Sources: Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering license records, College Scorecard, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Schools Currently Licensed
66
Qualify to Be Ranked
23
Excluded, Under 40 Enrolled Students
5
Median Cosmetologist Pay
$27,560
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 Mississippi is whether Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering licensed the school while you were enrolled.
Best Cosmetology Programs in Mississippi
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1
Traxlers School of Hair
Licensed school
Jackson, MS
100% Share of students who finish- Barbering
- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
- $16,500 program cost
What the Record Shows
Based in Jackson, Traxlers School of Hair is on the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering register. Its license covers barbering, cosmetology and instructor training. With 5 licensed schools in Jackson, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. The school graduates 100 percent, on a fall headcount of 98. Tuition is reported at $16,500 for the full program. 29 points more of its students finish than the 71 percent private-school median, priced exactly at the $16,500 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 31 beauty credentials in the reporting year. The license from the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering 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 Jackson, the range runs $17,370 to $58,930 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $26,990. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.6 times the usual concentration around Jackson, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
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2
KC's School of Hair Design
Licensed school
Pontotoc, MS
95% Share of students who finish- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- $14,325 program cost
What the Record Shows
KC's School of Hair Design trains in Ponotoc, licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. Its license covers cosmetology, instructor training and nail technology. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Ponotoc. The school graduates 95 percent, on a fall headcount of 58. It charges $14,325 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 $9,833 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. More finish here than at the typical school on this page, 95 percent against 71, and the price is 13 percent under the $16,500 private-school median: the two numbers point the same way. It awarded 41 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where It Leads
In Mississippi, the median cosmetologist earns $27,560, the bottom tenth $17,370 and the top tenth $58,790. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. In Mississippi, nail technology pays a $37,300 median, about 35 percent above cosmetology. This is a comparatively thin market: Mississippi runs at roughly 0.5 times the national concentration, about 1,040 people in the occupation.
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3
Chris Beauty College
Licensed school
Gulfport, MS
88% Share of students who finish- Barbering
- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- $12,600 program cost
What the Record Shows
Chris Beauty College is licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering and trains in Gulfport. Its license covers barbering, cosmetology, instructor training and nail technology. Of the 73 students in its fall count, 88 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $12,600 for the full program. 17 points more of its students finish than the 71 percent private-school median, and it charges 24 percent less than the $16,500 private-school median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. 64 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Check its license with the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where It Leads
For cosmetologists around Gulfport-Biloxi, the range runs $17,420 to $57,660 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $26,890. The distance between $17,420 and $57,660 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. Nail technology and cosmetology do not pay alike around Gulfport-Biloxi: nail technology carries a $43,380 median, roughly 61 percent above cosmetology. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.5 times the usual concentration around Gulfport-Biloxi, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
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4
Academy of Hair Design-Pearl
Licensed school
Pearl, MS
83% Share of students who finish- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
- $19,500 program cost
What the Record Shows
Academy of Hair Design-Pearl trains in Pearl, licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. Its license covers cosmetology and instructor training. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Pearl. Of the 43 students in its fall count, 83 percent complete the course they started. It charges $19,500 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Borrowing here runs to a median of $6,700 in federal loans, measured over 42 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $71 a month. Paying 18 percent over the $16,500 private-school median buys 12 points of completion over the 71 percent private-school median, and whether that is worth it depends on how sure you are of finishing anywhere. 21 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The license from the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering is the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where It Leads
Around Jackson, the median cosmetologist earns $26,990, the bottom tenth $17,370 and the top tenth $58,930. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.6 times the usual concentration around Jackson, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
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5
Mississippi Barber Academy
Licensed school
Jackson, MS
78% Share of students who finish- Barbering
- $19,500 program cost
What the Record Shows
Based in Jackson, Mississippi Barber Academy is on the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering register. 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. With 5 licensed schools in Jackson, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. The school graduates 78 percent, on a fall headcount of 71. Tuition is reported at $19,500 for the full program. Completion is the one figure that compares across trades, and 78 percent, 7 points over the 71 percent private-school median, is a good sign. $19,500 is 18 percent over the $16,500 private-school median for a similar hour count, which needs a reason. It awarded 33 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Check its license with the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where It Leads
Around Jackson, the median cosmetologist earns $26,990, the bottom tenth $17,370 and the top tenth $58,930. Cosmetologists are the nearest series BLS carries to barbers here. The distance between $17,370 and $58,930 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. This is a comparatively thin market: Jackson runs at roughly 0.6 times the national concentration, about 300 people in the occupation.
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6
Hatfield's Mississippi College of Beauty Culture
Licensed school
Laurel, MS
71% Share of students who finish- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
- $16,875 program cost
What the Record Shows
Based in Laurel, Hatfield's Mississippi College of Beauty Culture is on the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering register. Its license covers cosmetology and instructor training. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Laurel. Of the 57 students in its fall count, 71 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $16,875 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $10,500 in federal loans at the median, 26 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $111 a month. It is close to the median private school on this page on completion, price and borrowing, 71 percent, exactly the median and $16,875 against $16,500, 62 percent of the price borrowed against 61 for the page, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. 31 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The license from the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering 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 cosmetologists in Mississippi earn under $27,560, with the tenth percentile at $17,370 and the ninetieth at $58,790. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. This is a comparatively thin market: Mississippi runs at roughly 0.5 times the national concentration, about 1,040 people in the occupation.
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7
Delta Technical College-Mississippi
Licensed school
Horn Lake, MS
71% Share of students who finish- Cosmetology
- $11,152 program cost
What the Record Shows
Delta Technical College-Mississippi trains in Horn Lake, licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. Its license covers cosmetology. The board lists no other licensed school in Horn Lake. Across all 2,307 students at the college, 71 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 71 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. Tuition is reported at $11,152. That price is 32 percent under the $16,500 private-school median. Borrowing here runs to a median of $11,450 in federal loans, measured over 162 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $121 a month. It awarded 88 beauty credentials in the reporting year. That is roughly 8 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 Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where It Leads
Around Memphis, the median cosmetologist earns $30,980, the bottom tenth $25,370 and the top tenth $48,120. The metro median is about 12 percent above the Mississippi figure. The ninetieth percentile at $48,120 is 1.6 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 18 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. Local concentration around Memphis sits near the national average.
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8
Blue Cliff College-Gulfport
Licensed school
Gulfport, MS
70% Share of students who finish- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- $16,683 program cost
What the Record Shows
Based in Gulfport, Blue Cliff College-Gulfport is on the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering register. Its license covers cosmetology and esthetics. Of 200 enrolled in the fall count, 70 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. On completion and price it is close to the median private school on this page, 70 percent against 71 and $16,683 against $16,500, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. 100 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 Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where It Leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Gulfport-Biloxi runs from $17,420 at the tenth percentile to $57,660 at the ninetieth, with a median of $26,890. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. Around Gulfport-Biloxi, the gap between esthetics and cosmetology is real: a $38,480 median against one 30 percent lower. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.5 times the usual concentration around Gulfport-Biloxi, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
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9
Mississippi Institute of Aesthetics Nails & Cosmetology
Clinton, MS
67% Share of students who finish- 67% finish
- 73 graduates a year
- $16,500 program cost
What the Record Shows
Mississippi Institute of Aesthetics Nails & Cosmetology runs its cosmetology program in Clinton and reports to the US Department of Education. The school graduates 67 percent, on a fall headcount of 77. Tuition is reported at $16,500 for the full program. The median graduate left with $3,748 in federal loans, across 74 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $40 a month. That is a small share of the $16,500 price, so most of it is being met some other way. Completion and price both sit close to the page private-school median, 67 percent against 71 and $16,500, exactly the median, so the number that separates it is debt: 23 percent of the price arrives as federal loans, less than at the typical private school here. It awarded 73 beauty credentials in the reporting year. From 77 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. Look this school up on the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering register by its legal name before you pay, because that entry and not this one is what makes your hours count.
Where It Leads
For cosmetologists around Jackson, the range runs $17,370 to $58,930 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $26,990. The distance between $17,370 and $58,930 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. Jackson employs the trade at only about 0.6 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
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10
Vaughn Beauty College
Licensed school
Aberdeen, MS
64% Share of students who finish- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- $11,275 program cost
What the Record Shows
Vaughn Beauty College operates in Aberdeen under license from the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. Its license covers cosmetology, esthetics, instructor training and nail technology. The board lists no other licensed school in Aberdeen. 64 percent of students see the course through across two years of students, out of 63 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $11,275 for the full program. Cheap, but 7 points fewer of its students finish than the 71 percent private-school median, and in a clock-hour trade an unfinished course is the expensive outcome: you have paid for hours that never become a license. 37 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where It Leads
For cosmetologists in Mississippi, the range runs $17,370 to $58,790 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $27,560. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. In Mississippi, the gap between esthetics and cosmetology is real: a $41,160 median against one 33 percent lower. This is a comparatively thin market: Mississippi runs at roughly 0.5 times the national concentration, about 1,040 people in the occupation.
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11
Southwest Mississippi Community College
Licensed school
Summit, MS
56% Share of students who finish- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
What the Record Shows
Southwest Mississippi Community College operates in Summit under license from the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. Its license covers cosmetology and instructor training. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Summit. 56 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,474 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That completion rate is 6 points above the 50 percent median, but it is every program on campus, so treat it as a fact about the college and not about the cosmetology floor. Its 21 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,474. Confirm the school's current license with the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering first: that entry is what qualifies your hours, whatever the federal figures say.
Where It Leads
In Mississippi, the median cosmetologist earns $27,560, the bottom tenth $17,370 and the top tenth $58,790. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. Mississippi employs the trade at only about 0.5 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
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12
Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Licensed school
Wesson, MS
50% Share of students who finish- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
What the Record Shows
Based in Wesson, Copiah-Lincoln Community College is on the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering register. Its license covers cosmetology and instructor training. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Wesson. 50 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,922 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. 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. Its 16 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,922. Verify the school's standing with the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where It Leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Jackson runs from $17,370 at the tenth percentile to $58,930 at the ninetieth, with a median of $26,990. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.6 times the usual concentration around Jackson, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
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13
East Mississippi Community College
Licensed school
Scooba, MS
48% Share of students who finish- Barbering
- Cosmetology
What the Record Shows
Based in Mayhew, East Mississippi Community College is on the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering register. Its license covers barbering and cosmetology. The board lists no other licensed school in Mayhew. 48 percent of students across the college finish, out of 2,838 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 48 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. Graduates who borrowed took on $5,500 in federal loans at the median, 21 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $58 a month. Its 28 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 2,838. Confirm the school's current license with the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering first: that entry is what qualifies your hours, whatever the federal figures say.
Where It Leads
Pay for cosmetologists in Mississippi runs from $17,370 at the tenth percentile to $58,790 at the ninetieth, with a median of $27,560. The distance between $17,370 and $58,790 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. This is a comparatively thin market: Mississippi runs at roughly 0.5 times the national concentration, about 1,040 people in the occupation.
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14
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Perkinston, MS
48% Share of students who finish- Public institution
- 69 graduates a year
What the Record Shows
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College teaches cosmetology in Perkinston, with its results published federally. Across all 6,353 students at the college, 48 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 48 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. Its 69 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 6,353. Licensing is the business of the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where It Leads
Pay for cosmetologists in Mississippi runs from $17,370 at the tenth percentile to $58,790 at the ninetieth, with a median of $27,560. The distance between $17,370 and $58,790 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. Mississippi employs the trade at only about 0.5 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
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15
Northwest Mississippi Community College
Senatobia, MS
45% Share of students who finish- Public institution
- 38 graduates a year
What the Record Shows
Northwest Mississippi Community College teaches cosmetology in Senatobia, with its results published federally. 45 percent of students across the college finish, out of 5,452 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. 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. Borrowing here runs to a median of $5,112 in federal loans, measured over 24 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $54 a month. Its 38 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 5,452. Licensing is the business of the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where It Leads
In Mississippi, the median cosmetologist earns $27,560, the bottom tenth $17,370 and the top tenth $58,790. The distance between $17,370 and $58,790 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.5 times the usual concentration in Mississippi, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
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16
Hinds Community College
Licensed school
Raymond, MS
43% Share of students who finish- Barbering
What the Record Shows
Hinds Community College trains in Raymond, licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. The board lists no other licensed school in Raymond. 43 percent of students across the college finish, out of 6,397 enrolled, and barbering is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 43 percent are in other programs, so ask the barbering department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Borrowing here runs to a median of $9,487 in federal loans, measured over 44 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $101 a month. Its 44 completions a year make barbering a small program inside a college of 6,397. Ask the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering 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 Jackson, the range runs $17,370 to $58,930 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $26,990. Cosmetologists are the nearest series BLS carries to barbers here. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. This is a comparatively thin market: Jackson runs at roughly 0.6 times the national concentration, about 300 people in the occupation.
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17
Corinth Academy of Cosmetology
Licensed school
Corinth, MS
42% Share of students who finish- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
- Nail technology
- $15,275 program cost
What the Record Shows
Corinth Academy of Cosmetology operates in Corinth under license from the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. Its license covers cosmetology, instructor training and nail technology. The board lists no other licensed school in Corinth. 42 percent of students see the course through, out of 90 enrolled. The published cost is $15,275 for the full program. 59 graduates borrowed, at a median of $9,833 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $104 a month. Only 42 in a hundred finish here, 29 points under the 71 percent private-school median. Treat that as the headline, not a footnote, and hold the $15,275 price against it. 36 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Ask the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering 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 Mississippi, the median cosmetologist earns $27,560, the bottom tenth $17,370 and the top tenth $58,790. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. In Mississippi, the gap between nail technology and cosmetology is real: a $37,300 median against one 26 percent lower. Mississippi employs the trade at only about 0.5 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
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18
Coahoma Community College
Licensed school
Clarksdale, MS
41% Share of students who finish- Barbering
- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
What the Record Shows
Coahoma Community College trains in Clarksdale, licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. Its license covers barbering, cosmetology and instructor training. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Clarksdale. 41 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,144 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 41 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 85 beauty credentials in the reporting year. That is roughly 8 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 Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering first: that entry is what qualifies your hours, whatever the federal figures say.
Where It Leads
In Mississippi, the median cosmetologist earns $27,560, the bottom tenth $17,370 and the top tenth $58,790. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.5 times the usual concentration in Mississippi, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
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19
Jones County Junior College
Licensed school
Ellisville, MS
41% Share of students who finish- Cosmetology
What the Record Shows
Jones County Junior College trains in Ellisville, licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. The board licenses it to train toward cosmetology. The board lists no other licensed school in Ellisville. 41 percent of students across the college finish, out of 3,535 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 41 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 18 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 3,535. Ask the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering 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 in Mississippi earn under $27,560, with the tenth percentile at $17,370 and the ninetieth at $58,790. The distance between $17,370 and $58,790 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.5 times the usual concentration in Mississippi, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
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20
Holmes Community College
Licensed school
Goodman, MS
39% Share of students who finish- Cosmetology
What the Record Shows
Holmes Community College trains in Goodman, licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. Its license covers cosmetology. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Goodman. 39 percent of students across the college finish, out of 3,958 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 39 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 8 credentials all year may not run every term, which is the first thing to confirm. Ask the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering 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 Mississippi runs from $17,370 at the tenth percentile to $58,790 at the ninetieth, with a median of $27,560. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. This is a comparatively thin market: Mississippi runs at roughly 0.5 times the national concentration, about 1,040 people in the occupation.
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21
Pearl River Community College
Licensed school
Poplarville, MS
37% Share of students who finish- Barbering
- Cosmetology
What the Record Shows
Pearl River Community College is licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering and trains in Poplarville. Its license covers barbering and cosmetology. The board lists no other licensed school in Poplarville. Across all 4,903 students at the college, 37 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Most of the students behind that 37 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 24 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 4,903. Confirm the school's current license with the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering first: that entry is what qualifies your hours, whatever the federal figures say.
Where It Leads
For cosmetologists in Mississippi, the range runs $17,370 to $58,790 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $27,560. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. Mississippi employs the trade at only about 0.5 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
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22
East Central Community College
Licensed school
Decatur, MS
36% Share of students who finish- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
What the Record Shows
East Central Community College trains in Decatur, licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. Its license covers cosmetology and instructor training. The board lists no other licensed school in Decatur. 36 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,520 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 36 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 15 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,520. Ask the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering 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 Mississippi, the median cosmetologist earns $27,560, the bottom tenth $17,370 and the top tenth $58,790. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. This is a comparatively thin market: Mississippi runs at roughly 0.5 times the national concentration, about 1,040 people in the occupation.
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23
Meridian Community College
Licensed school
Meridian, MS
34% Share of students who finish- Cosmetology
- Instructor training
What the Record Shows
Meridian Community College trains in Meridian, licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. Its license covers cosmetology and instructor training. 34 percent of students across the college finish, out of 2,156 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 34 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 23 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 2,156. Check its license with the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering before enrolling, because that record and not this card is what makes your clock hours count.
Where It Leads
Half of cosmetologists in Mississippi earn under $27,560, with the tenth percentile at $17,370 and the ninetieth at $58,790. The distance between $17,370 and $58,790 is the whole argument for staying past the first couple of years. Mississippi employs the trade at only about 0.5 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
- Traxlers School of Hair 100% 100%
- KC's School of Hair Design 95% 95%
- Chris Beauty College 88% 88%
- Academy of Hair Design-Pearl 83% 83%
- Mississippi Barber Academy 78% 78%
- Hatfield's Mississippi College o... 71% 71%
- Delta Technical College-Mississi... 71% 71%
- Blue Cliff College-Gulfport 70% 70%
- Mississippi Institute of Aesthet... 67% 67%
- Vaughn Beauty College 64% 64%
Which Other Cosmetology Schools in Mississippi Are State Licensed?
These Mississippi cosmetology schools hold a current license from Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering 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 Mississippi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Ms Barber College | Licensed school | barbering | |
| Marshall County Barber School | Licensed school | barbering, instructor | |
| Mississippi Women's Institute of Cosmetology | Licensed school | cosmetology, instructor | |
| Walnut Grove Correction Facility | Licensed school | barbering, instructor | |
| North West Ms Community College (ashland) | Ashland | Licensed school | cosmetology |
| Hollywood Cut Barber School | Batesville | Licensed school | barbering |
| Booneville Academy of Cosmetology | Booneville | Licensed school | cosmetology, esthetics, instructor |
| Art of Hair Academy | Clinton | Licensed school | barbering, instructor |
| Ms Institute of Aesthetics, Nails & Cos., INC | Clinton | Licensed school | cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology |
| B&e Barber Institute | Collins | Licensed school | barbering |
| Cosmetology School of Collins | Collins | Licensed school | cosmetology, instructor, nail-technology |
| Lowndes County Career Technology Center | Columbus | Licensed school | cosmetology |
| Mann's School of Barbering | Forest | Licensed school | barbering, instructor |
| Itawamba Career and Technical Center | Fulton | Licensed school | cosmetology |
| Upper Kutz Barber and Style College | Greenville | Licensed school | barbering, instructor |
| Academy of Hair Design #1 | Grenada | Licensed school | cosmetology, instructor |
| J Green the Institute | Gulfport | Licensed school | cosmetology |
| Academy of Hair Design #6 | Hattiesburg | Licensed school | cosmetology, instructor |
| Art Barber College | Hattiesburg | Licensed school | barbering, instructor |
| Brookhaven Barber Styling School | Hattiesburg | Licensed school | barbering |
| Clutch Academy | Hattiesburg | Licensed school | cosmetology, instructor |
| Mississippi Beauty & Aesthetics Institute | Hattiesburg | Licensed school | esthetics, instructor |
| Pine Belt Nail Academy | Hattiesburg | Licensed school | instructor, nail-technology |
| Unlimited Cosmetology School | Hattiesburg | Licensed school | cosmetology, esthetics, instructor, nail-technology |
| S & S College of Hair | Indianola | Licensed school | barbering |
Showing 25 of the 43 remaining licensed schools, ordered by city. The full file is with Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering.
How Do You Become a Cosmetologist in Mississippi in 2026?
To become a cosmetologist in Mississippi you need 1,500 clock hours at a school licensed by Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, 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 12 states ask less, so this is at the shorter end of a range that reaches 2,000 hours.
None of those hours count unless Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering licensed the school at the time you sat them.
How Much Do Cosmetologists Make in Mississippi in 2026?
Cosmetologists in Mississippi earn a median of $27,560 , with the bottom tenth on $17,370 and the top tenth on $58,790 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.
- Cosmetologists $27,560 $27,560
- Salon managers $37,910 $37,910
- Nail technicians $37,300 $37,300
- Estheticians $41,160 $41,160
What Is Different About Cosmetology Licensing in Mississippi?
Mississippi folded its two separate regulators together: Miss. Code Ann. 73-7-1 creates the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering and provides that any reference to the former State Board of Cosmetology or Board of Barber Examiners now means the merged board, with initial appointments due before August 1, 2024. The statute also allows a 3,000-hour board-certified apprenticeship as a full substitute for the 1,500 school hours, sets an unusually low academic prerequisite (completion of the tenth grade), imposes a minimum nine-month duration on the school course, and expressly forbids accelerating a program: 'Accelerated hours means a reduction of the timeframe (not clock hours) required for course completion by compressing into a shorter period and is impermissible.' Read Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering's own rules.
Where Do Cosmetologists Make the Most Money in Mississippi?
Cosmetologists make the most money in Mississippi around Memphis, where the median is $30,980, and the least around Hattiesburg at $24,580. That is a 26 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 $27,560, so the metros above it are carrying the average up.
- Memphis $30,980 $30,980
- Jackson $26,990 $26,990
- Gulfport-Biloxi $26,890 $26,890
- Hattiesburg $24,580 $24,580
Where Are the Cosmetology Schools in Mississippi?
The licensed cosmetology schools in Mississippi cluster hardest in Hattiesburg, which holds 7 of the 66 the board currently lists. That is only 11 percent of the state total, so schools are spread more evenly here than in states with a single dominant city.
39 towns have exactly one licensed school, which is worth knowing if you cannot easily move: losing that school means losing the option locally.
- Hattiesburg 7 7
- Jackson 5 5
- Gulfport 3 3
- Clinton 2 2
- Collins 2 2
- Meridian 2 2
- Tupelo 2 2
- Aberdeen 1 1
- Ashland 1 1
- Batesville 1 1
Is It Better to Be a Cosmetologist, Esthetician or Nail Tech in Mississippi?
In Mississippi, estheticians are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $41,160 median. Cosmetologists in Mississippi sit at $27,560, below that, which is worth weighing before committing to the longest of the licenses.
A narrower license limits what you can charge for, and that ceiling matters more over a career than the opening figure does.
| Occupation | Median pay | Employed in state |
|---|---|---|
| Estheticians | $41,160 | 320 |
| Salon managers | $37,910 | 980 |
| Nail technicians | $37,300 | 520 |
Can You Use a Cosmetology License From Another State in Mississippi?
Using a cosmetology license from another state in Mississippi means satisfying Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other South states, Mississippi is it asks 70 more hours than the regional average of 1,430, and it pays about 18 percent below the regional average.
Reciprocity is decided case by case, and the state you trained in is only the starting point for that conversation.
| State | Hours required | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi (this state) | 1,500 | $27,560 |
| 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 |
| Louisiana | 1,500 | $26,030 |
| Virginia | 1,000 |
What Does This Mississippi Cosmetology Program Ranking Not Tell You?
This Mississippi 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 Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering for the license itself.
Common Questions About Cosmetology Programs in Mississippi
What Makes the Best Cosmetology Programs in Mississippi Rank Highly Here?
How Many Cosmetology Programs in Mississippi Hold a Current License?
Should You Choose a NACCAS-accredited School in Mississippi?
How Much Does Cosmetology School Cost in Mississippi?
Are the Best Cosmetology Programs in Mississippi Accredited?
Where Does This Mississippi Cosmetology Program Data Come From?
This Mississippi cosmetology program data comes from Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, 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. Mississippi folded its two separate regulators together: Miss. Code Ann. 73-7-1 creates the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering and provides that any reference to the former State Board of Cosmetology or Board of Barber Examiners now means the merged board, with initial appointments due before August 1, 2024. The statute also allows a 3,000-hour board-certified apprenticeship as a full substitute for the 1,500 school hours, sets an unusually low academic prerequisite (completion of the tenth grade), imposes a minimum nine-month duration on the school course, and expressly forbids accelerating a program: 'Accelerated hours means a reduction of the timeframe (not clock hours) required for course completion by compressing into a shorter period and is impermissible.'
- Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, license records, 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