Florida
Best cosmetology programs in Florida 2026
Miami skyline. Photo by Wilfredor, licensed under CC0, 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.
Cosmetology has no programmatic accreditor, which is why nothing on this page is ranked on accreditation. NACCAS accredits schools as institutions, not their cosmetology courses, so an "accredited cosmetology program" is a category error however often it appears in a brochure. What counts in Florida is whether Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education licensed the school while you were enrolled.
118
schools reporting federally
95
qualify to be ranked
23
excluded, under 40 enrolled students
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#1
Florida Professional Institute
Miami, FL
100%
Share of students who finish
- 12 graduates a year
- $10,650 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Miami, Florida Professional Institute is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Across all 117 students at the school, 100 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That completion rate is 11 points above the 89 percent median, but it is every program on campus, so treat it as a fact about the school and not about the cosmetology floor. Tuition is reported at $10,650. That price is 13 percent over the $9,450 median, and nothing on this record explains the premium. 12 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The license from the Commission for Independent Education is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
Around Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, the median cosmetologist earns $29,790, the bottom tenth $28,160 and the top tenth $54,850.
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#2
Ridge Technical College
Winter Haven, FL
99%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 104 graduates a year
What the record shows
Ridge Technical College teaches cosmetology in Winter Haven, with its results published federally. 99 percent of students across the college finish, out of 407 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. A college that holds onto 99 percent of its students generally tends to hold onto them on the cosmetology floor too, though that floor's own figure is the one to ask for. It awarded 104 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Commission for Independent Education before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Lakeland-Winter Haven runs from $27,040 at the tenth percentile to $51,060 at the ninetieth, with a median of $29,030. 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. The occupation is about as common around Lakeland-Winter Haven as it is nationally.
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#3
Lorenzo Walker Technical College
Naples, FL
99%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 55 graduates a year
- $5,465 program cost
What the record shows
Lorenzo Walker Technical College runs its cosmetology program in Naples and reports to the US Department of Education. Across all 875 students at the college, 99 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. At 99 percent the college as a whole keeps its students better than most schools on this page. It is a good sign about the institution; the cosmetology program's own completion is a separate number to ask the cosmetology department for. The published tuition is $5,465. That price is 42 percent under the $9,450 median, which is what public pricing looks like and the reason it is a fraction of the academies here. Its 55 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 875. Ask the Commission for Independent Education 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
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#4
La Belle Beauty Academy
Miami, FL
98%
Share of students who finish
- 241 graduates a year
- $16,495 program cost
What the record shows
La Belle Beauty Academy runs its cosmetology program in Miami and reports to the US Department of Education. 98 percent of the 106 students it enrolls finish. The published cost is $16,495 for the full program. 162 graduates borrowed, at a median of $8,149 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $86 a month. Paying 75 percent over the $9,450 median buys 9 points of completion over the 89 percent median, and whether that is worth it depends on how sure you are of finishing anywhere. It awarded 241 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 106, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. Check its license with the Commission for Independent Education before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach runs from $28,160 at the tenth percentile to $54,850 at the ninetieth, with a median of $29,790. There is little distance between entry pay and the median locally, so the early climb is flatter than in most trades. The occupation is about as common around Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach as it is nationally.
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#5
American Beauty and Trade School
Miami, FL
98%
Share of students who finish
- 98% finish
- 108 graduates a year
- $12,650 program cost
What the record shows
American Beauty and Trade School runs its cosmetology program in Miami and reports to the US Department of Education. The school graduates 98 percent, on a fall headcount of 83. It charges $12,650 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Graduates who borrowed took on $3,000 in federal loans at the median, 52 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $32 a month. That is a small share of the $12,650 price, so most of it is being met some other way. Paying 34 percent over the $9,450 median buys 9 points of completion over the 89 percent median, and whether that is worth it depends on how sure you are of finishing anywhere. It awarded 108 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 83, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. Ask the Commission for Independent Education 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, the range runs $28,160 to $54,850 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $29,790. 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. The occupation is about as common around Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach as it is nationally.
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#6
Cozmo Beauty School
Bonita Springs, FL
95%
Share of students who finish
- 95% finish
- 34 graduates a year
- $17,950 program cost
What the record shows
Cozmo Beauty School teaches cosmetology in Bonita Springs, with its results published federally. The school graduates 95 percent, on a fall headcount of 52. The published cost is $17,950 for the full program. Paying 90 percent over the $9,450 median buys 6 points of completion over the 89 percent median, and whether that is worth it depends on how sure you are of finishing anywhere. 34 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Ask the Commission for Independent Education 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 Naples-Marco Island, the median cosmetologist earns $33,480, the bottom tenth $29,790 and the top tenth $60,230. The metro median is about 13 percent above the Florida figure. The trade is unusually concentrated around Naples-Marco Island, about 2.3 times the national rate, so there are more chairs to compete for and more to be hired into.
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#7
Parisian Spa Institute
Jacksonville, FL
93%
Share of students who finish
- 207 graduates a year
- $4,185 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Jacksonville, Parisian Spa Institute is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 93 percent of the 61 students it enrolls finish. The published cost is $4,185 for the full program. The median graduate left with $3,167 in federal loans, across 231 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $34 a month. $4,185 is 56 percent under the $9,450 median, and completion is within 4 points of the 89 percent median, which is the cheap-without-a-catch pairing. It awarded 207 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 61, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. The license from the Commission for Independent Education is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
Around Jacksonville, the median cosmetologist earns $28,900, the bottom tenth $27,500 and the top tenth $54,940. Entry and median pay nearly meet locally. The money comes later and it comes from repeat clients. Jacksonville employs the trade at about 1.3 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
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#8
Kaizen Beauty Academy
Pembroke Pines, FL
93%
Share of students who finish
- 93% finish
- 68 graduates a year
- $1,400 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Pembroke Pines, Kaizen Beauty Academy is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 93 percent of students see the course through, out of 95 enrolled. The published cost is $1,400 for the full program. On completion it is an ordinary school for this page, 93 percent against the 89 percent median, so it comes down to the price and the visit. The school conferred 68 credentials in the year reported. Verify the school's standing with the Commission for Independent Education before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
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#9
M-DCPS The English Center
Miami, FL
92%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 140 graduates a year
- $600 program cost
What the record shows
M-DCPS The English Center runs its cosmetology program in Miami and reports to the US Department of Education. Across all 203 students at the school, 92 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Read that 92 percent as the school's rate, not the cosmetology floor's, so it neither ranks this program up nor down. The published tuition is $600. It awarded 140 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Check its license with the Commission for Independent Education before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, the range runs $28,160 to $54,850 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $29,790. 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. On concentration, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#10
Traviss Technical College
Lakeland, FL
90%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 24 graduates a year
- $760 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Lakeland, Traviss Technical College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Across all 460 students at the college, 90 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Read that 90 percent as the college's rate, not the cosmetology floor's, so it neither ranks this program up nor down. Tuition is reported at $760. Its 24 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 460. Confirm the school's current license with the Commission for Independent Education first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Around Lakeland-Winter Haven, the median cosmetologist earns $29,030, the bottom tenth $27,040 and the top tenth $51,060. Wages start near the local middle, so the question here is not surviving the first year but whether you build a book in it. Lakeland-Winter Haven employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 500 people.
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#11
Boca Beauty Academy
Boca Raton, FL
90%
Share of students who finish
- 294 graduates a year
- $12,050 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Boca Raton, Boca Beauty Academy is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of 228 enrolled in the fall count, 90 percent finish. Tuition is reported at $12,050 for the full program. Borrowing is pooled across Boca Beauty campuses in the federal file, 379 borrowers at a median of $6,723 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $71 a month. A median completion at a price 28 percent over the $9,450 median: ask what the extra 28 percent pays for, because it is not finishing. It awarded 294 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 228, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. The license from the Commission for Independent Education is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
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.
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#12
Futura Career Institute
Hialeah, FL
89%
Share of students who finish
- 126 graduates a year
- $11,700 program cost
What the record shows
Futura Career Institute teaches cosmetology in Hialeah, with its results published federally. Of 404 enrolled in the fall count, 89 percent finish. Tuition is reported at $11,700 for the full program. It charges 24 percent over the $9,450 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 126 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Check its license with the Commission for Independent Education before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, the range runs $28,160 to $54,850 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $29,790. 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. The occupation is about as common around Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach as it is nationally.
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#13
Prestige Health & Beauty Sciences Academy
Hallandale Beach, FL
89%
Share of students who finish
- 96 graduates a year
- $6,400 program cost
What the record shows
Prestige Health & Beauty Sciences Academy runs its cosmetology program in Hallandale Beach and reports to the US Department of Education. Of 119 enrolled in the fall count, 89 percent finish. Tuition is reported at $6,400 for the full program. It charges 32 percent less than the $9,450 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. The school conferred 96 credentials in the year reported. Verify the school's standing with the Commission for Independent Education before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach runs from $28,160 at the tenth percentile to $54,850 at the ninetieth, with a median of $29,790. 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach as it is nationally.
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#14
La Belle Beauty School
Hialeah, FL
89%
Share of students who finish
- 301 graduates a year
- $16,645 program cost
What the record shows
La Belle Beauty School teaches cosmetology in Hialeah, with its results published federally. Of 63 enrolled in the fall count, 89 percent finish. Tuition is reported at $16,645 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $8,149 in federal loans at the median, 137 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $86 a month. $16,645 is 76 percent over the $9,450 median, for a completion rate exactly at the 89 percent median, which is a premium with nothing on this record to justify it. 301 credentials in the year from a fall count of 63: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. The license from the Commission for Independent Education is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
Around Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, the median cosmetologist earns $29,790, the bottom tenth $28,160 and the top tenth $54,850. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 4,910 people.
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#15
Gadsden Technical College
Quincy, FL
88%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 3 graduates a year
- $3,942 program cost
What the record shows
Gadsden Technical College runs its cosmetology program in Quincy and reports to the US Department of Education. Across all 59 students at the college, 88 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 88 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. Tuition is reported at $3,942. That price is 58 percent under the $9,450 median, which is what public pricing looks like and the reason it is a fraction of the academies here. 3 credentials in a year means the cosmetology program barely ran; ask whether it is enrolling this term before anything else. Confirm the school's current license with the Commission for Independent Education first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Tallahassee earn under $29,010, with the tenth percentile at $27,040 and the ninetieth at $60,830. The floor is almost the median here, so the whole spread is above it, and it belongs to people with a book. Tallahassee employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 410 people.
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#16
Nouvelle Institute
Miami, FL
87%
Share of students who finish
- 87% finish
- 253 graduates a year
- $14,886 program cost
What the record shows
Nouvelle Institute trains in Miami, and because it takes federal financial aid its outcomes are published per program. 87 percent of students see the course through, out of 75 enrolled. The published cost is $14,886 for the full program. A median completion at a price 58 percent over the $9,450 median: ask what the extra 58 percent pays for, because it is not finishing. 253 credentials in the year from a fall count of 75: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. Check its license with the Commission for Independent Education before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
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#17
Emerald Coast Technical College
DeFuniak Springs, FL
87%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 5 graduates a year
- $8,049 program cost
What the record shows
Emerald Coast Technical College runs its cosmetology program in DeFuniak Springs and reports to the US Department of Education. Across all 189 students at the college, 87 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 87 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. Tuition is reported at $8,049. That price is 15 percent under the $9,450 median, which is what public pricing looks like. 5 credentials in a year means the cosmetology program barely ran; ask whether it is enrolling this term before anything else. Check its license with the Commission for Independent Education before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
In Florida, the median cosmetologist earns $29,530, the bottom tenth $27,450 and the top tenth $58,320. 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 work is somewhat more concentrated in Florida than nationally, at roughly 1.2 times the usual rate.
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#18
Boca Beauty Academy-Parkland
Parkland, FL
86%
Share of students who finish
- 221 graduates a year
- $12,050 program cost
What the record shows
Boca Beauty Academy-Parkland runs its cosmetology program in Parkland and reports to the US Department of Education. 86 percent of the 201 students it enrolls finish. The published cost is $12,050 for the full program. Boca Beauty campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $6,723 in federal loans at the median over 379 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $71 a month. $12,050 is 28 percent over the $9,450 median, for a completion rate within 3 points of the 89 percent median, which is a premium with nothing on this record to justify it. 221 credentials in the year from a fall count of 201: 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 Commission for Independent Education first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, the range runs $28,160 to $54,850 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $29,790. Wages start near the local middle, so the question here is not surviving the first year but whether you build a book in it. On concentration, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#19
Immokalee Technical College
Immokalee, FL
86%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 7 graduates a year
- $7,576 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Immokalee, Immokalee Technical College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 86 percent of students across the college finish, out of 319 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 86 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. Tuition is reported at $7,576. That price is 20 percent under the $9,450 median, which is what public pricing looks like. 7 credentials in a year means the cosmetology program barely ran; ask whether it is enrolling this term before anything else. Check its license with the Commission for Independent Education before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
undefined The metro median is about 13 percent above the Florida figure.
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#20
South Dade Technical College-South Dade Skills Center Campus
Homestead, FL
86%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 86 graduates a year
- $3,568 program cost
What the record shows
South Dade Technical College-South Dade Skills Center Campus runs its cosmetology program in Homestead and reports to the US Department of Education. 86 percent of students across the college finish, out of 196 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Read that 86 percent as the college's rate, not the cosmetology floor's, so it neither ranks this program up nor down. Tuition is reported at $3,568. That price is 62 percent under the $9,450 median, which is what public pricing looks like and the reason it is a fraction of the academies here. 86 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The license from the Commission for Independent Education is still 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 around Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach earn under $29,790, with the tenth percentile at $28,160 and the ninetieth at $54,850. Wages start near the local middle, so the question here is not surviving the first year but whether you build a book in it. Local concentration around Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach sits near the national average.
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#21
The Salon Professional Academy-Melbourne
Melbourne, FL
86%
Share of students who finish
- 135 graduates a year
- $8,250 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Melbourne, The Salon Professional Academy-Melbourne is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 86 percent of the 163 students it enrolls finish. Tuition is reported at $8,250 for the full program. 106 graduates borrowed, at a median of $6,774 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $72 a month. That is most of the $8,250 price arriving as debt, so the published cost and what a student actually finances are close to the same number here. Completion at 86 percent against 89, and 13 percent less to get it: the price is the argument for this one. The school conferred 135 credentials in the year reported. The license from the Commission for Independent Education is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
Around Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, the median cosmetologist earns $29,020, the bottom tenth $27,510 and the top tenth $54,850.
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#22
New Concept Massage and Beauty School
Miami, FL
85%
Share of students who finish
- 57 graduates a year
- $14,780 program cost
What the record shows
New Concept Massage and Beauty School runs its cosmetology program in Miami and reports to the US Department of Education. 85 percent of the 123 students it enrolls finish. The published cost is $14,780 for the full program. $14,780 is 56 percent over the $9,450 median, for a completion rate within 4 points of the 89 percent median, which is a premium with nothing on this record to justify it. 57 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The license from the Commission for Independent Education is still 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 around Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach earn under $29,790, with the tenth percentile at $28,160 and the ninetieth at $54,850. 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. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 4,910 people.
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#23
Florida Academy of Health & Beauty
Oakland Park, FL
83%
Share of students who finish
- 83% finish
- 67 graduates a year
- $13,700 program cost
What the record shows
Florida Academy of Health & Beauty runs its cosmetology program in Oakland Park and reports to the US Department of Education. Of the 54 students in its fall count, 83 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $13,700 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $4,903 in federal loans, measured over 64 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $52 a month. That is the pairing to be wary of: 6 points fewer of its students finish than the 89 percent median, at a price 45 percent over the $9,450 median. Ask the school directly why students leave before you commit. 67 credentials in the year from a fall count of 54: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. Check its license with the Commission for Independent Education before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Around Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, the median cosmetologist earns $29,790, the bottom tenth $28,160 and the top tenth $54,850. There is little distance between entry pay and the median locally, so the early climb is flatter than in most trades. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 4,910 people.
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#24
Cape Coral Technical College
Cape Coral, FL
83%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 40 graduates a year
- $2,846 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Cape Coral, Cape Coral Technical College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 83 percent of students across the college finish, out of 278 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 83 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 $2,846. That price is 70 percent under the $9,450 median, which is what public pricing looks like and the reason it is a fraction of the academies here. The school conferred 40 credentials in the year reported. Verify the school's standing with the Commission for Independent Education before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
undefined The trade is unusually concentrated around Cape Coral-Fort Myers, about 1.7 times the national rate, so there are more chairs to compete for and more to be hired into.
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#25
Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, FL
83%
Share of students who finish
- 234 graduates a year
- $13,585 program cost
What the record shows
Based in West Palm Beach, Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-West Palm Beach is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of 239 enrolled in the fall count, 83 percent finish. The published cost is $13,585 for the full program. The federal file reports borrowing for Hollywood Institute of Beauty campuses together rather than for this one: a median of $6,333 in federal loans across 787 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. 6 points fewer finish than the 89 percent median and it costs 44 percent over the $9,450 median, so before enrolling ask what happens to the students who do not get through. 234 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. From 239 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. Verify the school's standing with the Commission for Independent Education before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach runs from $28,160 at the tenth percentile to $54,850 at the ninetieth, with a median of $29,790. Entry and median pay nearly meet locally. The money comes later and it comes from repeat clients. On concentration, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
- Florida Professional Institute 100% 100%
- Ridge Technical College 99% 99%
- Lorenzo Walker Technical College 99% 99%
- La Belle Beauty Academy 98% 98%
- American Beauty and Trade School 98% 98%
- Cozmo Beauty School 95% 95%
- Parisian Spa Institute 93% 93%
- Kaizen Beauty Academy 93% 93%
- M-DCPS The English Center 92% 92%
- Traviss Technical College 90% 90%
Where can you find the licensed cosmetology programs in Florida?
The licensed cosmetology programs in Florida are searched one at a time rather than published as a list, so this page links Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education's own records instead of reprinting a commercial directory. The schools above are drawn from the 118 Florida cosmetology programs that take federal financial aid and therefore report their results to the Department of Education. That is a large share of the field and not all of it, so a school missing here is one that takes no federal aid rather than one that is unlicensed. Look up the school you are considering in the board's records and confirm the license is current before you pay anything.
How do you become a cosmetologist in Florida in 2026?
To become a cosmetologist in Florida you need 1,200 clock hours at a school licensed by Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education, then a passing score on the state exam. At the pace most clock-hour schools run, that is roughly 9.2 months full time. Only 7 states ask less, so this is at the shorter end of a range that reaches 2,000 hours.
Those hours only count if the school held a license from Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education while you were enrolled, so check the license before the brochure when comparing cosmetology programs.
How much do cosmetologists make in Florida in 2026?
Cosmetologists in Florida earn a median of $29,530 , with the bottom tenth on $27,450 and the top tenth on $58,320 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.
- Cosmetologists $29,530 $29,530
- Salon managers $47,330 $47,330
- Estheticians $43,880 $43,880
- Nail technicians $37,840 $37,840
- Barbers $49,410 $49,410
- Makeup artists $82,400 $82,400
What is different about cosmetology licensing in Florida?
Florida is the clearest example of a state where the cosmetology board has no jurisdiction over cosmetology schools whatsoever - schools are licensed under the education code (ch. 1005) by a Department of Education commission, and the board's FAQ simply hands callers a phone number. The other genuine oddity is statutory early exit: F.S. 477.019 directs that 'the board shall establish by rule procedures whereby the school or program may certify that a person is qualified to take the required examination after the completion of a minimum of 1,000 actual school hours,' so a student can sit the exam 200 hours short of the nominal 1,200. Read Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education's own rules .
Where do cosmetologists make the most money in Florida?
Cosmetologists make the most money in Florida around Sebring, where the median is $36,000, and the least around Panama City-Panama City Beach at $27,170. That is a 32 percent gap inside one state, which is wider than the gap between many states and worth more than most differences between schools.
Against a statewide median of $29,530, roughly half these metros pay above and half below.
- Sebring $36,000 $36,000
- Naples-Marco Island $33,480 $33,480
- Homosassa Springs $30,250 $30,250
- Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent $29,940 $29,940
- Crestview-Fort Walton Beac... $29,830 $29,830
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West... $29,790 $29,790
- Cape Coral-Fort Myers $29,760 $29,760
- North Port-Bradenton-Saras... $29,690 $29,690
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clear... $29,520 $29,520
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford $29,470 $29,470
Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech in Florida?
In Florida, makeup artists are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $82,400 median. Cosmetologists in Florida sit at $29,530, below that, which is worth weighing before committing to the longest of the licenses.
Picking between them is a trade between scope and speed: the broader license opens more chairs, the narrower one opens sooner.
| Occupation | Median pay | Employed in state |
|---|---|---|
| Makeup artists | $82,400 | 250 |
| Barbers | $49,410 | 1,240 |
| Salon managers | $47,330 | 6,250 |
| Estheticians | $43,880 | 5,270 |
| Nail technicians | $37,840 | 4,470 |
Can you use a cosmetology license from another state in Florida?
Using a cosmetology license from another state in Florida means satisfying Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education, which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other South states, Florida is it asks 250 fewer hours than the regional average of 1,450, and it pays about 11 percent below the regional average.
Hours earned under a lighter requirement can fall short in a neighboring state, so anyone likely to relocate should check the receiving board first rather than after.
| State | Hours required | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Florida (this state) | 1,200 | $29,530 |
| District of Columbia | 1,250 | $54,570 |
| North Carolina | 1,500 | $38,410 |
| Maryland | 1,500 | $36,420 |
| Georgia | 1,500 | $34,560 |
| West Virginia | 2,000 | $34,480 |
| Delaware | $34,350 | |
| South Carolina | 1,500 | $33,700 |
| Tennessee | 1,500 | $31,310 |
| Texas | 1,000 | $30,680 |
| Kentucky | 1,500 | $29,840 |
| Oklahoma | 1,500 | $29,650 |
| Alabama | 1,500 | $29,150 |
| Arkansas | 1,500 | $28,830 |
| Mississippi | 1,500 | $27,560 |
| Louisiana | 1,500 | $26,030 |
| Virginia | 1,000 |
What does this Florida cosmetology program ranking not tell you?
This Florida 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 Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education for the license itself.
Common questions about cosmetology programs in Florida
What makes the best cosmetology programs in Florida rank highly here?
How many cosmetology schools are there in Florida?
Should you choose a NACCAS-accredited school in Florida?
How much does cosmetology school cost in Florida?
Are the best cosmetology programs in Florida accredited?
Where does this Florida cosmetology program data come from?
This Florida cosmetology program data comes from Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education, 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. Florida is the clearest example of a state where the cosmetology board has no jurisdiction over cosmetology schools whatsoever - schools are licensed under the education code (ch. 1005) by a Department of Education commission, and the board's FAQ simply hands callers a phone number. The other genuine oddity is statutory early exit: F.S. 477.019 directs that 'the board shall establish by rule procedures whereby the school or program may certify that a person is qualified to take the required examination after the completion of a minimum of 1,000 actual school hours,' so a student can sit the exam 200 hours short of the nominal 1,200.
Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of EducationRead 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