North Carolina
Best cosmetology programs in North Carolina 2026
Charlotte skyline. Photo by Riction, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Ranked on the share of students who finish what they started, within half again the program's normal length, as reported per institution to the US Department of Education. In a clock-hour trade this is the outcome that matters most: the license needs the full hour count, so a student who leaves early has paid for hours that will never qualify them.
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 North Carolina the binding credential is the school's license from North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners.
144
schools currently licensed
63
qualify to be ranked
5
excluded, under 40 enrolled students
Every school below trains in person. North Carolina permits at most 30 percent of the 1,500 required hours to be taken as online theory, and the practical hours are earned on the clinic floor. How online study actually works
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#1
Leons Beauty School Inc
Greensboro, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Private)
96%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $8,300 program cost
What the record shows
Leons Beauty School Inc operates in Greensboro under license from the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. The board records it as a private school. With 9 licensed schools in Greensboro, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. 96 percent of students see the course through, out of 102 enrolled. It charges $8,300 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Finishing well and charging under the median is the combination worth looking for, and this is one of the few schools on the page that does both, 30 points above the 66 percent private-school median and 57 percent under the $19,260 private-school median. The page median is set by public colleges, so that comparison is against the other private schools here. It awarded 107 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 102, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. The board files it under license 306; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
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Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#2
Aveda Institute-Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Private)
82%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $22,989 program cost
What the record shows
Aveda Institute-Chapel Hill trains in Chapel Hill, licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. It is a privately run school rather than part of a public college. The board lists no other licensed school in Chapel Hill. 82 percent of its students finish, out of 198 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $22,989 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $6,333 in federal loans, measured over 241 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. 16 points above the 66 percent private-school median at a price 19 percent over the $19,260 private-school median: the extra money buys a materially better chance of finishing, which in a clock-hour course is the thing you are paying for. 177 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. License 285 is the board's entry for it, and that is the record to confirm is still current before a deposit.
Where it leads
Around Durham-Chapel Hill, the median cosmetologist earns $48,060, the bottom tenth $28,610 and the top tenth $77,880. The metro median is about 25 percent above the North Carolina figure. There is a real gap between entry pay and the median here, which is the part of the trade that surprises people who costed only the tuition. Local concentration around Durham-Chapel Hill sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#3
Bull City Durham Beauty and Barber College
Durham, NC
78%
Share of students who finish
- 78% finish
- 9 graduates a year
- $18,536 program cost
What the record shows
Bull City Durham Beauty and Barber College trains in Durham, and because it takes federal financial aid its outcomes are published per program. 78 percent of students see the course through, out of 41 enrolled. It charges $18,536 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 $10,036 in federal loans, measured over 63 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $106 a month. 12 points more of its students finish than the 66 percent private-school median, priced within 4 percent of the $19,260 private-school median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. 9 students completed a credential here 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. Licensing is the business of the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners 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 is about 25 percent above the North Carolina figure. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for.
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#4
Carolina College of Hair Design Inc
Asheville, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Private)
72%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $19,485 program cost
What the record shows
Carolina College of Hair Design Inc trains in Asheville, licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. It is a privately run school rather than part of a public college. 72 percent of its students finish, out of 46 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $19,485 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $5,611 in federal loans, measured over 22 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $59 a month. 6 points more of its students finish than the 66 percent private-school median, priced within 2 percent of the $19,260 private-school median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. It awarded 22 beauty credentials in the reporting year. License 006 is the board's entry for it, and that is the record to confirm is still current before a deposit.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Asheville, the range runs $27,420 to $60,190 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $40,620. Early pay locally runs well under the median, so budget for a slow first year rather than the headline figure. The occupation is about as common around Asheville as it is nationally.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#5
Paul Mitchell the School-Fayetteville
Fayetteville, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Private)
66%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $18,575 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Fayetteville trains in Fayetteville, licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. It is a privately run school rather than part of a public college. With 8 licensed schools in Fayetteville, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. 66 percent of its students finish, out of 149 enrolled in the fall count. Tuition is reported at $18,575 for the full program. Paul Mitchell campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $10,564 in federal loans at the median over 545 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $112 a month. Completion and price both sit near the page's middle, 66 percent, exactly the median and $18,575 against $19,260. Nothing federal separates it, so the clinic floor and the board file will. It awarded 84 beauty credentials in the reporting year. The board files it under license 373; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
Around Fayetteville, the median cosmetologist earns $38,290, the bottom tenth $23,490 and the top tenth $60,970. Early pay locally runs well under the median, so budget for a slow first year rather than the headline figure. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.6 times the usual concentration around Fayetteville, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#6
Empire Beauty School-Concord
Concord, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Private)
65%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $19,260 program cost
What the record shows
Empire Beauty School-Concord is licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners and trains in Concord. The board records it as a private school. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Concord. The school graduates 65 percent, on a fall headcount of 110. The published cost is $19,260 for the full program. Borrowing is pooled across Empire Beauty campuses in the federal file, 746 borrowers at a median of $13,000 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $138 a month. Completion and price both sit near the page's middle, 65 percent against 66 and $19,260, exactly the median. Nothing federal separates it, so the clinic floor and the board file will. It awarded 55 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Its board record is license 276, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Around Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, the median cosmetologist earns $38,530, the bottom tenth $28,160 and the top tenth $61,530. The ninetieth percentile at $61,530 is 1.6 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 27 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#7
Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design
Greenville, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Private)
64%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $17,915 program cost
What the record shows
Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design operates in Greenville under license from the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. It is a privately run school rather than part of a public college. 64 percent of its students finish, out of 55 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $17,915 for the full program. The median graduate left with $8,750 in federal loans, across 46 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $93 a month. It is close to the median private school on this page on completion, price and borrowing, 64 percent against 66 and $17,915 against $19,260, 49 percent of the price borrowed against 56 for the page, which is neither a warning nor a recommendation: the choice comes down to the visit and the board file. It awarded 30 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Its board record is license 328, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Around Greenville, the median cosmetologist earns $34,980, the bottom tenth $23,290 and the top tenth $59,420. The metro median runs about 9 percent below the North Carolina figure. There is a real gap between entry pay and the median here, which is the part of the trade that surprises people who costed only the tuition. This is a comparatively thin market: Greenville runs at roughly 0.5 times the national concentration, about 80 people in the occupation.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#8
Gaston College
Dallas, NC · Cosmetic Art School (High School)
63%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Gaston College operates in Gastonia under license from the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. It is filed as a high school program, which means it serves students still in school. 63 percent of students across the college finish, out of 3,518 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. At 63 percent the college as a whole keeps its students better than most schools on this page. It is a good sign about the institution; the cosmetology program's own completion is a separate number to ask the cosmetology department for. Its 33 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 3,518. Its board record is license 509, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
undefined The ninetieth percentile at $61,530 is 1.6 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 27 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#9
Randolph Community College
Asheboro, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Public)
58%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Based in Asheboro, Randolph Community College is on the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners register. The board lists no other licensed school in Asheboro. 58 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,417 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 58 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. Its 37 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,417. The board files it under license 332; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
Around Greensboro-High Point, the median cosmetologist earns $37,620, the bottom tenth $24,380 and the top tenth $60,600. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. Greensboro-High Point employs the trade at only about 0.7 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#10
Sampson Community College
Clinton, NC
56%
Share of students who finish
- Associate degree
- Public institution
- 19 graduates a year
What the record shows
Sampson Community College runs its cosmetology program in Clinton and reports to the US Department of Education. 56 percent of students across the college finish, out of 846 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Read that 56 percent as the college's rate, not the cosmetology floor's, so it neither ranks this program up nor down. Its 19 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 846. Unusually, this program leads to an associate degree instead of a certificate, which matters if you later want to teach or move into salon management. Licensing is the business of the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners rather than the federal file's, so its register is where to confirm this school by its legal name first.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists in North Carolina earn under $38,410, with the tenth percentile at $26,880 and the ninetieth at $61,530. There is a real gap between entry pay and the median here, which is the part of the trade that surprises people who costed only the tuition. North Carolina employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 8,490 people.
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#11
Paul Mitchell the School-Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Private)
56%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $19,425 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Charlotte operates in Charlotte under license from the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. It is a privately run school rather than part of a public college. Charlotte has 21 licensed schools, so there is a real choice locally. Of the 97 students in its fall count, 56 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $19,425 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $15,541 in federal loans at the median, 270 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $165 a month. That is most of the $19,425 price arriving as debt, so the published cost and what a student actually finances are close to the same number here. 10 points fewer of its students finish than the 66 percent private-school median, priced within 1 percent of the $19,260 private-school median, so you would be paying the going rate for worse odds of getting through. Ask the school what happens to the ones who leave. 30 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Its board record is license 354, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Around Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, the median cosmetologist earns $38,530, the bottom tenth $28,160 and the top tenth $61,530. The ninetieth percentile at $61,530 is 1.6 times the median, so the upside is real but bounded, and the floor sits 27 percent under the median, so the first year is lean but not the cliff it is in some states. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 2,940 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#12
Isothermal Community College
Spindale, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Public)
55%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Based in Spindale, Isothermal Community College is on the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners register. The board lists no other licensed school in Spindale. Across all 1,169 students at the college, 55 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 55 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. Its 44 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,169. License 058 is the board's entry for it, and that is the record to confirm is still current before a deposit.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists in North Carolina earn under $38,410, with the tenth percentile at $26,880 and the ninetieth at $61,530. Early pay across the state runs well under the median, so budget for a slow first year rather than the headline figure. Local concentration in North Carolina sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#13
Tri-County Community College
Murphy, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Public)
54%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Tri-County Community College trains in Murphy, licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Murphy. Across all 472 students at the college, 54 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 54 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. Its 13 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 472. Its board record is license 109, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists in North Carolina runs from $26,880 at the tenth percentile to $61,530 at the ninetieth, with a median of $38,410. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. The occupation is about as common in North Carolina as it is nationally.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#14
Pamlico Community College
Grantsboro, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Public)
54%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Pamlico Community College operates in Bayboro under license from the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Bayboro. 54 percent of students across the college finish, out of 165 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Read that 54 percent as the college's rate, not the cosmetology floor's, so it neither ranks this program up nor down. It awarded 13 beauty credentials in the reporting year. The board files it under license 274; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
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.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#15
Southwestern Community College
Sylva, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Public)
53%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Southwestern Community College is licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners and trains in Sylva. The board lists no other licensed school in Sylva. Across all 1,249 students at the college, 53 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Read that 53 percent as the college's rate, not the cosmetology floor's, so it neither ranks this program up nor down. Its 20 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,249. The board files it under license 107; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists in North Carolina runs from $26,880 at the tenth percentile to $61,530 at the ninetieth, with a median of $38,410. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. On concentration, North Carolina is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#16
Sandhills Community College
Pinehurst, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Public)
53%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Based in Pinehurst, Sandhills Community College is on the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners register. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Pinehurst. 53 percent of students across the college finish, out of 2,539 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 53 percent is ordinary for this page, and it belongs to the whole campus; ask the cosmetology department for the program's own figure. 8 credentials in a year means the cosmetology program barely ran; ask whether it is enrolling this term before anything else. The award here is an associate degree rather than the certificate most cosmetology programs issue, so the hours come with transferable college credit attached. License 097 is the board's entry for it, and that is the record to confirm is still 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.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#17
Vance-Granville Community College
Henderson, NC
53%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 9 graduates a year
What the record shows
Vance-Granville Community College teaches cosmetology in Henderson, with its results published federally. Across all 1,665 students at the college, 53 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Read that 53 percent as the college's rate, not the cosmetology floor's, so it neither ranks this program up nor down. 9 credentials in a year means the cosmetology program barely ran; ask whether it is enrolling this term before anything else. Its hours count only under a current entry with the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, so search that register by the school's legal name before any 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. Raleigh-Cary employs the trade at about 1.2 times the national rate, so the local market is thicker than average.
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#18
Blue Ridge Community College
Flat Rock, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Public)
50%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Blue Ridge Community College trains in Flat Rock, licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Flat Rock. 50 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,758 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Read that 50 percent as the college's rate, not the cosmetology floor's, so it neither ranks this program up nor down. Its 35 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,758. Its board record is license 213, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Asheville runs from $27,420 at the tenth percentile to $60,190 at the ninetieth, with a median of $40,620. There is a real gap between entry pay and the median here, which is the part of the trade that surprises people who costed only the tuition. The occupation is about as common around Asheville as it is nationally.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#19
Coastal Carolina Community College
Jacksonville, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Public)
49%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Based in Jacksonville, Coastal Carolina Community College is on the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners register. The board lists no other licensed school in Jacksonville. 49 percent of students across the college finish, out of 2,724 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 49 percent is low for this page, but it is the college's rate and the cosmetology program is a small part of it; the cosmetology department's own completions are the check. Its 27 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 2,724. The board files it under license 194; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
Around Jacksonville, the median cosmetologist earns $39,990, the bottom tenth $23,580 and the top tenth $49,960. It is a small occupational market locally, so openings are fewer and word of mouth carries more weight than a resume. Jacksonville employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 90 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#20
Carteret Community College
Morehead City, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Public)
49%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Carteret Community College is licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners and trains in Morehead City. It is the only licensed school the board lists in Morehead City. 49 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,172 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 49 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 35 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,172. Its board record is license 030, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists in North Carolina, the range runs $26,880 to $61,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $38,410. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. The occupation is about as common in North Carolina as it is nationally.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#21
Western Piedmont Community College
Morganton, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Public)
49%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Western Piedmont Community College operates in Morganton under license from the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. The board lists no other licensed school in Morganton. 49 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,339 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 49 percent is low for this page, but it is the college's rate and the cosmetology program is a small part of it; the cosmetology department's own completions are the check. Its 44 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,339. The board files it under license 419; that record, not this one, is what makes your hours count.
Where it leads
undefined Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton 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; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#22
McDowell Technical Community College
Marion, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Public)
48%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
McDowell Technical Community College operates in Marion under license from the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. Across all 608 students at the college, 48 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Most of the students behind that 48 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 20 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 608. License 070 is the board's entry for it, and that is the record to confirm is still current before a deposit.
Where it leads
In North Carolina, the median cosmetologist earns $38,410, the bottom tenth $26,880 and the top tenth $61,530. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. North Carolina employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 8,490 people.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#23
Craven Community College
New Bern, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Public)
48%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Based in New Bern, Craven Community College is on the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners register. The board lists no other licensed school in New Bern. 48 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,989 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. Most of the students behind that 48 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 49 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,989. License 039 is the board's entry for it, and that is the record to confirm is still current before a deposit.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists in North Carolina, the range runs $26,880 to $61,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $38,410. There is a real gap between entry pay and the median here, which is the part of the trade that surprises people who costed only the tuition. The occupation is about as common in North Carolina as it is nationally.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#24
Empire Beauty School-Pineville
Charlotte, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Private)
48%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
- $19,260 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Charlotte, Empire Beauty School-Pineville is on the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners register. The board records it as a private school. With 21 licensed schools in Charlotte, this one is competing for students rather than the only option. 48 percent of students see the course through, out of 75 enrolled. The published cost is $19,260 for the full program. Empire Beauty campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $13,000 in federal loans at the median over 746 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $138 a month. 18 points fewer of its students finish than the 66 percent private-school median, priced exactly at the $19,260 private-school median, so you would be paying the going rate for worse odds of getting through. Ask the school what happens to the ones who leave. It awarded 24 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Its board record is license 345, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Around Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, the median cosmetologist earns $38,530, the bottom tenth $28,160 and the top tenth $61,530.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
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#25
James Sprunt Community College
Kenansville, NC · Cosmetic Art School (Public)
48%
Share of students who finish
- Cosmetology
What the record shows
Based in Kenansville, James Sprunt Community College is on the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners register. 48 percent of students across the college finish, out of 799 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 48 percent is low for this page, but it is the college's rate and the cosmetology program is a small part of it; the cosmetology department's own completions are the check. A program that awarded 9 credentials all year may not run every term, which is the first thing to confirm. Its board record is license 503, and that entry is the one that counts your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists in North Carolina earn under $38,410, with the tenth percentile at $26,880 and the ninetieth at $61,530. There is a real gap between entry pay and the median here, which is the part of the trade that surprises people who costed only the tuition. Local concentration in North Carolina sits near the national average.
Sources: US Department of Education, College Scorecard; North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read 2026-08-28.
- Leons Beauty School Inc 96% 96%
- Aveda Institute-Chapel Hill 82% 82%
- Bull City Durham Beauty and Barb... 78% 78%
- Carolina College of Hair Design ... 72% 72%
- Paul Mitchell the School-Fayette... 66% 66%
- Empire Beauty School-Concord 65% 65%
- Alexander Paul Institute of Hair... 64% 64%
- Gaston College 63% 63%
- Randolph Community College 58% 58%
- Sampson Community College 56% 56%
Which other cosmetology schools in North Carolina are state licensed?
These North Carolina cosmetology schools hold a current license from North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners 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 North Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Glamology Institute | Angier | No. 484 | cosmetology |
| Watauga High School Campus | Boone | No. 352 | cosmetology |
| Alamance Comm Coll Sch of Cosmetic Art | Burlington | No. 312 | cosmetology |
| Nail Fiendz Nail Institute | Burlington | No. 446 | cosmetology |
| Absolute Beauty College | Charlotte | No. 395 | cosmetology |
| Academy of Nail Technologyand Esthetics | Charlotte | No. 289 | cosmetology |
| AIM Beauty Academy | Charlotte | No. 511 | cosmetology |
| Apex Beauty Academy | Charlotte | No. 501 | cosmetology |
| Avalon Cosmetic Art Instituteof Charlotte | Charlotte | No. 440 | cosmetology |
| Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Charlotte | Charlotte | No. 271 | cosmetology |
| Bignons Natural Hair Academy | Charlotte | No. 519 | cosmetology |
| Bonafide Luxury Natural Hair School | Charlotte | No. 485 | cosmetology |
| Buff Beauty Academy | Charlotte | No. 454 | cosmetology |
| Cavelia Institute of Cosmetology | Charlotte | No. 521 | cosmetology |
| Muse Cosmetic Institute | Charlotte | No. 466 | cosmetology |
| Myrangel Beauty Institute | Charlotte | No. 418 | cosmetology |
| NC Nails Esthetics Academy | Charlotte | No. 495 | cosmetology |
| The Dooby Shop School of Cosmetology | Charlotte | No. 380 | cosmetology |
| The Standard Cosmetology Academy | Charlotte | No. 504 | cosmetology |
| West Charlotte High School | Charlotte | No. 116 | cosmetology |
| West Mecklenburg High School | Charlotte | No. 320 | cosmetology |
| Sampson Comm. College Cos. Dept | Clinton | No. 224 | cosmetology |
| DiDario Academy of Beauty & Wellness | Currituck | No. 517 | cosmetology |
| Circle of Love Academy | Dudley | No. 313 | cosmetology |
| Durham Technical Community College | Durham | No. 399 | cosmetology |
Showing 25 of the 119 remaining licensed schools, ordered by city. The full file is with North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners .
How do you become a cosmetologist in North Carolina in 2026?
To become a cosmetologist in North Carolina you need 1,500 clock hours at a school licensed by North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, then a passing score on the state exam. At the pace most clock-hour schools run, that is roughly 11.5 months full time. Only 13 states ask less, so this is at the shorter end of a range that reaches 2,000 hours.
Time is the expensive part of this qualification, and it is only banked while the school holds a current North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners license.
How much do cosmetologists make in North Carolina in 2026?
Cosmetologists in North Carolina earn a median of $38,410 , with the bottom tenth on $26,880 and the top tenth on $61,530 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.
- Cosmetologists $38,410 $38,410
- Salon managers $45,400 $45,400
- Estheticians $39,120 $39,120
- Nail technicians $34,740 $34,740
- Barbers $31,050 $31,050
Where do cosmetologists make the most money in North Carolina?
Cosmetologists make the most money in North Carolina around Durham-Chapel Hill, where the median is $48,060, and the least around Rocky Mount at $27,330. A 76 percent spread across one state means where you work matters more to your pay than which of these metros you trained in.
Against a statewide median of $38,410, roughly half these metros pay above and half below.
- Durham-Chapel Hill $48,060 $48,060
- Raleigh-Cary $43,700 $43,700
- Asheville $40,620 $40,620
- Jacksonville $39,990 $39,990
- Winston-Salem $38,980 $38,980
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia $38,530 $38,530
- Fayetteville $38,290 $38,290
- Greensboro-High Point $37,620 $37,620
- Wilmington $37,230 $37,230
- Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton $35,100 $35,100
Where are the cosmetology schools in North Carolina?
The licensed cosmetology schools in North Carolina cluster hardest in Charlotte, which holds 21 of the 144 the board currently lists. At 15 percent of the state total, no single city dominates training in North Carolina.
Another 60 towns hold a single licensed school apiece, so in much of the state the practical choice is one school or a commute.
- Charlotte 21 21
- Greensboro 9 9
- Raleigh 9 9
- Fayetteville 8 8
- Durham 4 4
- Gastonia 3 3
- Asheville 2 2
- Burlington 2 2
- Greenville 2 2
- Hickory 2 2
Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, salon managers are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $45,400 median. Cosmetologists in North Carolina sit at $38,410, below that, which is worth weighing before committing to the longest of the licenses.
The shorter licenses also take fewer hours, so the comparison is not only what the work pays but how long you spend unpaid getting there.
| Occupation | Median pay | Employed in state |
|---|---|---|
| Salon managers | $45,400 | 3,510 |
| Estheticians | $39,120 | 2,680 |
| Nail technicians | $34,740 | 1,900 |
| Barbers | $31,050 | 330 |
Can you use a cosmetology license from another state in North Carolina?
Using a cosmetology license from another state in North Carolina means satisfying North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other South states, North Carolina is it asks 70 more hours than the regional average of 1,430, and it pays about 17 percent above the regional average.
Someone who expects to follow work across the region should train to the heavier requirement, because hours are easier to hold than to add later.
| State | Hours required | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina (this state) | 1,500 | $38,410 |
| District of Columbia | 1,250 | $54,570 |
| 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 |
| Louisiana | 1,500 | $26,030 |
| Virginia | 1,000 |
What does this North Carolina cosmetology program ranking not tell you?
This North Carolina 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 North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners for the license itself.
Common questions about cosmetology programs in North Carolina
What makes the best cosmetology programs in North Carolina rank highly here?
How many cosmetology programs in North Carolina hold a current license?
Should you choose a NACCAS-accredited school in North Carolina?
How much does cosmetology school cost in North Carolina?
Are the best cosmetology programs in North Carolina accredited?
Where does this North Carolina cosmetology program data come from?
This North Carolina cosmetology program data comes from North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, read on 2026-08-28, 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.
North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art ExaminersRead 2026-08-28.
- 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