Georgia
Best cosmetology programs in Georgia 2026
Atlanta skyline. Photo by Shawn M. Kent, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Ranked on the share of students who finish what they started, within half again the program's normal length, as reported per institution to the US Department of Education. In a clock-hour trade this is the outcome that matters most: the license needs the full hour count, so a student who leaves early has paid for hours that will never qualify them.
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 Georgia is whether Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers (Professional Licensing Boards Division, Office of the Georgia Secretary of State) licensed the school while you were enrolled.
46
schools reporting federally
40
qualify to be ranked
6
excluded, under 40 enrolled students
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#1
International School of Skin Nailcare & Massage Therapy
Sandy Springs, GA
100%
Share of students who finish
- 163 graduates a year
- $18,055 program cost
What the record shows
International School of Skin Nailcare & Massage Therapy runs its nail technology program in Sandy Springs and reports to the US Department of Education. The license here is a nail technician license, which means manicure, pedicure and nail enhancement. It takes the shortest course in the field and is a narrower ticket, and for someone who already knows they want that end of the trade, the narrowness is the point. Of 246 enrolled in the fall count, 100 percent finish. Tuition is reported at $18,055 for the full program. The median graduate left with $6,222 in federal loans, across 111 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $66 a month. Completion is the one figure that compares across trades, and 100 percent, 46 points over the 54 percent median, is a good sign. $18,055 is within 4 percent of the $18,800 median for a course shorter than cosmetology, which is dear for nail technology and worth asking about. 163 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Check its license with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
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#2
Keune Academy by 124
Lawrenceville, GA
85%
Share of students who finish
- 85% finish
- 63 graduates a year
- $19,585 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Lawrenceville, Keune Academy by 124 is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. The school graduates 85 percent, on a fall headcount of 117. Tuition is reported at $19,585 for the full program. The median graduate left with $9,833 in federal loans, across 89 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. 31 points more of its students finish than the 54 percent median, priced within 5 percent of the $18,800 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. The school conferred 63 credentials in the year reported. The license from the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers 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 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell runs from $17,630 at the tenth percentile to $80,880 at the ninetieth, with a median of $34,640. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. The occupation is about as common around Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell as it is nationally.
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#3
Hogan Institute of Cosmetology and Esthetics
Lilburn, GA
83%
Share of students who finish
- 83% finish
- 53 graduates a year
- $14,600 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Lilburn, Hogan Institute of Cosmetology and Esthetics is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 83 percent of students see the course through, out of 69 enrolled. It charges $14,600 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. The median graduate left with $9,750 in federal loans, across 44 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $103 a month. 29 points more of its students finish than the 54 percent median, and it charges 22 percent less than the $18,800 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. The school conferred 53 credentials in the year reported. The license from the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers 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 undefined Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 5,760 people.
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#4
Dalton Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology
Dalton, GA
81%
Share of students who finish
- 81% finish
- 43 graduates a year
- $16,500 program cost
What the record shows
Dalton Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology teaches cosmetology in Dalton, with its results published federally. 81 percent of its students finish, out of 47 enrolled in the fall count. It charges $16,500 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. 39 graduates borrowed, at a median of $5,500 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $58 a month. 27 points more of its students finish than the 54 percent median, and it charges 12 percent less than the $18,800 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. The school conferred 43 credentials in the year reported. From 47 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. Ask the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers 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 in Georgia, the range runs $17,310 to $79,170 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $34,560. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. On concentration, Georgia is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#5
Paul Mitchell the School-Esani
Roswell, GA
77%
Share of students who finish
- 77% finish
- 267 graduates a year
- $18,800 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Esani runs its cosmetology program in Roswell and reports to the US Department of Education. The school graduates 77 percent, on a fall headcount of 359. It charges $18,800 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. The median graduate left with $9,833 in federal loans, across 289 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. $18,800 is exactly at the $18,800 median, and the completion is not ordinary: 77 percent against 54. That is the better half of the trade. The school conferred 267 credentials in the year reported. Ask the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers 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 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, the range runs $17,630 to $80,880 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $34,640. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. On concentration, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#6
Empire Beauty School-Kennesaw
Kennesaw, GA
75%
Share of students who finish
- 75% finish
- 30 graduates a year
- $19,260 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Kennesaw, Empire Beauty School-Kennesaw is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 75 percent of its students finish, out of 161 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $19,260 for the full program. The federal file reports borrowing for Empire Beauty campuses together rather than for this one: a median of $12,500 in federal loans across 838 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $133 a month. 21 points more of its students finish than the 54 percent median, priced within 3 percent of the $18,800 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. 30 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. From 161 enrolled that is slow throughput for a clock-hour course, and it belongs beside the completion figure above. Check its license with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Around Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, the median cosmetologist earns $34,640, the bottom tenth $17,630 and the top tenth $80,880. undefined
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#7
Georgia Career Institute
Conyers, GA
69%
Share of students who finish
- 367 graduates a year
- $15,400 program cost
What the record shows
Georgia Career Institute runs its cosmetology program in Conyers and reports to the US Department of Education. 69 percent of the 515 students it enrolls finish. The published cost is $15,400 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $8,434 in federal loans, measured over 497 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $89 a month. 15 points more of its students finish than the 54 percent median, and it charges 18 percent less than the $18,800 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. It awarded 367 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell runs from $17,630 at the tenth percentile to $80,880 at the ninetieth, with a median of $34,640. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. The occupation is about as common around Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell as it is nationally.
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#8
Elaine Sterling Institute
Atlanta, GA
67%
Share of students who finish
- 477 graduates a year
- $17,000 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Atlanta, Elaine Sterling Institute is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 67 percent of the 641 students it enrolls finish. The published cost is $17,000 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $9,500 in federal loans, measured over 350 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $101 a month. 13 points more of its students finish than the 54 percent median, priced within 10 percent of the $18,800 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. It awarded 477 beauty credentials in the reporting year. That is roughly 9 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, so it is one of the larger training operations here. Confirm the school's current license with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Around Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, the median cosmetologist earns $34,640, the bottom tenth $17,630 and the top tenth $80,880. undefined Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 5,760 people.
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#9
Oconee Fall Line Technical College
Sandersville, GA
65%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 60 graduates a year
What the record shows
Oconee Fall Line Technical College runs its cosmetology program in Sandersville and reports to the US Department of Education. Across all 1,708 students at the college, 65 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. A college that holds onto 65 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. Its 60 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,708. Check its license with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
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#10
South Georgia Technical College
Americus, GA
61%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 46 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Americus, South Georgia Technical College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 61 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,407 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. A college that holds onto 61 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. Its 46 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,407. Ask the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers 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 Georgia runs from $17,310 at the tenth percentile to $79,170 at the ninetieth, with a median of $34,560. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. On concentration, Georgia is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#11
Pro Way Hair School
Stone Mountain, GA
60%
Share of students who finish
- 60% finish
- 40 graduates a year
- $21,360 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Stone Mountain, Pro Way Hair School is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 60 percent of students see the course through, out of 67 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $21,360 for the full program. Paying 14 percent over the $18,800 median buys 6 points of completion over the 54 percent median, and whether that is worth it depends on how sure you are of finishing anywhere. The school conferred 40 credentials in the year reported. Verify the school's standing with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
undefined That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not.
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#12
Southern Crescent Technical College
Griffin, GA
58%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 146 graduates a year
What the record shows
Southern Crescent Technical College runs its cosmetology program in Griffin and reports to the US Department of Education. 58 percent of students across the college finish, out of 4,098 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 58 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. The school conferred 146 credentials in the year reported. Check its license with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell runs from $17,630 at the tenth percentile to $80,880 at the ninetieth, with a median of $34,640. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. The occupation is about as common around Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell as it is nationally.
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#13
Georgia Institute of Cosmetology
Athens, GA
54%
Share of students who finish
- 54% finish
- 122 graduates a year
- $21,895 program cost
What the record shows
Georgia Institute of Cosmetology runs its cosmetology program in Athens and reports to the US Department of Education. 54 percent of its students finish, out of 200 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $21,895 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $10,686 in federal loans, measured over 182 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $113 a month. A median completion at a price 16 percent over the $18,800 median: ask what the extra 16 percent pays for, because it is not finishing. The school conferred 122 credentials in the year reported. The license from the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Athens-Clarke County, the range runs $17,300 to $75,230 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $30,250. The distance between $17,300 and $75,230 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. Against the state as a whole, the metro sits roughly 12 percent under on median pay. It is a small occupational market locally, so openings are fewer and word of mouth carries more weight than a resume. On concentration, Athens-Clarke County is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#14
Beaver Beauty Academy
Decatur, GA
54%
Share of students who finish
- 54% finish
- 40 graduates a year
- $15,495 program cost
What the record shows
Beaver Beauty Academy runs its cosmetology program in Decatur and reports to the US Department of Education. The school graduates 54 percent, on a fall headcount of 47. The published cost is $15,495 for the full program. Completion at 54 percent, exactly the median, and 18 percent less to get it: the price is the argument for this one. The school conferred 40 credentials in the year reported. Ask the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers 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
Half of cosmetologists around Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell earn under $34,640, with the tenth percentile at $17,630 and the ninetieth at $80,880. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 5,760 people.
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#15
Athens Technical College
Athens, GA
51%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 176 graduates a year
What the record shows
Athens Technical College teaches cosmetology in Athens, with its results published federally. 51 percent of students across the college finish, out of 3,318 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Read that 51 percent as the college's rate, not the cosmetology floor's, so it neither ranks this program up nor down. It awarded 176 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Confirm the school's current license with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Athens-Clarke County earn under $30,250, with the tenth percentile at $17,300 and the ninetieth at $75,230. The distance between $17,300 and $75,230 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. Against the state as a whole, the metro sits roughly 12 percent under on median pay. It is a small occupational market locally, so openings are fewer and word of mouth carries more weight than a resume. Athens-Clarke County employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 170 people.
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#16
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Valdosta, GA
50%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 359 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Across all 2,887 students at the college, 50 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 50 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. The school conferred 359 credentials in the year reported. Check its license with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers 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
Empire Beauty School-Gwinnett
Lawrenceville, GA
50%
Share of students who finish
- 50% finish
- 36 graduates a year
- $19,260 program cost
What the record shows
Empire Beauty School-Gwinnett trains in Lawrenceville, and because it takes federal financial aid its outcomes are published per program. 50 percent of its students finish, out of 130 enrolled in the fall count. It charges $19,260 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Borrowing is pooled across Empire Beauty campuses in the federal file, 838 borrowers at a median of $12,500 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $133 a month. Completion and price both sit close to the page median, 50 percent against 54 and $19,260 against $18,800, and that median is low: 50 in a hundred here do not finish, which at $19,260 makes the purchase closer to a coin flip than a sure thing. The school conferred 36 credentials in the year reported. From 130 enrolled that is slow throughput for a clock-hour course, and it belongs beside the completion figure above. Ask the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers 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 around Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell runs from $17,630 at the tenth percentile to $80,880 at the ninetieth, with a median of $34,640. The distance between $17,630 and $80,880 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. The occupation is about as common around Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell as it is nationally.
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#18
Atlanta Technical College
Atlanta, GA
49%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 221 graduates a year
What the record shows
Atlanta Technical College runs its cosmetology program in Atlanta and reports to the US Department of Education. Across all 3,875 students at the college, 49 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 49 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. 39 graduates borrowed, at a median of $7,927 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $84 a month. 221 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Ask the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers 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 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, the range runs $17,630 to $80,880 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $34,640. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. The occupation is about as common around Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell as it is nationally.
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#19
Coastal Pines Technical College
Waycross, GA
48%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 154 graduates a year
What the record shows
Coastal Pines Technical College runs its cosmetology program in Waycross and reports to the US Department of Education. Across all 1,648 students at the college, 48 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. 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. 154 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Confirm the school's current license with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
In Georgia, the median cosmetologist earns $34,560, the bottom tenth $17,310 and the top tenth $79,170. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. Georgia employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 7,910 people.
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#20
Paul Mitchell the School-Atlanta
Atlanta, GA
48%
Share of students who finish
- 48% finish
- 120 graduates a year
- $18,825 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Atlanta runs its cosmetology program in Atlanta and reports to the US Department of Education. Of the 249 students in its fall count, 48 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $18,825 for the full program. 133 graduates borrowed, at a median of $12,000 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $127 a month. 6 points fewer of its students finish than the 54 percent median, priced within 1 percent of the $18,800 median, so you would be paying the going rate for worse odds of getting through. Ask the school what happens to the ones who leave. The school conferred 120 credentials in the year reported. Confirm the school's current license with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, the range runs $17,630 to $80,880 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $34,640. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. On concentration, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#21
Central Georgia Technical College
Warner Robins, GA
47%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 356 graduates a year
What the record shows
Central Georgia Technical College teaches cosmetology in Warner Robins, with its results published federally. Across all 6,174 students at the college, 47 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Most of the students behind that 47 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. The school conferred 356 credentials in the year reported. Confirm the school's current license with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
In Georgia, the median cosmetologist earns $34,560, the bottom tenth $17,310 and the top tenth $79,170. undefined
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#22
Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Clarkston, GA
44%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 23 graduates a year
What the record shows
Georgia Piedmont Technical College teaches cosmetology in Clarkston, with its results published federally. 44 percent of students across the college finish, out of 2,198 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 44 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. Its 23 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 2,198. The license from the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers 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 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, the median cosmetologist earns $34,640, the bottom tenth $17,630 and the top tenth $80,880. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not.
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#23
Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Rome, GA
43%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 225 graduates a year
What the record shows
Georgia Northwestern Technical College teaches cosmetology in Rome, with its results published federally. 43 percent of students across the college finish, out of 4,244 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 43 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. It awarded 225 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Ask the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers 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 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, the median cosmetologist earns $34,640, the bottom tenth $17,630 and the top tenth $80,880. The distance between $17,630 and $80,880 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 5,760 people.
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#24
Ogeechee Technical College
Statesboro, GA
43%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 100 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Statesboro, Ogeechee Technical College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Across all 1,820 students at the college, 43 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 43 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. 100 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The license from the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
In Georgia, the median cosmetologist earns $34,560, the bottom tenth $17,310 and the top tenth $79,170. undefined Georgia employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 7,910 people.
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#25
Savannah Technical College
Savannah, GA
42%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 163 graduates a year
What the record shows
Savannah Technical College teaches cosmetology in Savannah, with its results published federally. Across all 3,366 students at the college, 42 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 42 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. The school conferred 163 credentials in the year reported. Check its license with the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Savannah earn under $30,210, with the tenth percentile at $17,340 and the ninetieth at $77,670. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. Against the state as a whole, the metro sits roughly 13 percent under on median pay. Local concentration around Savannah sits near the national average.
- International School of Skin Nai... 100% 100%
- Keune Academy by 124 85% 85%
- Hogan Institute of Cosmetology a... 83% 83%
- Dalton Institute of Esthetics an... 81% 81%
- Paul Mitchell the School-Esani 77% 77%
- Empire Beauty School-Kennesaw 75% 75%
- Georgia Career Institute 69% 69%
- Elaine Sterling Institute 67% 67%
- Oconee Fall Line Technical College 65% 65%
- South Georgia Technical College 61% 61%
Where can you find the licensed cosmetology programs in Georgia?
The licensed cosmetology programs in Georgia are searched one at a time rather than published as a list, so this page links Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers (Professional Licensing Boards Division, Office of the Georgia Secretary of State)'s own records instead of reprinting a commercial directory. The schools above are drawn from the 46 Georgia 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 Georgia in 2026?
To become a cosmetologist in Georgia you need 1,500 clock hours at a school licensed by Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers (Professional Licensing Boards Division, Office of the Georgia Secretary of State), 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.
Those hours only count if the school held a license from Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers (Professional Licensing Boards Division, Office of the Georgia Secretary of State) while you were enrolled, so check the license before the brochure when comparing cosmetology programs.
How much do cosmetologists make in Georgia in 2026?
Cosmetologists in Georgia earn a median of $34,560 , with the bottom tenth on $17,310 and the top tenth on $79,170 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.
- Cosmetologists $34,560 $34,560
- Salon managers $46,080 $46,080
- Estheticians $48,660 $48,660
- Nail technicians $26,910 $26,910
- Barbers $30,750 $30,750
- Makeup artists $143,230 $143,230
What is different about cosmetology licensing in Georgia?
Georgia is one of the states where barbering and cosmetology sit under a single merged board, and unusually that board lives in the Secretary of State's office rather than a health or consumer-protection department. Cosmetology and barber schools are carved out of the state's nonpublic postsecondary regulator entirely: GNPEC states that since 4 October 2018 all application processing for these schools is handled exclusively by the Board, so GNPEC holds no records for them. Georgia is also one of the few states with a codified online-delivery rule for pre-licensure hours (240-13-.05), and it lets a small slice of the practical 'service application' hours go online, not just theory. School attendance is optional: a 3,000-hour, 18-month cosmetology apprenticeship is a full alternative route. Read Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers (Professional Licensing Boards Division, Office of the Georgia Secretary of State)'s own rules .
Where do cosmetologists make the most money in Georgia?
Cosmetologists make the most money in Georgia around Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, where the median is $34,640, and the least around Albany at $23,760. A 46 percent spread across one state means where you work matters more to your pay than which of these metros you trained in.
The statewide median sits at $34,560, so the metros above it are carrying the average up.
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Rosw... $34,640 $34,640
- Chattanooga $30,380 $30,380
- Brunswick-St. Simons $30,260 $30,260
- Athens-Clarke County $30,250 $30,250
- Savannah $30,210 $30,210
- Columbus $29,790 $29,790
- Augusta-Richmond County $29,430 $29,430
- Gainesville $28,930 $28,930
- Macon-Bibb County $26,280 $26,280
- Albany $23,760 $23,760
Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech in Georgia?
In Georgia, makeup artists are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $143,230 median. Cosmetologists in Georgia sit at $34,560, below that, which is worth weighing before committing to the longest of the licenses.
Hour requirements differ by license too, so a route that pays slightly less can still reach a paycheck sooner.
| Occupation | Median pay | Employed in state |
|---|---|---|
| Makeup artists | $143,230 | 200 |
| Estheticians | $48,660 | 2,230 |
| Salon managers | $46,080 | 2,790 |
| Barbers | $30,750 | 550 |
| Nail technicians | $26,910 | 1,710 |
Can you use a cosmetology license from another state in Georgia?
Using a cosmetology license from another state in Georgia means satisfying Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers (Professional Licensing Boards Division, Office of the Georgia Secretary of State), which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other South states, Georgia is it asks 70 more hours than the regional average of 1,430, and it pays about 5 percent above the regional average.
Crossing a state line with a license means satisfying the new board, not the one that trained you, and the gap it cares about is hours.
| State | Hours required | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia (this state) | 1,500 | $34,560 |
| District of Columbia | 1,250 | $54,570 |
| North Carolina | 1,500 | $38,410 |
| Maryland | 1,500 | $36,420 |
| 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 |
| Florida | 1,200 | $29,530 |
| 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 Georgia cosmetology program ranking not tell you?
This Georgia 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 Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers (Professional Licensing Boards Division, Office of the Georgia Secretary of State) for the license itself.
Common questions about cosmetology programs in Georgia
What makes the best cosmetology programs in Georgia rank highly here?
How many cosmetology schools are there in Georgia?
Should you choose a NACCAS-accredited school in Georgia?
How much does cosmetology school cost in Georgia?
Are the best cosmetology programs in Georgia accredited?
Where does this Georgia cosmetology program data come from?
This Georgia cosmetology program data comes from Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers (Professional Licensing Boards Division, Office of the Georgia Secretary of State), 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. Georgia is one of the states where barbering and cosmetology sit under a single merged board, and unusually that board lives in the Secretary of State's office rather than a health or consumer-protection department. Cosmetology and barber schools are carved out of the state's nonpublic postsecondary regulator entirely: GNPEC states that since 4 October 2018 all application processing for these schools is handled exclusively by the Board, so GNPEC holds no records for them. Georgia is also one of the few states with a codified online-delivery rule for pre-licensure hours (240-13-.05), and it lets a small slice of the practical 'service application' hours go online, not just theory. School attendance is optional: a 3,000-hour, 18-month cosmetology apprenticeship is a full alternative route.
Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers (Professional Licensing Boards Division, Office of the Georgia Secretary of State)Read 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