Louisiana
Best cosmetology programs in Louisiana 2026
Downtown New Orleans and Tulane University. Photo by Jacinta Quesada, FEMA, in the public domain, 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.
No cosmetology program anywhere is accredited, because nothing accredits the program itself. NACCAS, the name on most beauty school marketing, is an institutional accreditor whose practical effect is access to federal financial aid, and an accredited school says nothing about the course it runs. In Louisiana the binding credential is the school's license from Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology.
46
schools currently licensed
31
qualify to be ranked
7
excluded, under 40 enrolled students
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#1
Celebrity Stylist Beauty School
Monroe, LA
100%
Share of students who finish
- 100% finish
- 14 graduates a year
- $18,700 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Monroe, Celebrity Stylist Beauty School is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of the 51 students in its fall count, 100 percent complete the course they started. It charges $18,700 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. $18,700 is within 8 percent of the $17,400 median, and the completion is not ordinary: 100 percent against 75. That is the better half of the trade. The school conferred 14 credentials in the year reported. That is a small cohort, which usually buys more chair time with an instructor and a shorter wait for the clinic floor. Licensing is the business of the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where it leads
undefined The metro median runs about 11 percent below the Louisiana figure.
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#2
Omega Institute of Cosmetology
Houma, LA · Licensed school
97%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- $16,500 program cost
What the record shows
Omega Institute of Cosmetology operates in Houma under license from the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training and nail technology. 97 percent of the 55 students it enrolls finish. The published cost is $16,500 for the full program. The median graduate left with $4,832 in federal loans, across 45 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $51 a month. $16,500 is within 6 percent of the $17,400 median, and the completion is not ordinary: 97 percent against 75. That is the better half of the trade. 43 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Check its license with the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Around Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, the median cosmetologist earns $23,550, the bottom tenth $19,590 and the top tenth $30,010. The metro median runs about 10 percent below the Louisiana figure. An ordinary shape: the top tenth at 1.3 times the median and a floor 17 percent below it, so a good first year and a good tenth year here are separated by a client book rather than by a cliff. In Louisiana, the gap between esthetics and cosmetology is real: a $36,890 median against one 29 percent lower. This is a comparatively thin market: Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux runs at roughly 0.5 times the national concentration, about 80 people in the occupation.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#3
John Jay Beauty College
Kenner, LA · Licensed school
90%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- $11,500 program cost
What the record shows
John Jay Beauty College trains in Kenner, licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training and nail technology. The board lists no other licensed school in Kenner. 90 percent of its students finish, out of 81 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $11,500 for the full program. More finish here than at the typical school on this page, 90 percent against 75, and the price is 34 percent under the $17,400 median: the two numbers point the same way. 80 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. From 81 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. Ask the Louisiana State 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
Around New Orleans-Metairie, the median cosmetologist earns $26,470, the bottom tenth $22,790 and the top tenth $33,730.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#4
LaSalle Tech
Houma, LA · Licensed school
88%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- $11,300 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Houma, LaSalle Tech is on the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology register. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training and nail technology. 88 percent of the 193 students it enrolls finish. The published cost is $11,300 for the full program. The median graduate left with $6,333 in federal loans, across 73 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. More finish here than at the typical school on this page, 88 percent against 75, and the price is 35 percent under the $17,400 median: the two numbers point the same way. 119 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The license from the Louisiana State 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 around Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux runs from $19,590 at the tenth percentile to $30,010 at the ninetieth, with a median of $23,550. The metro median runs about 10 percent below the Louisiana figure. The ninetieth percentile at $30,010 is 1.3 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 17 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. In Louisiana, esthetics pays a $36,890 median, about 42 percent above cosmetology. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.5 times the usual concentration around Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#5
My Le's Beauty College
Gretna, LA · Licensed school
85%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- $13,650 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Gretna, My Le's Beauty College is on the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology register. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training and nail technology. The board lists no other licensed school in Gretna. Of the 110 students in its fall count, 85 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $13,650 for the full program. More finish here than at the typical school on this page, 85 percent against 75, and the price is 22 percent under the $17,400 median: the two numbers point the same way. It awarded 79 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around New Orleans-Metairie, the median cosmetologist earns $26,470, the bottom tenth $22,790 and the top tenth $33,730. There is little distance between entry pay and the median locally, so the early climb is flatter than in most trades. Esthetics and cosmetology do not pay alike around New Orleans-Metairie: esthetics carries a $39,830 median, roughly 50 percent above cosmetology. New Orleans-Metairie employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 670 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#6
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Lafayette
Lafayette, LA · Licensed school
84%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Natural hair styling
- $19,500 program cost
What the record shows
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Lafayette operates in Lafayette under license from the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training and natural hair styling. 84 percent of students see the course through across two years of students, out of 144 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $19,500 for the full program. Aveda Arts & Sciences campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $8,298 in federal loans at the median over 188 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $88 a month. Paying 12 percent over the $17,400 median buys 9 points of completion over the 75 percent median, and whether that is worth it depends on how sure you are of finishing anywhere. 108 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
undefined The metro median runs about 9 percent below the Louisiana figure.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#7
Cosmetology Training Center
Lafayette, LA · Licensed school
83%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- $16,950 program cost
What the record shows
Cosmetology Training Center is licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology and trains in Lafayette. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics and instructor training. Of 125 enrolled in the fall count, 83 percent finish. The published cost is $16,950 for the full program. 72 graduates borrowed, at a median of $7,401 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $78 a month. 8 points more of its students finish than the 75 percent median, priced within 3 percent of the $17,400 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. 54 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Ask the Louisiana State 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 Lafayette earn under $23,700, with the tenth percentile at $21,400 and the ninetieth at $30,890. Against the state as a whole, the metro sits roughly 9 percent under on median pay. 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. Around Lafayette, esthetics pays a $29,680 median, about 25 percent above cosmetology. Local concentration around Lafayette sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#8
Ray J's College of Hair
Baton Rouge, LA · Licensed school
83%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- Natural hair styling
- $17,400 program cost
What the record shows
Ray J's College of Hair trains in Baton Rouge, licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training, nail technology and natural hair styling. Baton Rouge has 5 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 83 percent of its students finish, out of 41 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $17,400 for the full program. $17,400 is exactly at the $17,400 median, and the completion is not ordinary: 83 percent against 75. That is the better half of the trade. It awarded 19 beauty credentials in the reporting year. That is a small cohort, which usually buys more chair time with an instructor and a shorter wait for the clinic floor. The license from the Louisiana State 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 Baton Rouge employs the trade at only about 0.6 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#9
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington
Covington, LA · Licensed school
80%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
- $20,500 program cost
What the record shows
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Covington trains in Covington, licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology. Its license covers cosmetology and instructor training. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Covington. 80 percent of students see the course through, out of 2,078 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $20,500 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $7,917 in federal loans, measured over 2670 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $84 a month. Paying 18 percent over the $17,400 median buys 5 points of completion over the 75 percent median, and whether that is worth it depends on how sure you are of finishing anywhere. It awarded 1939 beauty credentials in the reporting year. That is roughly 54 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, by some distance the largest beauty school in the state's federal file. Check its license with the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Around Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, the median cosmetologist earns $26,080, the bottom tenth $21,810 and the top tenth $30,700. Slidell-Mandeville-Covington is a small market, about 290 in the trade, but a dense one for its size at 1.5 times the national rate.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#10
Belbo Beauty Institute
Shreveport, LA · Licensed school
78%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- $20,000 program cost
What the record shows
Belbo Beauty Institute operates in Shreveport under license from the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training and nail technology. 78 percent of students see the course through, out of 84 enrolled. The published cost is $20,000 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $9,500 in federal loans, measured over 52 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $101 a month. It charges 15 percent over the $17,400 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. 35 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Check its license with the Louisiana State 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 Shreveport-Bossier City earn under $24,170, with the tenth percentile at $21,600 and the ninetieth at $35,070. 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. Esthetics and cosmetology do not pay alike around Shreveport-Bossier City: esthetics carries a $37,640 median, roughly 56 percent above cosmetology. Local concentration around Shreveport-Bossier City sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#11
Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College
Minden, LA
77%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 14 graduates a year
What the record shows
Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College teaches cosmetology in Minden, with its results published federally. 77 percent of students across the college finish, out of 866 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 77 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. Its 14 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 866. It is a public college, so the cosmetology course is priced at in-district tuition rather than at an academy price. Licensing is the business of the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where it leads
undefined
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#12
Paul Mitchell the School-New Orleans
Metairie, LA · Licensed school
76%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- Natural hair styling
- $21,658 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-New Orleans is licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology and trains in Metairie. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training, nail technology and natural hair styling. The school graduates 76 percent, on a fall headcount of 185. Tuition is reported at $21,658 for the full program. Paul Mitchell campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $12,500 in federal loans at the median over 330 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $133 a month. It charges 24 percent over the $17,400 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. 106 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Louisiana State 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 New Orleans-Metairie earn under $26,470, with the tenth percentile at $22,790 and the ninetieth at $33,730. 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. Around New Orleans-Metairie, esthetics pays a $39,830 median, about 50 percent above cosmetology. Local concentration around New Orleans-Metairie sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#13
Paul Mitchell the School-Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, LA · Licensed school
75%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Natural hair styling
- $21,368 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Baton Rouge, Paul Mitchell the School-Baton Rouge is on the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology register. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training and natural hair styling. Baton Rouge has 5 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 75 percent of its students finish, out of 249 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $21,368 for the full program. The federal file reports borrowing for Paul Mitchell campuses together rather than for this one: a median of $12,500 in federal loans across 330 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $133 a month. It charges 23 percent over the $17,400 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. 107 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Check its license with the Louisiana State 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 Baton Rouge earn under $26,300, with the tenth percentile at $21,160 and the ninetieth at $33,900. The ninetieth percentile at $33,900 is 1.3 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 20 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. Esthetics and cosmetology do not pay alike around Baton Rouge: esthetics carries a $38,360 median, roughly 46 percent above cosmetology. Baton Rouge employs the trade at only about 0.6 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#14
Stage One-The Hair School
Lake Charles, LA · Licensed school
72%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- $18,000 program cost
What the record shows
Stage One-The Hair School trains in Lake Charles, licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics and instructor training. 72 percent of its students finish, out of 66 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $18,000 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $9,500 in federal loans, measured over 73 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $101 a month. It is close to the median school on this page on completion, price and borrowing, 72 percent against 75 and $18,000 against $17,400, 53 percent of the price borrowed against 51 for the page, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. 45 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
undefined Around Lake Charles, esthetics pays a $28,090 median, about 18 percent above cosmetology. Lake Charles employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 150 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#15
Pineville Beauty School
Pineville, LA · Licensed school
71%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- $14,250 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Pineville, Pineville Beauty School is on the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology register. Its license covers cosmetology, instructor training and nail technology. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Pineville. 71 percent of students see the course through, out of 45 enrolled. The published cost is $14,250 for the full program. It charges 18 percent less than the $17,400 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. 21 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Ask the Louisiana State 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
In Louisiana, the median cosmetologist earns $26,030, the bottom tenth $21,590 and the top tenth $33,900. The ninetieth percentile at $33,900 is 1.3 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 17 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. Local concentration in Louisiana sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#16
Central Louisiana Technical Community College
Alexandria, LA
70%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 2 graduates a year
What the record shows
Based in Alexandria, Central Louisiana Technical Community College is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Across all 1,078 students at the college, 70 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 70 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. A program that awarded 2 credentials all year may not run every term, which is the first thing to confirm. It is a public college, so the cosmetology course is priced at in-district tuition rather than at an academy price. The Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology holds the record that counts your hours; find this school on it by its legal name and check it is current before a deposit.
Where it leads
undefined
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#17
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, LA · Licensed school
64%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Natural hair styling
- $19,650 program cost
What the record shows
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Baton Rouge is licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology and trains in Baton Rouge. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training and natural hair styling. Baton Rouge has 5 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. 64 percent of its students finish, out of 175 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $19,650 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $9,833 in federal loans, measured over 122 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. That is the pairing to be wary of: 11 points fewer of its students finish than the 75 percent median, at a price 13 percent over the $17,400 median. Ask the school directly why students leave before you commit. 103 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Check its license with the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
undefined Around Baton Rouge, esthetics pays a $38,360 median, about 46 percent above cosmetology. Baton Rouge employs the trade at only about 0.6 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#18
Cloyd's Beauty School 3 Inc
Monroe, LA · Licensed school
63%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- $11,460 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Monroe, Cloyd's Beauty School 3 Inc is on the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology register. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training and nail technology. 63 percent of its students finish, out of 93 enrolled in the fall count. It charges $11,460 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. $11,460 is 34 percent under the $17,400 median, and 12 points fewer finish than the 75 percent median. The saving only counts if you are one of the ones who gets through. It awarded 50 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Check its license with the Louisiana State 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 Monroe earn under $23,260, with the tenth percentile at $22,240 and the ninetieth at $30,200. Against the state as a whole, the metro sits roughly 11 percent under on median pay. 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. In Louisiana, esthetics pays a $36,890 median, about 42 percent above cosmetology. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.5 times the usual concentration around Monroe, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#19
Denham Springs Beauty School
Denham Springs, LA · Licensed school
60%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
- $15,000 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Denham Springs, Denham Springs Beauty School is on the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology register. Its license covers cosmetology and instructor training. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Denham Springs. The school graduates 60 percent, on a fall headcount of 89. The published cost is $15,000 for the full program. 49 graduates borrowed, at a median of $9,757 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $103 a month. Cheap, but 15 points fewer of its students finish than the 75 percent median, and in a clock-hour trade an unfinished course is the expensive outcome: you have paid for hours that never become a license. 27 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The license from the Louisiana State 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
Around Baton Rouge, the median cosmetologist earns $26,300, the bottom tenth $21,160 and the top tenth $33,900.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#20
Compass Career College
Hammond, LA · Licensed school
59%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- $19,758 program cost
What the record shows
Compass Career College operates in Hammond under license from the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics and instructor training. Across all 194 students at the college, 59 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Most of the students behind that 59 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 $19,758. That price is 14 percent over the $17,400 median, and nothing on this record explains the premium. 41 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The license from the Louisiana State 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
Half of skincare specialists in Louisiana earn under $36,890, with the tenth percentile at $20,340 and the ninetieth at $64,650. Skincare specialists are the nearest series BLS carries to cosmetologists here. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. In Louisiana, esthetics pays a $36,890 median, about 42 percent above cosmetology. This is a comparatively thin market: Louisiana runs at roughly 0.7 times the national concentration, about 600 people in the occupation.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#21
Cloyd's Beauty School 1 Inc
West Monroe, LA · Licensed school
58%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- $11,460 program cost
What the record shows
Based in West Monroe, Cloyd's Beauty School 1 Inc is on the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology register. Its license covers cosmetology, instructor training and nail technology. The board lists no other licensed school in West Monroe. The school graduates 58 percent, on a fall headcount of 48. The published cost is $11,460 for the full program. $11,460 is 34 percent under the $17,400 median, and 17 points fewer finish than the 75 percent median. The saving only counts if you are one of the ones who gets through. 26 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The license from the Louisiana State 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 Around Monroe, nail technology pays a $26,330 median, about 13 percent above cosmetology. Monroe employs the trade at only about 0.5 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#22
Bos-Man's Barber College
Shreveport, LA
57%
Share of students who finish
- 10 graduates a year
- $18,750 program cost
What the record shows
Bos-Man's Barber College runs its barbering program in Shreveport and reports to the US Department of Education. 57 percent of students across the college finish, out of 56 enrolled, and barbering is one of the programs inside that figure. That 57 percent is low for this page, but it is the college's rate and the barbering program is a small part of it; the barbering department's own completions are the check. Tuition is reported at $18,750. 10 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology holds the record that counts your hours; find this school on it by its legal name and check it is current before a deposit.
Where it leads
undefined The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. Louisiana employs the trade at only about 0.2 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
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#23
Blue Cliff College-Metairie
Metairie, LA · Licensed school
56%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- $16,683 program cost
What the record shows
Blue Cliff College-Metairie trains in Metairie, licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training and nail technology. Of 291 enrolled in the fall count, 56 percent finish. The published cost is $16,683 for the full program. Blue Cliff campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $9,855 in federal loans at the median over 826 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. The price is close to the $17,400 median and the completion is not: 56 percent against 75. In a clock-hour course that is the wrong half of the trade, and the reason to ask hard questions before a deposit. It awarded 154 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around New Orleans-Metairie, the range runs $22,790 to $33,730 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $26,470. 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. Around New Orleans-Metairie, the gap between esthetics and cosmetology is real: a $39,830 median against one 34 percent lower. On concentration, New Orleans-Metairie is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
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#24
Blue Cliff College-Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
50%
Share of students who finish
- 108 graduates a year
- $26,459 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Lafayette, Blue Cliff College-Lafayette is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of 62 enrolled in the fall count, 50 percent finish. Tuition is reported at $26,459 for the full program. Borrowing is pooled across Blue Cliff campuses in the federal file, 826 borrowers at a median of $9,855 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. Only 50 in a hundred finish here, 25 points under the 75 percent median. Treat that as the headline, not a footnote, and hold the $26,459 price against it. It awarded 108 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 62, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. Licensing is the business of the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where it leads
Around Lafayette, the median cosmetologist earns $23,700, the bottom tenth $21,400 and the top tenth $30,890. The metro median runs about 9 percent below the Louisiana figure. Lafayette employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 350 people.
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#25
Blue Cliff College-Alexandria
Alexandria, LA · Licensed school
34%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- $16,683 program cost
What the record shows
Blue Cliff College-Alexandria operates in Alexandria under license from the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training and nail technology. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Alexandria. Of 345 enrolled in the fall count, 34 percent finish. Tuition is reported at $16,683 for the full program. Blue Cliff campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $9,855 in federal loans at the median over 826 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. Only 34 in a hundred finish here, 41 points under the 75 percent median. Treat that as the headline, not a footnote, and hold the $16,683 price against it. It awarded 124 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around Alexandria, the median cosmetologist earns $23,580, the bottom tenth $22,700 and the top tenth $31,010. The metro median runs about 9 percent below the Louisiana figure. There is little distance between entry pay and the median locally, so the early climb is flatter than in most trades. Esthetics and cosmetology do not pay alike in Louisiana: esthetics carries a $36,890 median, roughly 42 percent above cosmetology. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.5 times the usual concentration around Alexandria, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, read 2026-08-31.
- Celebrity Stylist Beauty School 100% 100%
- Omega Institute of Cosmetology 97% 97%
- John Jay Beauty College 90% 90%
- LaSalle Tech 88% 88%
- My Le's Beauty College 85% 85%
- Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-... 84% 84%
- Cosmetology Training Center 83% 83%
- Ray J's College of Hair 83% 83%
- Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-... 80% 80%
- Belbo Beauty Institute 78% 78%
Which other cosmetology schools in Louisiana are state licensed?
These Louisiana cosmetology schools hold a current license from Louisiana State 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 Louisiana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bastrop Beauty School | Bastrop | Licensed school | cosmetology, instructor, nail-technology |
| BRCC- Acadian Campus | Baton Rouge | Licensed school | cosmetology |
| College and Career Readiness Center | Breaux Bridge | Licensed school | cosmetology |
| Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Hammond | Hammond | Licensed school | cosmetology, esthetics |
| Stellar Beauty Studios & Institute, LLC | Lafayette | Licensed school | cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology, natural-hair |
| W.D. Smith Career Center | Lafayette | Licensed school | cosmetology |
| The Ritz Academy | Lake Charles | Licensed school | cosmetology, esthetics, instructor |
| Livonia High School Cosmetology Program | Livonia | Licensed school | cosmetology |
| Career Magnet Center | Lockport | Licensed school | cosmetology |
| St. James Parish Career & College Center | Lutcher | Licensed school | cosmetology, natural-hair |
| Cuillier Career Center | Marrero | Licensed school | cosmetology, natural-hair |
| Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute New Orleans | Metairie | Licensed school | cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, natural-hair |
| The Celebrity A Paul Mitchell Franchise School | Monroe | Licensed school | cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology, natural-hair |
| New Beginnings Beauty College | New Orleans | Licensed school | cosmetology, instructor |
| Stevenson’s Academy of Hair Design | New Orleans | Licensed school | cosmetology, instructor, nail-technology |
| The Cosmetology Institute | New Orleans | Licensed school | cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology, natural-hair |
| Opelousas School of Cosmetology | Opelousas | Licensed school | cosmetology, instructor |
| Blalock’s Professional Bty College | Shreveport | Licensed school | cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology |
| Booker T Washington New Technology High School | Shreveport | Licensed school | cosmetology |
| Compass Career College (Slidell) | Slidell | Licensed school | cosmetology |
| Washington Career & Technical Center | Washington | Licensed school | cosmetology |
How do you become a cosmetologist in Louisiana in 2026?
To become a cosmetologist in Louisiana you need 1,500 clock hours at a school licensed by Louisiana State 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. 13 states set a lower requirement and the rest set a higher one, in a national range topping out at 2,000 hours.
None of those hours count unless Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology licensed the school at the time you sat them.
How much do cosmetologists make in Louisiana in 2026?
Cosmetologists in Louisiana earn a median of $26,030 , with the bottom tenth on $21,590 and the top tenth on $33,900 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.
- Cosmetologists $26,030 $26,030
- Nail technicians $28,170 $28,170
- Salon managers $38,670 $38,670
- Estheticians $36,890 $36,890
- Barbers $44,430 $44,430
What is different about cosmetology licensing in Louisiana?
Louisiana slices cosmetology into more separately licensed sub-crafts than almost any other state, and the rules define them: 'Alternative Hair Design' (styling by twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking or braiding, expressly excluding dyes and reactive chemicals) is its own license with its own school-approved hours, alongside a 40-hour shampoo permit, an esthetics 'refresher' course and a Blow Dry Technician column on the roster. The other genuine oddity is the roster itself: rather than just naming licensed schools, the board publishes each school's board-approved clock hours per program, so you can see which schools are approved to teach which crafts and at what length. Read Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology's own rules .
Where do cosmetologists make the most money in Louisiana?
Cosmetologists make the most money in Louisiana around New Orleans-Metairie, where the median is $26,470, and the least around Monroe at $23,260. The 14 percent gap between them is modest by national standards, so pay is fairly even across Louisiana.
Against a statewide median of $26,030, roughly half these metros pay above and half below.
- New Orleans-Metairie $26,470 $26,470
- Baton Rouge $26,300 $26,300
- Slidell-Mandeville-Covington $26,080 $26,080
- Shreveport-Bossier City $24,170 $24,170
- Lake Charles $23,840 $23,840
- Lafayette $23,700 $23,700
- Alexandria $23,580 $23,580
- Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux $23,550 $23,550
- Monroe $23,260 $23,260
Where are the cosmetology schools in Louisiana?
The licensed cosmetology schools in Louisiana cluster hardest in Baton Rouge, which holds 5 of the 46 the board currently lists. At 11 percent of the state total, no single city dominates training in Louisiana.
Another 18 towns hold a single licensed school apiece, so in much of the state the practical choice is one school or a commute.
- Baton Rouge 5 5
- Lafayette 4 4
- New Orleans 4 4
- Lake Charles 3 3
- Metairie 3 3
- Shreveport 3 3
- Hammond 2 2
- Houma 2 2
- Monroe 2 2
- Abbeville 1 1
Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, barbers are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $44,430 median. That is above the $26,030 cosmetologist median, so the longer general license is not automatically the better-paid route here.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Barbers | $44,430 | 40 |
| Salon managers | $38,670 | 1,330 |
| Estheticians | $36,890 | 600 |
| Nail technicians | $28,170 | 2,210 |
Can you use a cosmetology license from another state in Louisiana?
Using a cosmetology license from another state in Louisiana means satisfying Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other South states, Louisiana is it asks 70 more hours than the regional average of 1,430, and it pays about 22 percent below the regional average.
It is worth knowing before you train if there is any chance you will move, since transferring a license is an application to the receiving board rather than a formality.
| State | Hours required | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana (this state) | 1,500 | $26,030 |
| 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 |
| Florida | 1,200 | $29,530 |
| Alabama | 1,500 | $29,150 |
| Arkansas | 1,500 | $28,830 |
| Mississippi | 1,500 | $27,560 |
| Virginia | 1,000 |
What does this Louisiana cosmetology program ranking not tell you?
This Louisiana 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 Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology for the license itself.
Common questions about cosmetology programs in Louisiana
What makes the best cosmetology programs in Louisiana rank highly here?
How many cosmetology programs in Louisiana hold a current license?
Should you choose a NACCAS-accredited school in Louisiana?
How much does cosmetology school cost in Louisiana?
Are the best cosmetology programs in Louisiana accredited?
Where does this Louisiana cosmetology program data come from?
This Louisiana cosmetology program data comes from Louisiana State 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. Louisiana slices cosmetology into more separately licensed sub-crafts than almost any other state, and the rules define them: 'Alternative Hair Design' (styling by twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking or braiding, expressly excluding dyes and reactive chemicals) is its own license with its own school-approved hours, alongside a 40-hour shampoo permit, an esthetics 'refresher' course and a Blow Dry Technician column on the roster. The other genuine oddity is the roster itself: rather than just naming licensed schools, the board publishes each school's board-approved clock hours per program, so you can see which schools are approved to teach which crafts and at what length.
Louisiana State 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 Louisiana
- 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