How Much Does Cosmetology School Cost?

Cosmetology school at Crave Beauty Academy runs about $20,084.86 in tuition, books, and supplies for the full 1,500-hour program, not counting housing or day-to-day living costs. That breaks down to roughly $16,005 in tuition, billed at $10.67 per clock hour, plus about $4,079 for kits, tools, and books. Grants, federal loans, and scholarships can all help cover that total, and Financial Aid is available to those who qualify. The cosmetology program can be completed in as little as 1,500 hours at Crave Beauty Academy’s Wichita, Kansas or Ballwin, Missouri campuses, where students train hands-on in a real student salon before they sit for the state exam.

How much does cosmetology school cost at Crave Beauty Academy?

Cosmetology students complete 1,500 hours of coursework, billed at $10.67 per clock hour, which puts tuition at approximately $16,005. Books, a professional kit, and supplies typically add another $4,079, bringing the total cost of attendance, before housing, to around $20,084.86. Actual amounts vary by student and by any transfer credit or scheduling differences, so treat these as planning figures rather than a fixed quote.

What other costs should I plan for besides tuition?

Housing and everyday living costs sit outside the tuition figure above and depend heavily on where you live while you train.

• Housing near the Ballwin, MO campus: averages about $1,343 a month per person, which works out to roughly $16,116 over 12 months, $20,145 over 15 months, or $24,174 over 18 months, depending on how long you are enrolled.
• Everyday living costs: food, medical expenses, utilities, and clothing add up over the course of the program and are worth budgeting for separately from tuition.

Can I attend full-time or part-time?

Crave Beauty Academy offers both a full-time schedule and a part-time evening schedule for the cosmetology program, and the one you choose affects how many months of housing and living costs you should plan for.

• Full-time schedule: can be completed in as little as 43 weeks, which fits closest to the 12-month housing scenario above.
• Part-time evening schedule: can take as few as 75 weeks to complete, which fits students working a job or managing family commitments around class, and lines up closer to the 15 to 18 month housing scenarios above.

Campus hours run Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., so both the full-time and part-time evening schedules fit inside the same class week.

How can I pay for cosmetology school?

Most students combine more than one funding source to cover tuition, books, and supplies.

• Grants: are funded by the government and can cover tuition, books, and supplies. Grants do not have to be paid back. You apply for grants by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).
• Federal loans: can help close any remaining gap, but loans must be paid back after graduation, so borrow only what you need.
• Scholarships: are competitive and, like grants, do not have to be paid back.

Financial Aid is available to those who qualify.

What will I learn in the cosmetology program?

Tuition covers a four-phase curriculum built to take students from fundamentals to salon-ready skills.

1. Core Training. covers the fundamentals of hair, skin, and nail services along with the safety and sanitation standards required for licensure.
2. Experience. builds on those fundamentals with more advanced technique work across cutting, coloring, and texturing.
3. Create. moves students into design-focused work, including men’s cutting and makeup artistry, as skills become more advanced.
4. Salon Life. shifts the focus to real client services, salon business, and marketing, so graduates leave with more than just technical skills.

• Technical training: in hair cutting, design, and coloring, texturing and men’s cutting through the Pivot Point curriculum, makeup artistry, nail technology, and skincare.
• Business training: in salon business and marketing through the Qnity curriculum, so graduates understand the business side of the industry as well as the technical side.
• Brand and product exposure: through industry partners including Pivot Point, Sam Villa, Beauty Cast Network, Redken, and Dermalogica.

What can I earn after cosmetology school?

Earnings after cosmetology school vary by role, location, and experience.

These figures are approximations based on published averages, are subject to change, and are not a guarantee of what any individual graduate will earn. Instructors typically complete cosmetology instructor training after earning their cosmetology license, since teaching is a separate credential from practicing.

Why train at Crave Beauty Academy?

Crave Beauty Academy pairs the required coursework with hands-on time in a real student salon, so the cost of the program buys practice, not just theory.

• Two campuses: Wichita, Kansas at 3804 W Douglas Ave, and Ballwin, Missouri at 14858 Manchester Rd, so you can train close to home in either market.
• A working student salon: gives students real client experience on high-end professional products before graduation. All services in the student salon are performed under the direct supervision of licensed instructors.
• A clear path forward: from your cosmetology education toward the state exam, with options to continue into cosmetology instructor training or ITEC continuing education once you are licensed.

Attending cosmetology school is a significant commitment of time and money, and it pays off most for students who are dedicated and ready to work hard through all 1,500 hours. Working with industry partners such as Redken and Dermalogica also means students are practicing with the same professional product lines they are likely to use in a salon after graduation, rather than switching to unfamiliar tools on the job.

Next step: Look at the cosmetology program in detail and talk with our admissions team about your specific costs, schedule, and financial aid options.

Frequently asked questions

How much does cosmetology school cost in total?

Plan on roughly $20,084.86 for tuition, books, kit, and supplies for the full 1,500-hour cosmetology program at Crave Beauty Academy, not including housing or day-to-day living expenses.

What is the tuition rate at Crave Beauty Academy?

Tuition is billed at $10.67 per clock hour across the 1,500-hour cosmetology program, which puts total tuition at approximately $16,005.

Can I get financial aid for cosmetology school?

Financial Aid is available to those who qualify. Options include government grants and scholarships, which do not have to be repaid, and federal loans, which must be paid back after graduation. You apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).

How long does the cosmetology program take?

The cosmetology program can be completed in as little as 1,500 hours: about 43 weeks on the full-time schedule, or as few as 75 weeks on the part-time evening schedule. Graduates are then prepared to sit for the state exam.

How much can I earn as a cosmetologist after graduating?

Reported averages range from about $38,779 a year in Wichita, KS to $48,764 a year in Ballwin, MO for cosmetologists, with higher ranges for instructors and salon owners. These are approximations, subject to change, and not a guarantee of individual earnings.

Where are Crave Beauty Academy campuses located?

Crave Beauty Academy has two campuses: Wichita, Kansas at 3804 W Douglas Ave, and Ballwin, Missouri at 14858 Manchester Rd.