South Carolina
Best cosmetology programs in South Carolina 2026
Columbia skyline. Photo by Tim, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Ranked on the share of students who finish what they started, within half again the program's normal length, as reported per institution to the US Department of Education. In a clock-hour trade this is the outcome that matters most: the license needs the full hour count, so a student who leaves early has paid for hours that will never qualify them.
Ranking on accreditation is impossible in this field, because no cosmetology program is accredited by anyone. NACCAS accredits the school and not the course, so an accredited school can run exactly the same program as an unaccredited one. A student's hours stand or fall on the school's South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - State Board of Cosmetology license instead, and that is the distinction this page is built on.
29
schools reporting federally
23
qualify to be ranked
6
excluded, under 40 enrolled students
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#1
Academy of Hair Technology
Greenville, SC
100%
Share of students who finish
- 100% finish
- 85 graduates a year
- $6,300 program cost
What the record shows
Academy of Hair Technology teaches cosmetology in Greenville, with its results published federally. The school graduates 100 percent, on a fall headcount of 58. The published cost is $6,300 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $4,233 in federal loans, measured over 59 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $45 a month. More finish here than at the typical school on this page, 100 percent against 58, and the price is 66 percent under the $18,525 median: the two numbers point the same way. It awarded 85 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 58, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. The license from the state board is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
undefined 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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#2
Southeastern Esthetics Institute
Elgin, SC
90%
Share of students who finish
- 90% finish
- 435 graduates a year
- $9,500 program cost
What the record shows
Southeastern Esthetics Institute teaches esthetics in Elgin, with its results published federally. This is a specialist: an esthetics license, not cosmetology. The work is skincare, facials and hair removal rather than hair, the course is a fraction of the hours a cosmetology license takes, and it does not license you to cut or color hair, so compare it with the other specialists here rather than with the full-service schools. Of the 358 students in its fall count, 90 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $9,500 for the full program. The median graduate left with $6,333 in federal loans, across 200 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. Completion is the one figure that compares across trades, and 90 percent, 32 points over the 58 percent median, is a good sign. $9,500 is 49 percent under the $18,525 median, which for a shorter course is about what it should cost. 435 credentials in the year from a fall count of 358: the program cycles more than once a year, so the two figures are different populations rather than a contradiction. Verify the school's standing with the state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
For skincare specialists around Columbia, the range runs $21,450 to $72,750 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $37,870. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. Few people hold this occupation locally, so a graduate is competing in a small pool and is likely to be known in it quickly. On concentration, Columbia is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#3
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose Creek
Goose Creek, SC
84%
Share of students who finish
- 84% finish
- 128 graduates a year
- $8,692 program cost
What the record shows
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose Creek teaches cosmetology in Goose Creek, with its results published federally. 84 percent of students see the course through, out of 152 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $8,692 for the full program. The federal file reports borrowing for Kenneth Shuler campuses together rather than for this one: a median of $5,893 in federal loans across 555 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $62 a month. More finish here than at the typical school on this page, 84 percent against 58, and the price is 53 percent under the $18,525 median: the two numbers point the same way. 128 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The license from the state board is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
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#4
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Florence
Florence, SC
80%
Share of students who finish
- 80% finish
- 135 graduates a year
- $18,762 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Florence, Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Florence is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. The school graduates 80 percent, on a fall headcount of 172. Tuition is reported at $18,762 for the full program. Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $9,500 in federal loans at the median over 248 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $101 a month. $18,762 is within 2 percent of the $18,525 median, and the completion is not ordinary: 80 percent against 58. That is the better half of the trade. The school conferred 135 credentials in the year reported. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Florence runs from $17,630 at the tenth percentile to $72,110 at the ninetieth, with a median of $30,810. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. The metro median runs about 9 percent below the South Carolina figure. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.3 times the usual concentration around Florence, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
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#5
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Greenville
Greenville, SC
79%
Share of students who finish
- 79% finish
- 126 graduates a year
- $18,762 program cost
What the record shows
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Greenville trains in Greenville, and because it takes federal financial aid its outcomes are published per program. 79 percent of its students finish, out of 157 enrolled in the fall count. It charges $18,762 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. The federal file reports borrowing for Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology campuses together rather than for this one: a median of $6,333 in federal loans across 273 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. 21 points more of its students finish than the 58 percent median, priced within 2 percent of the $18,525 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. 126 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around Greenville-Anderson-Greer, the median cosmetologist earns $33,850, the bottom tenth $21,810 and the top tenth $63,350. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. Greenville-Anderson-Greer employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 680 people.
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#6
Strand College of Hair Design
Myrtle Beach, SC
75%
Share of students who finish
- 63 graduates a year
- $15,000 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Myrtle Beach, Strand College of Hair Design is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of 70 enrolled in the fall count, 75 percent finish. The published cost is $15,000 for the full program. More finish here than at the typical school on this page, 75 percent against 58, and the price is 19 percent under the $18,525 median: the two numbers point the same way. The school conferred 63 credentials in the year reported. From 70 enrolled, that is one of the higher-throughput floors on this page. Confirm the school's current license with the state board first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
undefined undefined The metro median runs about 8 percent below the South Carolina figure.
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#7
Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston
North Charleston, SC
75%
Share of students who finish
- 75% finish
- 220 graduates a year
- $18,575 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston teaches cosmetology in North Charleston, with its results published federally. The school graduates 75 percent, on a fall headcount of 264. It charges $18,575 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. 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. $18,575 is within 1 percent of the $18,525 median, and the completion is not ordinary: 75 percent against 58. That is the better half of the trade. It awarded 220 beauty credentials 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 state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Charleston-North Charleston earn under $34,860, with the tenth percentile at $21,170 and the ninetieth at $80,300. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. Charleston-North Charleston employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 800 people.
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#8
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Rock Hill
Rock Hill, SC
71%
Share of students who finish
- 71% finish
- 153 graduates a year
- $8,692 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Rock Hill, Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Rock Hill is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of the 181 students in its fall count, 71 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $8,692 for the full program. Borrowing is pooled across Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology campuses in the federal file, 273 borrowers at a median of $6,333 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. 13 points more of its students finish than the 58 percent median, and it charges 53 percent less than the $18,525 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. The school conferred 153 credentials in the year reported. Verify the school's standing with the state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
undefined
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#9
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Spartanburg
Spartanburg, SC
69%
Share of students who finish
- 69% finish
- 172 graduates a year
- $8,692 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Spartanburg, Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Spartanburg is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 69 percent of students see the course through, out of 113 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $8,692 for the full program. Borrowing is pooled across Kenneth Shuler campuses in the federal file, 555 borrowers at a median of $5,893 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $62 a month. 11 points more of its students finish than the 58 percent median, and it charges 53 percent less than the $18,525 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. It awarded 172 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 113, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. Verify the school's standing with the state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
undefined That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. Spartanburg employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 280 people.
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#10
Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia
West Columbia, SC
69%
Share of students who finish
- 69% finish
- 132 graduates a year
- $18,575 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia runs its cosmetology program in West Columbia and reports to the US Department of Education. 69 percent of students see the course through, out of 256 enrolled. It charges $18,575 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. 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. $18,575 is within 1 percent of the $18,525 median, and the completion is not ordinary: 69 percent against 58. That is the better half of the trade. 132 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Columbia, the range runs $22,080 to $74,550 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $30,710. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. Against the state as a whole, the metro sits roughly 9 percent under on median pay. The occupation is about as common around Columbia as it is nationally.
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#11
Southeastern College-Columbia
Columbia, SC
67%
Share of students who finish
What the record shows
Based in Columbia, Southeastern College-Columbia is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of 267 enrolled in the fall count, 67 percent finish. 9 points above the 58 percent median puts it in the top part of this page on the outcome a clock-hour course is bought for. The license from the state board is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
undefined undefined The metro median runs about 9 percent below the South Carolina figure.
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#12
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-North Augusta
North Augusta, SC
58%
Share of students who finish
- 58% finish
- 56 graduates a year
- $18,762 program cost
What the record shows
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-North Augusta runs its cosmetology program in North Augusta and reports to the US Department of Education. Of the 118 students in its fall count, 58 percent complete the course they started across two years of students. Tuition is reported at $18,762 for the full program. Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology campuses share a debt figure in the federal file, $9,500 in federal loans at the median over 248 borrowers, so read it as the chain's number rather than this floor's. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $101 a month. Typical for this page on both counts, 58 percent, exactly the median and $18,762 against $18,525, and typical here means 42 in a hundred do not finish, which at $18,762 is the fact to weigh. 56 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Confirm the school's current license with the state board first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
In South Carolina, the median cosmetologist earns $33,700, the bottom tenth $21,340 and the top tenth $77,430. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. South Carolina employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 3,570 people.
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#13
Paul Mitchell the School-Greenville
Greenville, SC
55%
Share of students who finish
- 55% finish
- 88 graduates a year
- $18,575 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Greenville runs its cosmetology program in Greenville and reports to the US Department of Education. 55 percent of its students finish, out of 196 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 close to the page median, 55 percent against 58 and $18,575 against $18,525, and that median is low: 45 in a hundred here do not finish, which at $18,575 makes the purchase closer to a coin flip than a sure thing. It awarded 88 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around Greenville-Anderson-Greer, the median cosmetologist earns $33,850, the bottom tenth $21,810 and the top tenth $63,350. Early pay locally runs well under the median, so budget for a slow first year rather than the headline figure. Greenville-Anderson-Greer employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 680 people.
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#14
Charleston Cosmetology Institute
Charleston, SC
55%
Share of students who finish
- 55% finish
- 83 graduates a year
- $19,500 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Charleston, Charleston Cosmetology Institute is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. The school graduates 55 percent, on a fall headcount of 100. It charges $19,500 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. The median graduate left with $6,333 in federal loans, across 89 borrowers. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $67 a month. Typical for this page on both counts, 55 percent against 58 and $19,500 against $18,525, and typical here means 45 in a hundred do not finish, which at $19,500 is the fact to weigh. 83 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Ask the state board 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
undefined undefined Charleston-North Charleston employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 800 people.
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#15
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology and Nails-Columbia
West Columbia, SC
54%
Share of students who finish
- 54% finish
- 45 graduates a year
- $18,762 program cost
What the record shows
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology and Nails-Columbia teaches cosmetology in West Columbia, with its results published federally. 54 percent of its students finish, out of 127 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $18,762 for the full program. Borrowing is pooled across Kenneth Shuler campuses in the federal file, 555 borrowers at a median of $5,893 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $62 a month. Completion and price both sit close to the page median, 54 percent against 58 and $18,762 against $18,525, and that median is low: 46 in a hundred here do not finish, which at $18,762 makes the purchase closer to a coin flip than a sure thing. The school conferred 45 credentials in the year reported. Verify the school's standing with the state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Columbia, the range runs $22,080 to $74,550 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $30,710. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. Against the state as a whole, the metro sits roughly 9 percent under on median pay. The occupation is about as common around Columbia as it is nationally.
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#16
Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Conway, SC
38%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 77 graduates a year
What the record shows
Horry-Georgetown Technical College runs its cosmetology program in Conway and reports to the US Department of Education. 38 percent of students across the college finish, out of 6,274 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 38 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 77 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 6,274. It is a public college, so the cosmetology course is priced at in-district tuition rather than at an academy price. Verify the school's standing with the state board before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, the median cosmetologist earns $31,000, the bottom tenth $18,990 and the top tenth $60,900. undefined The metro median runs about 8 percent below the South Carolina figure.
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#17
Florence-Darlington Technical College
Florence, SC
34%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 16 graduates a year
What the record shows
Florence-Darlington Technical College teaches cosmetology in Florence, with its results published federally. Across all 3,055 students at the college, 34 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 34 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 16 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 3,055. It is a public college, so the cosmetology course is priced at in-district tuition rather than at an academy price. The license from the state board is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
undefined undefined Florence employs the trade at only about 0.3 times the national rate, so graduates enter a thinner local market than average.
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#18
Trident Technical College
Charleston, SC
30%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 29 graduates a year
What the record shows
Trident Technical College runs its cosmetology program in Charleston and reports to the US Department of Education. 30 percent of students across the college finish, out of 10,512 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 30 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 29 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 10,512. It is a public college, so the cosmetology course is priced at in-district tuition rather than at an academy price. The license from the state board is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists around Charleston-North Charleston, the range runs $21,170 to $80,300 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $34,860. That is a wide spread, and it is mostly the difference between building a client book and not. On concentration, Charleston-North Charleston is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#19
Top of the Line Barber College
Charleston, SC
23%
Share of students who finish
- 23% finish
- 26 graduates a year
- $18,475 program cost
What the record shows
Top of the Line Barber College teaches barbering in Charleston, with its results published federally. The license here is a barber license, which means men's cutting, shaving and beard work. It takes a similar hour count to cosmetology and is a narrower ticket, and for someone who already knows they want that end of the trade, the narrowness is the point. 23 percent of students see the course through, out of 45 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $18,475 for the full program. Completion is the one figure that compares across trades, and 23 percent, 35 points under the 58 percent median, is the first thing to ask about. $18,475 is within 1 percent of the $18,525 median for a similar hour count, which is the going rate. 26 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Check its license with the state board before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
In South Carolina, the median barber earns $32,900, the bottom tenth $23,240 and the top tenth $74,570. undefined South Carolina employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 220 people.
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#20
Technical College of the Lowcountry
Beaufort, SC
18%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 26 graduates a year
What the record shows
Technical College of the Lowcountry runs its cosmetology program in Beaufort and reports to the US Department of Education. 18 percent of students across the college finish, out of 1,679 enrolled, and cosmetology is one of the programs inside that figure. That 18 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 26 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 1,679. It is a public college, so the cosmetology course is priced at in-district tuition rather than at an academy price. The license from the state board is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
For cosmetologists in South Carolina, the range runs $21,340 to $77,430 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles, with a median of $33,700. A gap that size tracks clientele rather than seniority. The occupation is about as common in South Carolina as it is nationally.
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#21
Williamsburg Technical College
Kingstree, SC
15%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 9 graduates a year
What the record shows
Williamsburg Technical College teaches cosmetology in Kingstree, with its results published federally. Across all 448 students at the college, 15 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. That 15 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. It is a public college, so the cosmetology course is priced at in-district tuition rather than at an academy price. Confirm the school's current license with the state board first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
undefined undefined South Carolina employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 3,570 people.
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#22
Denmark Technical College
Denmark, SC
13%
Share of students who finish
- Public institution
- 12 graduates a year
What the record shows
Denmark Technical College teaches cosmetology in Denmark, with its results published federally. Across all 519 students at the college, 13 percent finish, which covers cosmetology along with everything else it teaches. Most of the students behind that 13 percent are in other programs, so ask the cosmetology department for its own figure rather than reading this one as the program's. Its 12 completions a year make cosmetology a small program inside a college of 519. It is a public college, so the cosmetology course is priced at in-district tuition rather than at an academy price. Ask the state board 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 South Carolina, the median cosmetologist earns $33,700, the bottom tenth $21,340 and the top tenth $77,430. undefined
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#23
Barber Tech Academy
Orangeburg, SC
11%
Share of students who finish
- 11% finish
- 12 graduates a year
- $16,825 program cost
What the record shows
Barber Tech Academy runs its barbering program in Orangeburg and reports to the US Department of Education. The license here is a barber license, which means men's cutting, shaving and beard work. It takes a similar hour count to cosmetology and is a narrower ticket, and for someone who already knows they want that end of the trade, the narrowness is the point. Of the 59 students in its fall count, 11 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $16,825 for the full program. Completion is the one figure that compares across trades, and 11 percent, 47 points under the 58 percent median, is the first thing to ask about. $16,825 is within 10 percent of the $18,525 median for a similar hour count, which is the going rate. The school conferred 12 credentials in the year reported. From 59 enrolled that is slow throughput for a clock-hour course, and it belongs beside the completion figure above. The license from the state board is still the thing to verify before you pay, since that is what decides whether these hours count toward your exam.
Where it leads
In South Carolina, the median barber earns $32,900, the bottom tenth $23,240 and the top tenth $74,570. Most of that range is a following, which is why two graduates of the same program can end up far apart. Few people hold this occupation across the state, so a graduate is competing in a small pool and is likely to be known in it quickly. Local concentration in South Carolina sits near the national average.
- Academy of Hair Technology 100% 100%
- Southeastern Esthetics Institute 90% 90%
- Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmeto... 84% 84%
- Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmeto... 80% 80%
- Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmeto... 79% 79%
- Strand College of Hair Design 75% 75%
- Paul Mitchell the School-Charles... 75% 75%
- Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmeto... 71% 71%
- Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmeto... 69% 69%
- Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia 69% 69%
Where can you find the licensed cosmetology programs in South Carolina?
The licensed cosmetology programs in South Carolina are searched one at a time rather than published as a list, so this page links South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - State Board of Cosmetology's own records instead of reprinting a commercial directory. The schools above are drawn from the 29 South Carolina cosmetology programs that take federal financial aid and therefore report their results to the Department of Education. That is a large share of the field and not all of it, so a school missing here is one that takes no federal aid rather than one that is unlicensed. Look up the school you are considering in the board's records and confirm the license is current before you pay anything.
How do you become a cosmetologist in South Carolina in 2026?
To become a cosmetologist in South Carolina you need 1,500 clock hours at a school licensed by South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - State Board of Cosmetology, then a passing score on the state exam. At the pace most clock-hour schools run, that is roughly 11.5 months full time. 13 states set a lower requirement and the rest set a higher one, in a national range topping out at 2,000 hours.
Time is the expensive part of this qualification, and it is only banked while the school holds a current South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - State Board of Cosmetology license.
How much do cosmetologists make in South Carolina in 2026?
Cosmetologists in South Carolina earn a median of $33,700 , with the bottom tenth on $21,340 and the top tenth on $77,430 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.
- Cosmetologists $33,700 $33,700
- Salon managers $44,100 $44,100
- Estheticians $39,670 $39,670
- Nail technicians $33,810 $33,810
- Barbers $32,900 $32,900
What is different about cosmetology licensing in South Carolina?
South Carolina sets the floor for entry at a tenth-grade education rather than a high school diploma, and it lets a registered master hair care specialist licensed under the barber chapter become a cosmetologist without the 1,500 hours, on education the board sets by regulation. The statute also bars board members, inspectors, employees and their spouses from owning any interest in a cosmetology school, and nail technicians need only 300 hours, among the lowest anywhere. Read South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - State Board of Cosmetology's own rules .
Where do cosmetologists make the most money in South Carolina?
Cosmetologists make the most money in South Carolina around Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, where the median is $38,530, and the least around Sumter at $28,780. A 34 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 $33,700, roughly half these metros pay above and half below.
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia $38,530 $38,530
- Charleston-North Charleston $34,860 $34,860
- Hilton Head Island-Bluffto... $34,730 $34,730
- Greenville-Anderson-Greer $33,850 $33,850
- Spartanburg $33,640 $33,640
- Myrtle Beach-Conway-North ... $31,000 $31,000
- Florence $30,810 $30,810
- Columbia $30,710 $30,710
- Augusta-Richmond County $29,430 $29,430
- Sumter $28,780 $28,780
Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, salon managers are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $44,100 median. That is above the $33,700 cosmetologist median, so the longer general license is not automatically the better-paid route here.
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 | $44,100 | 2,040 |
| Estheticians | $39,670 | 1,210 |
| Nail technicians | $33,810 | 710 |
| Barbers | $32,900 | 220 |
Can you use a cosmetology license from another state in South Carolina?
Using a cosmetology license from another state in South Carolina means satisfying South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - State Board of Cosmetology, which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other South states, South Carolina is it asks 70 more hours than the regional average of 1,430, and pay tracks the regional average closely.
It is worth knowing before you train if there is any chance you will move, since transferring a license is an application to the receiving board rather than a formality.
| State | Hours required | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina (this state) | 1,500 | $33,700 |
| 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 | |
| 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 South Carolina cosmetology program ranking not tell you?
This South 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 South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - State Board of Cosmetology for the license itself.
Common questions about cosmetology programs in South Carolina
What makes the best cosmetology programs in South Carolina rank highly here?
How many cosmetology schools are there in South Carolina?
Should you choose a NACCAS-accredited school in South Carolina?
How much does cosmetology school cost in South Carolina?
Are the best cosmetology programs in South Carolina accredited?
Where does this South Carolina cosmetology program data come from?
This South Carolina cosmetology program data comes from South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - State Board of Cosmetology, read on 2026-08-31, from the board's own license records rather than from any school directory. The cost and debt figures come from the US Department of Education's College Scorecard , which publishes them per institution for cosmetology programs at every school taking federal financial aid. South Carolina sets the floor for entry at a tenth-grade education rather than a high school diploma, and it lets a registered master hair care specialist licensed under the barber chapter become a cosmetologist without the 1,500 hours, on education the board sets by regulation. The statute also bars board members, inspectors, employees and their spouses from owning any interest in a cosmetology school, and nail technicians need only 300 hours, among the lowest anywhere.
South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - State Board of CosmetologyRead 2026-08-31.
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 , metro and state pay, employment and concentration behind every wage figure on this page
- US Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study CIP 12.04 , full program cost, median federal debt and the monthly cost of that debt, per institution