Kansas
Best cosmetology programs in Kansas 2026
Wichita skyline. Photo by Quintin Soloviev, licensed under CC BY 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.
Ranking on accreditation is impossible in this field, because no cosmetology program is accredited by anyone. NACCAS accredits the school and not the course, so an accredited school can run exactly the same program as an unaccredited one. A student's hours stand or fall on the school's Kansas Board of Cosmetology license instead, and that is the distinction this page is built on.
28
schools currently licensed
21
qualify to be ranked
2
excluded, under 40 enrolled students
-
#1
Hays Academy of Hair Design
Salina, KS · Licensed school
86%
Share of students who finish
- $16,100 program cost
What the record shows
Hays Academy of Hair Design operates in Salina under license from the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Salina. 86 percent of students see the course through, out of 46 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $16,100 for the full program. Hays Academy of Hair Design campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $9,833 in federal loans at the median over 115 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. 10 points more of its students finish than the 76 percent private-school median, priced within 5 percent of the $16,938 private-school median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. The page median is set by public colleges, so that comparison is against the other private schools here. It awarded 39 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Confirm the school's current license with the Kansas Board of Cosmetology first: that entry is what qualifies your hours, whatever the federal figures say.
Where it leads
undefined undefined
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#2
Eric Fisher Academy
Wichita, KS · Licensed school
85%
Share of students who finish
- $18,000 program cost
What the record shows
Eric Fisher Academy trains in Wichita, licensed by the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. Of the 161 students in its fall count, 85 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $18,000 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $9,339 in federal loans at the median, 190 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $99 a month. 9 points more of its students finish than the 76 percent private-school median, priced within 7 percent of the $16,938 private-school median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. 157 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. That is roughly 11 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, so it is one of the larger training operations here. Ask the Kansas 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 around Wichita runs from $21,570 at the tenth percentile to $77,640 at the ninetieth, with a median of $28,340. The distance between $21,570 and $77,640 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. On concentration, Wichita is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#3
Hays Academy of Hair Design
Hays, KS · Licensed school
77%
Share of students who finish
- $16,100 program cost
What the record shows
Hays Academy of Hair Design is licensed by the Kansas Board of Cosmetology and trains in Hays. The board lists no other licensed school in Hays. 77 percent of its students finish, out of 83 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $16,100 for the full program. Borrowing is pooled across Hays Academy of Hair Design campuses in the federal file, 115 borrowers at a median of $9,833 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. On completion and price it is close to the median private school on this page, 77 percent against 76 and $16,100 against $16,938, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. 51 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Kansas Board of Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
In Kansas, the median cosmetologist earns $29,710, the bottom tenth $21,910 and the top tenth $77,790. undefined
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#4
Paul Mitchell the School-Wichita
Wichita, KS · Licensed school
76%
Share of students who finish
- $16,625 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Wichita, Paul Mitchell the School-Wichita is on the Kansas Board of Cosmetology register. 76 percent of students see the course through, out of 163 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $16,625 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $9,833 in federal loans, measured over 135 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. Completion, price and borrowing all sit near the page's middle here, 76 percent, exactly the median and $16,625 against $16,938, 59 percent of the price borrowed against 58 for the page. Nothing federal separates it, so the clinic floor and the board file will. It awarded 118 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. Ask the Kansas 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
Half of cosmetologists around Wichita earn under $28,340, with the tenth percentile at $21,570 and the ninetieth at $77,640. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. Wichita employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 460 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#5
Mitsu Sato Hair Academy
Overland Park, KS · Licensed school
76%
Share of students who finish
- $17,250 program cost
What the record shows
Mitsu Sato Hair Academy operates in Overland Park under license from the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. 76 percent of its students finish across two years of students, out of 85 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $17,250 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $9,500 in federal loans at the median, 46 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $101 a month. It is close to the median private school on this page on completion, price and borrowing, 76 percent, exactly the median and $17,250 against $16,938, 55 percent of the price borrowed against 58 for the page, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. 58 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Kansas Board of Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around Kansas City, the median cosmetologist earns $31,520, the bottom tenth $28,300 and the top tenth $79,350. A flat floor and a long tail: nobody starts far below the median here, and the people well above it got there on repeat clients, not seniority. Local concentration around Kansas City sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#6
Paul Mitchell the School-Overland Park
Overland Park, KS · Licensed school
76%
Share of students who finish
- $20,026 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Overland Park trains in Overland Park, licensed by the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. The school graduates 76 percent, on a fall headcount of 179. Tuition is reported at $20,026 for the full program. The median graduate left with $9,833 in federal loans, across 134 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. It charges 18 percent over the $16,938 private-school median and finishes about as many of its students as the typical private school here, so the extra price is not buying a better completion rate. 141 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. That is roughly 10 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, so it is one of the larger training operations here. Check its license with the Kansas Board of Cosmetology before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
undefined
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#7
Bellus Academy
Manhattan, KS · Licensed school
74%
Share of students who finish
- $20,064 program cost
What the record shows
Bellus Academy is licensed by the Kansas Board of Cosmetology and trains in Manhattan. The board lists no other licensed school in Manhattan. 74 percent of the 209 students it enrolls finish. The published cost is $20,064 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $9,376 in federal loans at the median, 476 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $99 a month. $20,064 is 18 percent over the $16,938 private-school median, for a completion rate within 2 points of the 76 percent private-school median, which is a premium with nothing on this record to justify it. It awarded 148 beauty credentials in the reporting year. That is roughly 11 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, so it is one of the larger training operations here. The license from the Kansas Board of Cosmetology is 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 Manhattan, the range runs $23,320 to $73,480 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $29,700. The distance between $23,320 and $73,480 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. Manhattan is a small market, about 130 in the trade, but a dense one for its size at 1.3 times the national rate.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#8
Z Hair Academy
Overland Park, KS · Licensed school
74%
Share of students who finish
- $18,750 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Overland Park, Z Hair Academy is on the Kansas Board of Cosmetology register. 74 percent of its students finish, out of 235 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $18,750 for the full program. The median graduate left with $10,670 in federal loans, across 156 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $113 a month. It is close to the median private school on this page on completion, price and borrowing, 74 percent against 76 and $18,750 against $16,938, 57 percent of the price borrowed against 58 for the page, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. 130 students completed a credential here 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. The license from the Kansas Board of Cosmetology is the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
undefined
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#9
Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College
Goodland, KS · Licensed school
73%
Share of students who finish
- $17,852 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Goodland, Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College is on the Kansas Board of Cosmetology register. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Goodland. Across all 315 students at the college, 73 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That completion rate is 5 points above the 68 percent median, but it is every program on campus, so treat it as a fact about the college and not about the cosmetology floor. Tuition is reported at $17,852. A program that awarded 6 credentials all year may not run every term, which is the first thing to confirm. Confirm the school's current license with the Kansas Board of Cosmetology first: that entry is what qualifies your hours, whatever the federal figures say.
Where it leads
undefined That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. Kansas employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 2,190 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#10
Crave Beauty Academy
Wichita, KS · Licensed school
73%
Share of students who finish
- $11,600 program cost
What the record shows
Crave Beauty Academy operates in Wichita under license from the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. 73 percent of its students finish, out of 303 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $11,600 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $8,765 in federal loans at the median, 174 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $93 a month. It charges 32 percent less than the $16,938 private-school median and finishes about as many of its students as the typical private school here, so the saving is real rather than a discount for worse odds. 168 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. That is roughly 12 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, so it is one of the larger training operations here. Verify the school's standing with the Kansas Board of Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Wichita earn under $28,340, with the tenth percentile at $21,570 and the ninetieth at $77,640. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. Local concentration around Wichita sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#11
Washburn Institute of Technology
Topeka, KS
68%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 34 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Topeka, Washburn Institute of Technology is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Across all 615 students at the school, 68 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 68 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. Washburn campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $6,792 in federal loans at the median over 30 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $72 a month. Its 34 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a school of 615. Look this school up on the Kansas Board of Cosmetology register by its legal name before you pay, because that entry and not this one is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
undefined That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not.
-
#12
Hutchinson Community College
Hutchinson, KS
53%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 26 graduates a year
What the record shows
Hutchinson Community College teaches cosmetology in Hutchinson, with its results published federally. Across all 3,039 students at the college, 53 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Most of the students behind that 53 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 26 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 3,039. Its hours count only under a current entry with the Kansas Board of Cosmetology, so search that register by the school's legal name before any deposit.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists in Kansas, the range runs $21,910 to $77,790 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $29,710. The distance between $21,910 and $77,790 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. On concentration, Kansas is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
-
#13
Seward County Community College
Liberal, KS · Licensed school
50%
Share of students who finish
What the record shows
Based in Liberal, Seward County Community College is on the Kansas Board of Cosmetology register. The board lists no other licensed school in Liberal. 50 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,166 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 50 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 26 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,166. Check its license with the Kansas Board of Cosmetology before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists in Kansas, the range runs $21,910 to $77,790 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $29,710. 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 in Kansas as it is nationally.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#14
Garden City Community College
Garden City, KS · Licensed school
50%
Share of students who finish
What the record shows
Garden City Community College operates in Garden City under license from the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Garden City. Across all 1,474 students at the college, 50 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Most of the students behind that 50 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Graduates who borrowed took on $5,500 in federal loans at the median, 33 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $58 a month. Its 14 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,474. Confirm the school's current license with the Kansas Board of Cosmetology first: that entry is what qualifies your hours, whatever the federal figures say.
Where it leads
In Kansas, the median cosmetologist earns $29,710, the bottom tenth $21,910 and the top tenth $77,790. undefined Kansas employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 2,190 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#15
Old Town Barber College
Wichita, KS
46%
Share of students who finish
- 46% finish
- 36 graduates a year
- $16,463 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Wichita, Old Town Barber College is one of the barbering programs the federal government tracks. It trains toward a barber license only, which is a similar hour count to cosmetology, leads to men's cutting, shaving and beard work, and does not license color, chemical services or the full cosmetology scope. That makes it a different decision from the full cosmetology schools on this page rather than a smaller version of one. The school graduates 46 percent, on a fall headcount of 97. The published cost is $16,463 for the full program. The median graduate left with $13,000 in federal loans, across 59 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $138 a month. Completion is the one figure that compares across trades, and 46 percent, 30 points under the 76 percent private-school median, is the first thing to ask about. $16,463 is within 3 percent of the $16,938 private-school median for a similar hour count, which is the going rate. It awarded 36 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Its hours count only under a current entry with the Kansas Board of Cosmetology, so search that register by the school's legal name before any deposit.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Wichita earn under $28,340, with the tenth percentile at $21,570 and the ninetieth at $77,640. Cosmetologists are the nearest series BLS carries to barbers here. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. Wichita employs cosmetologists at close to the national rate, around 460 people.
-
#16
Cowley County Community College
Arkansas City, KS · Licensed school
45%
Share of students who finish
What the record shows
Cowley County Community College trains in Arkansas City, licensed by the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. The board lists no other licensed school in Arkansas City. Across all 1,543 students at the college, 45 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 45 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 13 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,543. Verify the school's standing with the Kansas Board of Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
undefined undefined
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#17
Kansas City Kansas Community College
Kansas City, KS · Licensed school
42%
Share of students who finish
What the record shows
Kansas City Kansas Community College is licensed by the Kansas Board of Cosmetology and trains in Kansas City. The board lists no other licensed school in Kansas City. Across all 3,319 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. Its 67 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 3,319. Check its license with the Kansas Board of Cosmetology before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Kansas City earn under $31,520, with the tenth percentile at $28,300 and the ninetieth at $79,350. A flat floor and a long tail: nobody starts far below the median here, and the people well above it got there on repeat clients, not seniority. Local concentration around Kansas City sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#18
Dodge City Community College
Dodge City, KS · Licensed school
35%
Share of students who finish
What the record shows
Based in Dodge City, Dodge City Community College is on the Kansas Board of Cosmetology register. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Dodge City. Across all 1,106 students at the college, 35 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Most of the students behind that 35 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 21 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,106. The license from the Kansas Board of Cosmetology is the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists in Kansas runs from $21,910 at the tenth percentile to $77,790 at the ninetieth, with a median of $29,710. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. On concentration, Kansas is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#19
Fort Scott Community College
Fort Scott, KS · Licensed school
35%
Share of students who finish
What the record shows
Fort Scott Community College trains in Fort Scott, licensed by the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Fort Scott. 35 percent of students across the college finish, out of 693 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 35 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 median graduate left with $4,750 in federal loans, across 33 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $50 a month. Its 34 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 693. The license from the Kansas Board of Cosmetology is the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
In Kansas, the median cosmetologist earns $29,710, the bottom tenth $21,910 and the top tenth $77,790. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. Kansas employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 2,190 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#20
Johnson County Community College
Overland Park, KS · Licensed school
31%
Share of students who finish
What the record shows
Johnson County Community College trains in Overland Park, licensed by the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. 31 percent of students across the college finish, out of 11,332 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 31 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. The median graduate left with $5,299 in federal loans, across 22 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $56 a month. Its 43 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 11,332. Check its license with the Kansas Board of Cosmetology before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Kansas City, the range runs $28,300 to $79,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $31,520. The floor is almost the median here, so the whole spread is above it, and it belongs to people with a book. The occupation is about as common around Kansas City as it is nationally.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
-
#21
Independence Community College
Independence, KS · Licensed school
26%
Share of students who finish
What the record shows
Independence Community College is licensed by the Kansas Board of Cosmetology and trains in Independence. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Independence. Across all 486 students at the college, 26 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 26 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. 9 credentials in a year means the cosmetology program barely ran; ask whether it is enrolling this term before anything else. The license from the Kansas Board of Cosmetology is the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
undefined undefined
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Kansas Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
- Hays Academy of Hair Design 86% 86%
- Eric Fisher Academy 85% 85%
- Hays Academy of Hair Design 77% 77%
- Paul Mitchell the School-Wichita 76% 76%
- Mitsu Sato Hair Academy 76% 76%
- Paul Mitchell the School-Overlan... 76% 76%
- Bellus Academy 74% 74%
- Z Hair Academy 74% 74%
- Fort Hays State University-North... 73% 73%
- Crave Beauty Academy 73% 73%
Which other cosmetology schools in Kansas are state licensed?
These Kansas cosmetology schools hold a current license from Kansas Board of Cosmetology but have no published earnings figure, because the ranking above reads federal data that covers only schools taking federal financial aid. Their hours count toward the Kansas exam exactly as the ranked schools' hours do. They are listed by city rather than ordered, since nothing published about them supports an ordering.
| School | City | Board record | Approved to teach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sami Halaseh Institute | Andover | Licensed school | |
| SIDNEY’S HAIRDRESSING COLLEGE of HCC | Hutchinson | Licensed school | |
| Elegant Design Beauty Academy LLC | Lawrence | Licensed school | |
| Z Hair Academy INC | Lawrence | Licensed school | |
| Entourage Institute of Beauty & Esthetics | Lenexa | Licensed school | |
| Trendsetters International Cosmetology | Lenexa | Licensed school | |
| Creative Image School of Comestology | Olathe | Licensed school | |
| Fort Scott Community College - Pittsburg Cosmetology Dept | Pittsburg | Licensed school | |
| Washburn Tech Academy of Cosmetology | Topeka | Licensed school | |
| 21st BEAUTY ACADEMY | Wichita | Licensed school |
How do you become a cosmetologist in Kansas in 2026?
To become a cosmetologist in Kansas you need 1,500 clock hours at a school licensed by Kansas Board of Cosmetology, then a passing score on the state exam. At the pace most clock-hour schools run, that is roughly 11.5 months full time. Only 13 states ask less, so this is at the shorter end of a range that reaches 2,000 hours.
None of those hours count unless Kansas Board of Cosmetology licensed the school at the time you sat them.
How much do cosmetologists make in Kansas in 2026?
Cosmetologists in Kansas earn a median of $29,710 , with the bottom tenth on $21,910 and the top tenth on $77,790 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.
- Cosmetologists $29,710 $29,710
- Nail technicians $30,930 $30,930
- Estheticians $45,760 $45,760
- Salon managers $47,370 $47,370
What is different about cosmetology licensing in Kansas?
Kansas licenses the students themselves. K.S.A. 65-1904a requires anyone enrolled in a licensed cosmetology school to obtain an "apprentice license" from the board within 15 days of enrollment, and the licensure statute is phrased as having "practiced as an apprentice in a licensed school for not less than 1,500 clock hours" - so what other states call a student is a board licensee in Kansas, and schools must file a monthly disenrolment list. The board is also a standalone agency whose remit extends well past hair: it regulates body art (tattoo and piercing) and tanning facilities alongside cosmetology. Read Kansas Board of Cosmetology's own rules .
Where do cosmetologists make the most money in Kansas?
Cosmetologists make the most money in Kansas around Lawrence, where the median is $36,180, and the least around Wichita at $28,340. That is a 28 percent gap inside one state, which is wider than the gap between many states and worth more than most differences between schools.
The statewide median sits at $29,710, so the metros above it are carrying the average up.
- Lawrence $36,180 $36,180
- Kansas City $31,520 $31,520
- Manhattan $29,700 $29,700
- Topeka $29,160 $29,160
- St. Joseph $28,730 $28,730
- Joplin $28,600 $28,600
- Wichita $28,340 $28,340
Where are the cosmetology schools in Kansas?
The licensed cosmetology schools in Kansas cluster hardest in Overland Park, which holds 4 of the 28 the board currently lists. At 14 percent of the state total, no single city dominates training in Kansas.
16 towns have exactly one licensed school, which is worth knowing if you cannot easily move: losing that school means losing the option locally.
- Overland Park 4 4
- Wichita 4 4
- Lawrence 2 2
- Lenexa 2 2
- Andover 1 1
- Arkansas City 1 1
- Dodge City 1 1
- Fort Scott 1 1
- Garden City 1 1
- Goodland 1 1
Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech in Kansas?
In Kansas, salon managers are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $47,370 median. Cosmetologists in Kansas sit at $29,710, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Salon managers | $47,370 | 270 |
| Estheticians | $45,760 | 420 |
| Nail technicians | $30,930 | 1,510 |
Can you use a cosmetology license from another state in Kansas?
Using a cosmetology license from another state in Kansas means satisfying Kansas Board of Cosmetology, which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other Midwest states, Kansas is its 1,500 hour requirement is about the regional norm, and it pays about 18 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas (this state) | 1,500 | $29,710 |
| South Dakota | 1,500 | $49,800 |
| Minnesota | 1,550 | $39,170 |
| Ohio | 1,500 | $36,260 |
| Wisconsin | 1,550 | $36,230 |
| Iowa | 1,550 | $35,700 |
| North Dakota | 1,500 | $34,850 |
| Michigan | 1,500 | $34,820 |
| Nebraska | 1,800 | $34,320 |
| Illinois | 1,500 | $34,040 |
| Indiana | 1,500 | $32,830 |
| Missouri | 1,500 | $30,750 |
What does this Kansas cosmetology program ranking not tell you?
This Kansas 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 Kansas Board of Cosmetology for the license itself.
Common questions about cosmetology programs in Kansas
What makes the best cosmetology programs in Kansas rank highly here?
How many cosmetology programs in Kansas hold a current license?
Should you choose a NACCAS-accredited school in Kansas?
How much does cosmetology school cost in Kansas?
Are the best cosmetology programs in Kansas accredited?
Where does this Kansas cosmetology program data come from?
This Kansas cosmetology program data comes from Kansas Board of Cosmetology, 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. Kansas licenses the students themselves. K.S.A. 65-1904a requires anyone enrolled in a licensed cosmetology school to obtain an "apprentice license" from the board within 15 days of enrollment, and the licensure statute is phrased as having "practiced as an apprentice in a licensed school for not less than 1,500 clock hours" - so what other states call a student is a board licensee in Kansas, and schools must file a monthly disenrolment list. The board is also a standalone agency whose remit extends well past hair: it regulates body art (tattoo and piercing) and tanning facilities alongside cosmetology.
Kansas Board of CosmetologyRead 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
On this page
- Other licensed schools
- How to become one
- What it pays
- What is different in Kansas
- Where do cosmetologists make the most money
- Where are the cosmetology schools
- Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech
- Can you use a cosmetology license from another state
- What this does not tell you
- Common questions
- Sources