Washington
Best cosmetology programs in Washington 2026
Downtown Seattle skyline from Elliott Bay. Photo by Joe Mabel, licensed under CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Ranked on the share of students who finish what they started, within half again the program's normal length, as reported per institution to the US Department of Education. In a clock-hour trade this is the outcome that matters most: the license needs the full hour count, so a student who leaves early has paid for hours that will never qualify them.
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 Washington is whether Washington State Department of Licensing licensed the school while you were enrolled.
24
schools reporting federally
13
qualify to be ranked
11
excluded, under 40 enrolled students
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#1
Aveda Institute Portland-Vancouver Campus
Vancouver, WA
89%
Share of students who finish
- 89% finish
- 81 graduates a year
- $7,800 program cost
What the record shows
Aveda Institute Portland-Vancouver Campus runs its cosmetology program in Vancouver and reports to the US Department of Education. The school graduates 89 percent, on a fall headcount of 122. It charges $7,800 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Graduates who borrowed took on $7,917 in federal loans at the median, 274 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $84 a month. That median loan is larger than the $7,800 price, so the typical borrower here finances more than tuition. More finish here than at the typical school on this page, 89 percent against 74, and the price is 53 percent under the $16,500 median: the two numbers point the same way. It awarded 81 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Confirm the school's current license with the Washington State Department of Licensing first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
undefined Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro 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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#2
Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett
Everett, WA
83%
Share of students who finish
- 83% finish
- 858 graduates a year
- $12,965 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Everett, Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 83 percent of its students finish, out of 1,172 enrolled in the fall count. It charges $12,965 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 $7,904 in federal loans, measured over 650 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $84 a month. More finish here than at the typical school on this page, 83 percent against 74, and the price is 21 percent under the $16,500 median: the two numbers point the same way. 858 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. That is roughly 40 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, by some distance the largest beauty school in the state's federal file. Confirm the school's current license with the Washington State Department of Licensing first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue earn under $59,810, with the tenth percentile at $38,910 and the ninetieth at $101,340. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. Local concentration around Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue sits near the national average.
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#3
Centralia Beauty College
Centralia, WA
82%
Share of students who finish
- 82% finish
- 36 graduates a year
- $17,975 program cost
What the record shows
Centralia Beauty College runs its cosmetology program in Centralia and reports to the US Department of Education. Of the 90 students in its fall count, 82 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $17,975 for the full program. 8 points more of its students finish than the 74 percent median, priced within 9 percent of the $16,500 median, so you pay the going rate for better than average odds of getting through. 36 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The license from the Washington State Department of Licensing 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
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#4
Studio Beauty School
Spokane Valley, WA
82%
Share of students who finish
- 82% finish
- 88 graduates a year
- $8,930 program cost
What the record shows
Studio Beauty School trains in Spokane Valley, and because it takes federal financial aid its outcomes are published per program. Of the 81 students in its fall count, 82 percent complete the course they started. Tuition is reported at $8,930 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $7,450 in federal loans at the median, 100 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $79 a month. That is most of the $8,930 price arriving as debt, so the published cost and what a student actually finances are close to the same number here. 8 points more of its students finish than the 74 percent median, and it charges 46 percent less than the $16,500 median to do it, which is the right direction on both counts. It awarded 88 credentials over the year against a fall headcount of 81, which is what a clock-hour course that turns over more than one cohort a year looks like. Check its license with the Washington State Department of Licensing before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Spokane-Spokane Valley runs from $35,470 at the tenth percentile to $100,180 at the ninetieth, with a median of $61,440. 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 Spokane-Spokane Valley as it is nationally.
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#5
International Beauty Education Center
Spokane, WA
81%
Share of students who finish
- 81% finish
- 110 graduates a year
- $10,640 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Spokane, International Beauty Education Center is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of the 146 students in its fall count, 81 percent complete the course they started. It charges $10,640 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. 38 graduates borrowed, at a median of $8,278 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $88 a month. More finish here than at the typical school on this page, 81 percent against 74, and the price is 36 percent under the $16,500 median: the two numbers point the same way. 110 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. The license from the Washington State Department of Licensing is still 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 around Spokane-Spokane Valley earn under $61,440, with the tenth percentile at $35,470 and the ninetieth at $100,180. Early pay locally runs well under the median, so budget for a slow first year rather than the headline figure. Local concentration around Spokane-Spokane Valley sits near the national average.
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#6
Paul Mitchell the School-Richland
Richland, WA
74%
Share of students who finish
- 74% finish
- 199 graduates a year
- $21,092 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Richland, Paul Mitchell the School-Richland is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. 74 percent of its students finish, out of 256 enrolled in the fall count. The published cost is $21,092 for the full program. $21,092 is 28 percent over the $16,500 median, for a completion rate exactly at the 74 percent median, which is a premium with nothing on this record to justify it. The school conferred 199 credentials in the year reported. That is roughly 9 percent of everything awarded by federally reporting beauty programs in the state, so it is one of the larger training operations here. Confirm the school's current license with the Washington State Department of Licensing first: federal reporting is about financial aid, and it is the state license that qualifies your hours.
Where it leads
Around Kennewick-Richland, the median cosmetologist earns $49,640, the bottom tenth $34,970 and the top tenth $76,670. The metro median runs about 17 percent below the Washington figure.
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#7
Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Shoreline
Shoreline, WA
74%
Share of students who finish
- 74% finish
- 70 graduates a year
- $12,965 program cost
What the record shows
Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Shoreline teaches cosmetology in Shoreline, with its results published federally. 74 percent of students see the course through, out of 131 enrolled. It charges $12,965 for the full program, which for a clock-hour course is the whole price rather than a yearly one. Graduates who borrowed took on $12,344 in federal loans at the median, 40 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $131 a month. That is most of the $12,965 price arriving as debt, so the published cost and what a student actually finances are close to the same number here. $12,965 is 21 percent under the $16,500 median, and completion is within 0 points of the 74 percent median, which is the cheap-without-a-catch pairing. It awarded 70 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Ask the Washington State Department of Licensing directly whether the license is in good standing, because a lapse while you are enrolled costs you the hours rather than the school.
Where it leads
Half of cosmetologists around Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue earn under $59,810, with the tenth percentile at $38,910 and the ninetieth at $101,340. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 4,510 people.
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#8
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Seattle
Seattle, WA
67%
Share of students who finish
- 67% finish
- 79 graduates a year
- $21,000 program cost
What the record shows
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Seattle trains in Seattle, and because it takes federal financial aid its outcomes are published per program. 67 percent of students see the course through, out of 154 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $21,000 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $7,673 in federal loans at the median, 89 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $81 a month. 7 points fewer finish than the 74 percent median and it costs 27 percent over the $16,500 median, so before enrolling ask what happens to the students who do not get through. 79 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Washington State Department of Licensing before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
Around Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, the median cosmetologist earns $59,810, the bottom tenth $38,910 and the top tenth $101,340. The bottom of this market sits well below its middle, so the first year is likely to be lean and worth planning for. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 4,510 people.
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#9
Summit Salon Academy
Tacoma, WA
59%
Share of students who finish
- 59% finish
- 103 graduates a year
- $18,700 program cost
What the record shows
Summit Salon Academy runs its cosmetology program in Tacoma and reports to the US Department of Education. Of the 138 students in its fall count, 59 percent complete the course they started. The published cost is $18,700 for the full program. 118 graduates borrowed, at a median of $7,916 in federal loans. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $84 a month. That is the pairing to be wary of: 15 points fewer of its students finish than the 74 percent median, at a price 13 percent over the $16,500 median. Ask the school directly why students leave before you commit. The school conferred 103 credentials in the year reported. Check its license with the Washington State Department of Licensing before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock 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.
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#10
Paul Mitchell the School-Spokane
Spokane Valley, WA
54%
Share of students who finish
- 54% finish
- 82 graduates a year
- $17,092 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Spokane teaches cosmetology in Spokane Valley, with its results published federally. 54 percent of students see the course through, out of 296 enrolled. The published cost is $17,092 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $10,556 in federal loans, measured over 109 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $112 a month. The price is close to the $16,500 median and the completion is not: 54 percent against 74. In a clock-hour course that is the wrong half of the trade, and the reason to ask hard questions before a deposit. The school conferred 82 credentials in the year reported. From 296 enrolled that is slow throughput for a clock-hour course, and it belongs beside the completion figure above. Ask the Washington State Department of Licensing directly whether the license is in good standing, because a lapse while you are enrolled costs you the hours rather than the school.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Spokane-Spokane Valley runs from $35,470 at the tenth percentile to $100,180 at the ninetieth, with a median of $61,440. Early pay locally runs well under the median, so budget for a slow first year rather than the headline figure. On concentration, Spokane-Spokane Valley is unremarkable, tracking the national rate closely.
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#11
Elite Cosmetology, Barber & Spa Academy
Yakima, WA
47%
Share of students who finish
- 83 graduates a year
- $12,100 program cost
What the record shows
Based in Yakima, Elite Cosmetology, Barber & Spa Academy is one of the cosmetology programs the federal government tracks. Of 118 enrolled in the fall count, 47 percent finish. Tuition is reported at $12,100 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $7,917 in federal loans at the median, 40 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $84 a month. Only 47 in a hundred finish here, 27 points under the 74 percent median. Treat that as the headline, not a footnote, and hold the $12,100 price against it. It awarded 83 beauty credentials in the reporting year. Check its license with the Washington State Department of Licensing before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
undefined The metro median runs about 22 percent below the Washington figure.
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#12
Stylemaster College of Hair Design
Longview, WA
43%
Share of students who finish
- 43% finish
- 19 graduates a year
- $16,500 program cost
What the record shows
Stylemaster College of Hair Design teaches cosmetology in Longview, with its results published federally. 43 percent of students see the course through across two years of students, out of 50 enrolled. Tuition is reported at $16,500 for the full program. Borrowing here runs to a median of $8,392 in federal loans, measured over 37 graduates. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $89 a month. Only 43 in a hundred finish here, 31 points under the 74 percent median. Treat that as the headline, not a footnote, and hold the $16,500 price against it. The school conferred 19 credentials in the year reported. Check its license with the Washington State Department of Licensing before enrolling, because that record and not the federal listing is what makes your clock hours count.
Where it leads
Pay for cosmetologists around Longview-Kelso runs from $34,780 at the tenth percentile to $80,460 at the ninetieth, with a median of $36,590. The metro median runs about 39 percent below the Washington figure. A flat floor and a long tail: nobody starts far below the median here, and the people well above it got there on repeat clients, not seniority. Local demand is below the national norm, 0.5 times the usual concentration around Longview-Kelso, which is worth knowing before committing the hours.
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#13
Paul Mitchell the School-Federal Way
Federal Way, WA
34%
Share of students who finish
- 34% finish
- 111 graduates a year
- $19,492 program cost
What the record shows
Paul Mitchell the School-Federal Way runs its cosmetology program in Federal Way and reports to the US Department of Education. The school graduates 34 percent across two years of students, on a fall headcount of 147. Tuition is reported at $19,492 for the full program. Graduates who borrowed took on $10,555 in federal loans at the median, 208 of them. On the standard ten-year plan that is about $112 a month. Only 34 in a hundred finish here, 40 points under the 74 percent median. Treat that as the headline, not a footnote, and hold the $19,492 price against it. 111 students completed a credential here in the reporting year. Verify the school's standing with the Washington State Department of Licensing before any deposit changes hands, since that record and not this one governs your hours.
Where it leads
undefined Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue employs the trade at close to the national rate, around 4,510 people.
- Aveda Institute Portland-Vancouv... 89% 89%
- Evergreen Beauty and Barber Coll... 83% 83%
- Centralia Beauty College 82% 82%
- Studio Beauty School 82% 82%
- International Beauty Education C... 81% 81%
- Paul Mitchell the School-Richland 74% 74%
- Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-... 74% 74%
- Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute ... 67% 67%
- Summit Salon Academy 59% 59%
- Paul Mitchell the School-Spokane 54% 54%
Where can you find the licensed cosmetology programs in Washington?
The licensed cosmetology programs in Washington are searched one at a time rather than published as a list, so this page links Washington State Department of Licensing's own records instead of reprinting a commercial directory. The schools above are drawn from the 24 Washington 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 Washington in 2026?
To become a cosmetologist in Washington you need 1,600 clock hours at a school licensed by Washington State Department of Licensing, then a passing score on the state exam. At the pace most clock-hour schools run, that is roughly 12.3 months full time. That is above what 40 other states require, putting Washington among the longer programs in the country.
None of those hours count unless Washington State Department of Licensing licensed the school at the time you sat them.
How much do cosmetologists make in Washington in 2026?
Cosmetologists in Washington earn a median of $59,510 , with the bottom tenth on $36,830 and the top tenth on $99,970 . The related licenses pay differently again, which matters because you pick the license before you start the hours.
- Cosmetologists $59,510 $59,510
- Nail technicians $49,900 $49,900
- Estheticians $79,320 $79,320
- Salon managers $59,980 $59,980
- Barbers $61,150 $61,150
What is different about cosmetology licensing in Washington?
Washington puts its clock-hour requirements in STATUTE rather than in board rule: RCW 18.16.020 carries a table of six credentials with both a school-hours column and a separate, higher apprenticeship-hours column, so changing an hour count in Washington takes an act of the legislature, not a rulemaking. It is also one of the very few states with a two-tier esthetics ladder (esthetician 750 hours, master esthetician 1,200), it expressly exempts natural hair braiding from licensure at WAC 308-20-025, and it licenses mobile units alongside fixed salons. Read Washington State Department of Licensing's own rules .
Where do cosmetologists make the most money in Washington?
Cosmetologists make the most money in Washington around Bellingham, where the median is $61,820, and the least around Longview-Kelso at $36,590. That is a 69 percent gap inside one state, which is wider than the gap between many states and worth more than most differences between schools.
Against a statewide median of $59,510, roughly half these metros pay above and half below.
- Bellingham $61,820 $61,820
- Spokane-Spokane Valley $61,440 $61,440
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue $59,810 $59,810
- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro $59,610 $59,610
- Bremerton-Silverdale-Port ... $58,150 $58,150
- Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater $49,840 $49,840
- Kennewick-Richland $49,640 $49,640
- Yakima $46,270 $46,270
- Wenatchee-East Wenatchee $38,810 $38,810
- Lewiston $37,820 $37,820
Is it better to be a cosmetologist, esthetician or nail tech in Washington?
In Washington, estheticians are the best paid of the beauty licenses at a $79,320 median. That is above the $59,510 cosmetologist median, so the longer general license is not automatically the better-paid route here.
Hour requirements differ by license too, so a route that pays slightly less can still reach a paycheck sooner.
| Occupation | Median pay | Employed in state |
|---|---|---|
| Estheticians | $79,320 | 2,200 |
| Barbers | $61,150 | 1,220 |
| Salon managers | $59,980 | 1,440 |
| Nail technicians | $49,900 | 5,570 |
Can you use a cosmetology license from another state in Washington?
Using a cosmetology license from another state in Washington means satisfying Washington State Department of Licensing, which decides case by case, and the number it weighs is hours. Against the other West states, Washington is it asks 91 more hours than the regional average of 1,509, and it pays about 60 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington (this state) | 1,600 | $59,510 |
| Oregon | $57,580 | |
| California | 1,000 | $38,660 |
| Montana | 1,500 | $38,000 |
| New Mexico | 1,600 | $37,750 |
| Colorado | 1,500 | $37,690 |
| Arizona | 1,500 | $36,810 |
| Idaho | 1,600 | $35,480 |
| Utah | 1,250 | $35,140 |
| Hawaii | 1,800 | $35,040 |
| Nevada | 1,600 | $33,840 |
| Alaska | 1,650 | $32,150 |
| Wyoming | 1,600 | $29,170 |
What does this Washington cosmetology program ranking not tell you?
This Washington 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 Washington State Department of Licensing for the license itself.
Common questions about cosmetology programs in Washington
What makes the best cosmetology programs in Washington rank highly here?
How many cosmetology schools are there in Washington?
Should you choose a NACCAS-accredited school in Washington?
How much does cosmetology school cost in Washington?
Are the best cosmetology programs in Washington accredited?
Where does this Washington cosmetology program data come from?
This Washington cosmetology program data comes from Washington State Department of Licensing, 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. Washington puts its clock-hour requirements in STATUTE rather than in board rule: RCW 18.16.020 carries a table of six credentials with both a school-hours column and a separate, higher apprenticeship-hours column, so changing an hour count in Washington takes an act of the legislature, not a rulemaking. It is also one of the very few states with a two-tier esthetics ladder (esthetician 750 hours, master esthetician 1,200), it expressly exempts natural hair braiding from licensure at WAC 308-20-025, and it licenses mobile units alongside fixed salons.
Washington State Department of LicensingRead 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