state board and trains in Wethersfield. The board lists no other licensed school in Wethersfield. 80 percent of students see the course through, out of 197 enrolled. The published cost is $20,055 for the full program. 142 graduates borrowed, at a median of $9,833 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. It is close to the median school on this page on completion, price and borrowing, 80 percent against 79 and $20,055 against $18,930, 49 percent of the price borrowed against 52 for the page, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. It awarded 134 beauty credentials in the reporting year. That is roughly 16 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, so it is one of the larger training operations here. The license from the state board is the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.

  Where it leads

  Half of cosmetologists in Connecticut earn under $44,620, with the tenth percentile at $34,010 and the ninetieth at $72,620. The upside is capped near 1.6 times the median and the floor is 24 percent under it, a market where the first year is tight rather than dangerous and the ceiling is earned slowly. Concentration in Connecticut runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.2 times, or 4,090 people in the occupation.

  Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians / Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations, read 2026-08-31.

• #6

  Oxford Academy of Hair Design Inc

  Seymour, CT · Current Private Schools of Hairdressing/Cosmetology Approved by the Connecticut Department of Public Health

  77%

  Share of students who finish

  • $10,400 program cost

  What the record shows

  Based in Seymour, Oxford Academy of Hair Design Inc is on the state board register. The board lists no other licensed school in Seymour. The school graduates 77 percent, on a fall headcount of 143. Tuition is reported at $10,400 for the full program. 85 graduates borrowed, at a median of $6,333 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. It charges 45 percent less than the $18,930 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. 100 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. That is roughly 12 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, so it is one of the larger training operations here. Ask the state 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 ninetieth percentile at $72,620 is 1.6 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 24 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. Connecticut 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; Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians / Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations, read 2026-08-31.

• #7

  Academy Di Capelli-School of Cosmetology

  Wallingford, CT · Current Private Schools of Hairdressing/Cosmetology Approved by the Connecticut Department of Public Health

  70%

  Share of students who finish

  • $18,930 program cost

  What the record shows

  Academy Di Capelli-School of Cosmetology trains in Wallingford, licensed by the state board. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Wallingford. 70 percent of its students finish, out of 402 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $18,930 for the full program. The median graduate left with $9,833 in federal loans, across 150 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. The price is close to the $18,930 median and the completion is not: 70 percent against 79. In a clock-hour course that is the wrong half of the trade, and the reason to ask hard questions before a deposit. 120 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. That is roughly 15 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 state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.

  Where it leads

  Pay for cosmetologists in Connecticut runs from $34,010 at the tenth percentile to $72,620 at the ninetieth, with a median of $44,620. The upside is capped near 1.6 times the median and the floor is 24 percent under it, a market where the first year is tight rather than dangerous and the ceiling is earned slowly. Concentration in Connecticut runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.2 times, or 4,090 people in the occupation.

  Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians / Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations, read 2026-08-31.

• #8

  TIGI Hairdressing Academy Guilford

  Guilford, CT

  60%

  Share of students who finish

  • 60% finish
  • 25 graduates a year
  • $20,250 program cost

  What the record shows

  Based in Guilford, TIGI Hairdressing Academy Guilford is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. The school graduates 60 percent, on a fall headcount of 52. It charges $20,250 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. The price is close to the $18,930 median and the completion is not: 60 percent against 79. In a clock-hour course that is the wrong half of the trade, and the reason to ask hard questions before a deposit. The school conferred 25 credentials in the year reported. The state 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

  In Connecticut, the median cosmetologist earns $44,620, the bottom tenth $34,010 and the top tenth $72,620. The ninetieth percentile at $72,620 is 1.6 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 24 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states.

  Source: US Department of Education, College Scorecard.

• #9

  Dolce The Academy

  Waterbury, CT · Current Private Schools of Hairdressing/Cosmetology Approved by the Connecticut Department of Public Health

  56%

  Share of students who finish

  • $9,000 program cost

  What the record shows

  Dolce The Academy is licensed by the state board and trains in Waterbury. With 5 licensed schools in Waterbury, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. 56 percent of students see the course through, out of 44 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $9,000 for the full program. $9,000 is 52 percent under the $18,930 median, and 23 points fewer finish than the 79 percent median. The saving only counts if you are one of the ones who gets through. 31 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Confirm the school's current license with the state board first: that entry is what qualifies your hours, whatever the federal figures say.

  Where it leads

  undefined The metro median runs about 18 percent below the Connecticut figure.

  Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians / Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations, read 2026-08-31.

• #10

  Porter & Chester Institute

  Bridgeport, CT

  45%

  Share of students who finish

  What the record shows

  Porter & Chester Institute teaches cosmetology in Bridgeport, with its results published federally. Across all 1,373 students at the school, 45 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 45 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 state 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

  Pay for cosmetologists around Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury runs from $34,010 at the tenth percentile to $73,820 at the ninetieth, with a median of $46,470. An ordinary shape: the top tenth at 1.6 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. This is a dense market by national standards, 1.9 times the usual concentration around Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury.

  Source: US Department of Education, College Scorecard.

Which other cosmetology schools in Connecticut are state licensed?

These Connecticut cosmetology schools hold a current license from Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians / Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations 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 Connecticut exam exactly as the ranked schools' hours do. They are listed by city rather than ordered, since nothing published about them supports an ordering.

Showing 25 of the 81 remaining licensed schools, ordered by city. The full file is with Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians / Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations .

How do you become a cosmetologist in Connecticut in 2026?

To become a cosmetologist in Connecticut you need 1,500 clock hours at a school licensed by Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians / Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations, 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.

The count is only good if the school was licensed by Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians / Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations throughout, so the license is worth confirming before you enroll.

How much do cosmetologists make in Connecticut in 2026?

Cosmetologists in Connecticut earn a median of $44,620 , with the bottom tenth on $34,010 and the top tenth on $72,620 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.

What is different about cosmetology licensing in Connecticut?

Connecticut does not issue a 'cosmetologist' license at all - the credential is 'registered hairdresser and cosmetician,' and the statutory chapter also separately licenses eyelash technicians, which few states do. It is one of very few states with a statutory textured-hair training mandate: C.G.S. 20-262(b)(2) directs the Commissioner to build textured-hair instruction into the curriculum, and the DPH hairdresser school curriculum sets 'at least 17 classroom hours and 300 clinical hours to the provision of services to individuals with textured hair.' A Labor Department apprenticeship under C.G.S. 31-22m to 31-22u substitutes entirely for the 1,500 school hours. Read Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians / Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations's own rules .

Where do cosmetologists make the most money in Connecticut?

Cosmetologists make the most money in Connecticut around Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, where the median is $46,470, and the least around Waterbury-Shelton at $36,430. A 28 percent spread across one state means where you work matters more to your pay than which of these metros you trained in.

Against a statewide median of $44,620, roughly half these metros pay above and half below.

Where are the cosmetology schools in Connecticut?

The licensed cosmetology schools in Connecticut cluster hardest in New London, which holds 6 of the 91 the board currently lists. At 7 percent of the state total, no single city dominates training in Connecticut.

Another 28 towns hold a single licensed school apiece, so in much of the state the practical choice is one school or a commute.

Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech in Connecticut?

In Connecticut, salon managers are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $52,720 median. That is above the $44,620 cosmetologist median, so the longer general license is not automatically the better-paid route here.

The shorter licenses also take fewer hours, so the comparison is not only what the work pays but how long you spend unpaid getting there.

Can you use a cosmetology license from another state in Connecticut?

Using a cosmetology license from another state in Connecticut means satisfying Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians / Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations, which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other Northeast states, Connecticut is it asks 356 more hours than the regional average of 1,144, and it pays about 17 percent above 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.

Which Connecticut cosmetology schools have lapsed or lost their license?

26 Connecticut cosmetology schools appear in Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians / Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations'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.

Showing 25 of 26, most recently recorded first. The rest are in the board's own file .

What does this Connecticut cosmetology program ranking not tell you?

This Connecticut 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 Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians / Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations for the license itself.

Common questions about cosmetology programs in Connecticut