Listed by State, Not Ranked
Faith-Based Cosmetology Schools (2026)
Published
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
You want a beauty school run on Christian principles, or someone at church asked you which one to recommend to a young member. This page is the honest version of that list: twelve schools that say so themselves, either on a federal survey or in the name printed on their state license. Two are universities. The other ten are state-licensed beauty and barber schools.
Two sources feed this page, and both are narrow. The Department of Education asks about religious affiliation only when a college is private and non-profit, which leaves out the for-profit businesses most beauty schools are. A state board prints the name a school chose for itself, so a school with Christian in its name has already told you. Twelve entries means narrow sources, not rare schools.
Figures in this section: IPEDS 2023 and College Scorecard, June 2026.
The 12 Faith-Based Cosmetology Schools
Listed, not ranked. Two institutions with a cosmetology program report a religious affiliation to the Department of Education. The rest are licensed schools whose names state a Christian identity, read from their state board’s own file. Nothing here is ordered, because nothing measured about them is comparable.
| # | School | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Campbellsville University | Baptist |
| 2 | Bob Jones University | Evangelical Christian |
| 3 | J Jireh’s Shalom International School of Cosmetology and Barbering | Faith-named |
| 4 | Blessed Hands Barber Academy | Faith-named |
| 5 | Christian Fields INC | Faith-named |
| 6 | Mr Glass Tonsorial Christian Institute LLC | Faith-named |
| 7 | Shear Grace Institute of Cosmetology | Faith-named |
| 8 | Agape' Institute of Esthiology, LLC | Faith-named |
| 9 | Immanuel Beauty Salon & School | Faith-named |
| 10 | Kingdom Kuts Christian Cosmetology and H | Faith-named |
| 11 | Kingdom Kuts Christian Cosmetology and N | Faith-named |
| 12 | Kingdom Kuts Christian Cosmetology Schoo | Faith-named |
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#1
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville, KY · Licensed school
Baptist
State board license
- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
What the record shows
Campbellsville University operates in Campbellsville under license from the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology. Its license covers cosmetology and instructor training. The median graduate left with $8,750 in federal loans, across 49 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $93 a month. Its 88 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 2,840. The school is a private nonprofit, a category covering only a handful of cosmetology providers nationally. Ask the Kentucky Board of 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
Pay for cosmetologists in Kentucky runs from $22,580 at the tenth percentile to $76,170 at the ninetieth, with a median of $29,840. The distance between $22,580 and $76,170 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. This is a comparatively thin market: Kentucky runs at roughly 0.6 times the national concentration, about 2,350 people in the occupation.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kentucky Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#2
Bob Jones University
Greenville, SC
Evangelical Christian
State board license
- Associate degree
- Private nonprofit
What the record shows
Bob Jones University teaches cosmetology in Greenville, with its results published federally. The award here is an associate degree rather than the certificate most cosmetology programs issue, so the hours come with transferable college credit attached. The school is a private nonprofit, a category covering only a handful of cosmetology providers nationally. The license from the state board is still 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 around Greenville-Anderson-Greer runs from $21,810 at the tenth percentile to $63,350 at the ninetieth, with a median of $33,850. There is a real gap between entry pay and the median here, which is the part of the trade that surprises people who costed only the tuition. On concentration, Greenville-Anderson-Greer is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#3
J Jireh’s Shalom International School of Cosmetology and Barbering
Birmingham, AL · Private Schools regulated by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
Faith-named
State board license
- Barbering
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- Natural hair styling
What the record shows
J Jireh’s Shalom International School of Cosmetology and Barbering trains in Birmingham, licensed by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. Its license covers barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training, nail technology and natural hair styling. Birmingham has 7 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. License 928813 is the board's entry for it, and that is the record to confirm is still current before a deposit.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Birmingham runs from $21,830 at the tenth percentile to $55,230 at the ninetieth, with a median of $29,000. An ordinary shape: the top tenth at 1.9 times the median and a floor 25 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. In Alabama, the gap between esthetics and cosmetology is real: a $39,260 median against one 26 percent lower. On concentration, Birmingham is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
Source: Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, read 2026-08-31.
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#4
Blessed Hands Barber Academy
Cottonwood, AZ · Barber School License
Faith-named
State board license
- Barbering
What the record shows
Blessed Hands Barber Academy trains in Cottonwood, licensed by the Barbering and Cosmetology Board. 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. 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 in Arizona runs from $31,050 at the tenth percentile to $57,790 at the ninetieth, with a median of $36,810. Cosmetologists are the nearest series BLS carries to barbers here. The ninetieth percentile at $57,790 is 1.6 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 16 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. Arizona employs cosmetologists at about 1.2 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
Source: Barbering and Cosmetology Board, read 2026-08-31.
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#5
Christian Fields INC
Chicago, IL · LICENSED HAIR BRAIDING SCHOOL
Faith-named
State board license
- Natural hair styling
- Licensed since 2014
- Renews 2026-10
- No recorded discipline
What the record shows
Christian Fields INC trains in Chicago, licensed by the state board. The board has licensed it continuously since 2014. The schools ranked alongside it average 8 years. The board licenses it to train toward natural hair styling. Chicago has 51 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. The board files it under Cook County, if you are checking the register yourself. Its board record is license 260000002, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, the range runs $31,200 to $58,960 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $34,260. A narrow bottom-to-middle gap means the pay you start on is close to the pay most people stay on, unless they build a following. The work is somewhat more concentrated around Chicago-Naperville-Elgin than nationally, at roughly 1.4 times the usual rate.
Source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#6
Mr Glass Tonsorial Christian Institute LLC
Peoria, IL · LICENSED BARBER SCHOOL
Faith-named
State board license
- Barbering
- Licensed since 2023
- Renews 2027-07
- Board discipline on record
What the record shows
Mr Glass Tonsorial Christian Institute LLC is licensed by the state board and trains in Peoria. The board has recorded disciplinary action against this license. Ask the school what it was and how it was resolved. 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. Its license dates back to 2023 and has not lapsed since. With 5 licensed schools in Peoria, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. Its record sits in Peoria County. License 008000157 is the board's entry for it, and that is the record to confirm is still current before a deposit.
Where it leads
Around Peoria, the median cosmetologist earns $32,280, the bottom tenth $31,200 and the top tenth $39,070. Cosmetologists are the nearest series BLS carries to barbers here. Entry and median pay nearly meet locally. The money comes later and it comes from repeat clients. Local concentration around Peoria sits near the national average.
Source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, read 2026-08-28.
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#7
Shear Grace Institute of Cosmetology
Hickory, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Private)
Faith-named
State board license
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Shear Grace Institute of Cosmetology trains in Hickory, licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. Its license covers cosmetology. It is a privately run school rather than part of a public college. The board files it under license 451; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, the range runs $27,120 to $59,180 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $35,100. Against the state as a whole, the metro sits roughly 9 percent under on median pay. An ordinary shape: the top tenth at 1.7 times the median and a floor 23 percent below it, so a good first year and a good tenth year here are separated by a client book rather than by a cliff. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.5 times the usual concentration around Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
Source: North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#8
Agape' Institute of Esthiology, LLC
Franklin, TN · Licensed school
Faith-named
State board license
What the record shows
Agape' Institute of Esthiology, LLC is licensed by the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners and trains in Franklin. With 6 licensed schools in Franklin, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. License 551 is the board's entry for it, and that is the record to confirm is still current before a deposit.
Where it leads
Around Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, the median cosmetologist earns $34,430, the bottom tenth $28,080 and the top tenth $62,430. The metro median is about 10 percent above the Tennessee figure. The upside is capped near 1.8 times the median and the floor is 18 percent under it, a market where the first year is tight rather than dangerous and the ceiling is earned slowly. Concentration around Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin runs modestly above the national rate, about 1.3 times, or 2,770 people in the occupation.
Source: Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Regulatory Boards Division), read 2026-08-31.
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#9
Immanuel Beauty Salon & School
Manassas, VA · Licensed school
Faith-named
State board license
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2027-09
What the record shows
Immanuel Beauty Salon & School trains in Manassas, licensed by the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology. The board licenses it to train toward cosmetology. Manassas has 5 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. Its board record is license 1205001657, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Washington-Arlington-Alexandria earn under $37,020, with the tenth percentile at $26,900 and the ninetieth at $78,900. The spread above the median is wide enough that averages mislead here. What separates the top is a client list built over years. Local concentration around Washington-Arlington-Alexandria sits near the national average.
Source: Board for Barbers and Cosmetology, Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), read 2026-08-31.
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#10
Kingdom Kuts Christian Cosmetology and H
Wakefield, VA · Licensed school
Faith-named
State board license
- Cosmetology
- Renews 2027-07
What the record shows
Kingdom Kuts Christian Cosmetology and H operates in Wakefield under license from the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology. The board licenses it to train toward cosmetology. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Wakefield. Its board record is license 1205001433, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
For skincare specialists in Virginia, the range runs $31,530 to $67,520 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $39,350. Skincare specialists are the nearest series BLS carries to cosmetologists here. The upside is capped near 1.7 times the median and the floor is 20 percent under it, a market where the first year is tight rather than dangerous and the ceiling is earned slowly. On concentration, Virginia is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
Source: Board for Barbers and Cosmetology, Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), read 2026-08-31.
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#11
Kingdom Kuts Christian Cosmetology and N
Jarratt, VA · Licensed school
Faith-named
State board license
- Cosmetology
- Nail technology
- Renews 2026-12
What the record shows
Based in Jarratt, Kingdom Kuts Christian Cosmetology and N is on the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology register. Its license covers cosmetology and nail technology. The board lists no other licensed school in Jarratt. The board files it under license 1205001432; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for skincare specialists in Virginia runs from $31,530 at the tenth percentile to $67,520 at the ninetieth, with a median of $39,350. Skincare specialists are the nearest series BLS carries to cosmetologists here. Neither end of this market is extreme: the top tenth earns about 1.7 times the median and the floor sits 20 percent under it, which makes the first year a budget question rather than a survival one. The occupation is about as common in Virginia as it is nationally.
Source: Board for Barbers and Cosmetology, Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), read 2026-08-31.
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#12
Kingdom Kuts Christian Cosmetology Schoo
Franklin, VA · Licensed school
Faith-named
State board license
- Cosmetology
- Nail technology
- Renews 2026-12
What the record shows
Kingdom Kuts Christian Cosmetology Schoo operates in Franklin under license from the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology. Its license covers cosmetology and nail technology. The board lists no other licensed school in Franklin. Its board record is license 1205001335, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
For skincare specialists around Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, the range runs $31,290 to $50,300 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $34,190. Skincare specialists are the nearest series BLS carries to cosmetologists here. Against the state as a whole, the metro sits roughly 13 percent under on median pay. 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk than nationally, at roughly 1.5 times the usual rate.
Source: Board for Barbers and Cosmetology, Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), read 2026-08-31.
Faith-Based Cosmetology Schools by State
How many schools in each state meet the definition, with the schools listed there, from the College Scorecard and IPEDS. Each state page carries the board's own roster and hour requirement.
| State | Schools |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 |
| Arizona | 1 |
| Illinois | 2 |
| Kentucky | 1 |
| North Carolina | 1 |
| South Carolina | 1 |
| Tennessee | 1 |
| Virginia | 4 |
How to Tell Whether a Beauty School Is Faith-Based
Start with the mission statement on the school's own site. A school run on Christian principles usually says so in the first paragraph, and one owned by a church or a ministry will name the church. Neither of those facts appears in a state board file, which records the school's name, its license type and whether the license is active.
Then ask about the schedule. Chapel or a devotional block inside the training day is the clearest signal, because it shows up on the timetable. Ask whether there is a code of conduct, what it covers, and what happens if you break it. Call the school and ask straight out. Admissions staff field that question all the time.
Figures in this section: College Scorecard, June 2026.
What Does Not Change at a Faith-Based Cosmetology School
The hour requirement. Your state board sets the clock hours for a cosmetology, barbering, esthetics or nail technician license, and a Christian school teaches to the same number as everyone else in that state. The exam is the same exam too, written and graded the same way for every candidate in the state.
The school license matters here exactly as much as anywhere. Hours you bank at a school that was not licensed at the time are hours the board will not accept, and that holds for a church-run school just as it does for a national chain. Check the license before you pay, and read how often school licenses lapse first.
Financial aid follows Title IV participation, not faith. A school that takes part in the federal aid programs can package Pell grants and federal loans, and a school that stays out cannot, whatever it believes. Plenty of small church-run schools stay out on purpose. That is a fact about paperwork, not about how well they teach.
Figures in this section: College Scorecard, June 2026.
The Schools on This List, State by State
Kentucky and South Carolina hold the two universities. Campbellsville University, in Campbellsville, Kentucky, is Baptist, and its school license covers cosmetology and instructor training. Bob Jones University sits in Greenville, South Carolina, and reports itself as Evangelical Christian. Both are private non-profit institutions, which is why the federal survey asked them the question at all.
Virginia carries four of the ten name-declared schools, more than any other state. Three are Kingdom Kuts Christian Cosmetology schools, in Franklin, Jarratt and Wakefield, each licensed for cosmetology and two of them for nail technology as well. The fourth is Immanuel Beauty Salon & School in Manassas, licensed for cosmetology.
Illinois has two, both on narrow licenses. Christian Fields Inc in Chicago has been a licensed hair braiding school since 2014, and Mr Glass Tonsorial Christian Institute in Peoria has held a barber school license since 2023. Alabama's J Jireh's Shalom International School of Cosmetology and Barbering, in Birmingham, is licensed for six disciplines, the widest reach on this list.
Arizona, North Carolina and Tennessee have one each. Blessed Hands Barber Academy in Cottonwood, Arizona, holds a barber school license. Shear Grace Institute of Cosmetology in Hickory is licensed by North Carolina as a private cosmetic art school, that state's own name for the category. Agape' Institute of Esthiology, in Franklin, Tennessee, holds a school license as well.
Figures in this section: College Scorecard, June 2026.
Why There Is No Faith-Based Ranking
There is no honest way to put these twelve in an order. Two of them answered a federal survey, so they arrive with enrollment, debt and award counts attached. The other ten come from board files that carry a name, a license type and a status. Numbering them would invent a comparison the sources cannot make.
So this page lists, and it does not rank. Where the site does rank, the order rests on one figure every school answered the same way, and the page says what that figure is and what it leaves out. The methodology page sets out the whole rule, including the cases where we refuse to build a list.
Figures in this section: College Scorecard, June 2026.
What This List Does Not Tell You
The federal survey asks about affiliation only of private non-profit institutions, and almost every beauty school is a for-profit business, so a Christian-run school that does not say so in its name is invisible to both sources here. A short list means the sources are narrow, not that the schools are rare. Every figure is quoted as published in the College Scorecard.
Nothing here checks a school's state board license, which is what makes your hours count toward the exam. Before you pay a deposit, find the school on its state page and confirm the license is current in the board's own lookup. How the rankings are built explains every figure used on this site.
Common Questions About Faith-Based Cosmetology Schools
Answers draw on the College Scorecard and IPEDS figures behind the list above, and on the state board rules linked from each state page.
Are there Christian cosmetology schools?
Is a faith-based cosmetology school accredited?
Can you use financial aid at a Christian beauty school?
Do faith-based schools have the same hour requirement?
Which universities offer cosmetology with a religious affiliation?
What if the Christian school I want is not on this list?
Sources
- US Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study and institution files, June 2026 release. Completion, cost, debt, enrollment, ownership and credential for 1,574 institutions with a cosmetology program (CIP 12.04).
- National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS Institutional Characteristics and Directory files, 2023. Veteran services, religious affiliation, HBCU status and metro area, as reported by each institution.
- State board license files, read from each board directly and matched to the federal record by name and city. Each card cites its board and the date the file was read.