Cosmetology instructor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a cosmetology instructor. Cosmetology instructors usually study cosmetology, business, or education. 30% of cosmetology instructors hold a associate degree, and 18% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 2,462 real cosmetology instructor resumes to see exactly what cosmetology instructor education sections show.

The most common colleges for cosmetology instructors are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online cosmetology instructor courses to help get the education required to be a cosmetology instructor.

There are certain cosmetology instructor certifications that you should consider. These cosmetology instructor certifications include Instructor and Instructor Certification (EPIC).

What education do you need to become a cosmetology instructor?

What degree do you need to be a cosmetology instructor?

The most common degree for cosmetology instructors is associate degree, with 30% of cosmetology instructors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 18% and bachelor's degree degree at 15%.

Associate, 30%

Bachelor's, 18%

Diploma, 15%

High School Diploma, 11%

Other Degrees, 26%

What should I major in to become a cosmetology instructor?

You should major in cosmetology to become a cosmetology instructor. 69% of cosmetology instructors major in cosmetology. Other common majors for a cosmetology instructor include business and education.

Cosmetology, 69%

Business, 10%

Education, 4%

Elementary Education, 3%

Other Majors, 14%

Most common colleges for cosmetology instructors

Cosmetology instructors often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Ashford University, and Athens State University. Here are the most common colleges for cosmetology instructors in the US based on their resumes.

Cosmetology instructor common college	Percentages
University of Phoenix	26.23%
Ashford University	4.92%
Athens State University	4.92%
Liberty University	4.92%
Strayer University	4.92%

Show more common cosmetology instructor colleges

Best majors for cosmetology instructors

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Cosmetology	69.3%
2	Business	9.9%
3	Education	4.0%
4	Elementary Education	2.8%
5	General Studies	1.9%

Show more common cosmetology instructor majors

Best colleges for cosmetology instructors

The best colleges for cosmetology instructors are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.

A cosmetology instructor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for cosmetology instructors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become cosmetology instructors.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

3. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,816

Enrollment

21,047

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

6. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

7. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

8. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

9. North Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$9,101

Enrollment

23,708

10. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

20 best online courses for cosmetology instructors

Advertising disclosure

1. [2023] Customer Service 2.0: Learn Digital Customer Service

4.5

(3,956)

Used by Chase®, Intel®, & more! Learn soft skills, social media customer service, diagnosing user problems, & more...

2. Customer Service Foundation

4.5

(290)

An introductory course about understanding the foundations of Customer Service...

3. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer

4.7

(18,204)

Master Customer Service using this practical customer care course...

4. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

4.5

(941)

Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...

5. IT service operations and Service Desk management

4.4

(2,841)

Improve Service Desk and IT support processes and service functions. Better preparation for the professional exam...

6. Customer Service, Customer Support, And Customer Experience

4.6

(2,666)

Customer service, customer support, and customer experience training. Loyal clients through world-class customer service...

7. Start Improving Customer Service

4.8

(2,040)

Creating a Customer Service advantage in Your department or business through communication and Customer Management...

8. Your Customer Service Toolbox: Best Practices for Beginners

4.5

(4,101)

Excel as a front-line customer service agent using problem-solving & relationship-building skills, etiquette, and more...

9. Acrylic Nail Technician Course for Beginners

4.7

(414)

Learn How to do Acrylic Nails and Modern Nail Art Designs from an Expert Instructor and Gain the Confidence to Win...

10. IT Service Management with ITIL 4 Foundation -Full Training

4.1

(1,604)

Learn about ITIL 4, ITSM, Concepts of Service Management, the Four Dimensions, Service Value System and Practices...

11. Customer Service Basics: Improve your Service now

4.5

(889)

The basic golden rules to kickstart your service...

12. The Customer: Build a Customer Service Strategy (BITE SIZE)

4.5

(10,168)

For you and your team to be successful in providing great customer service, start by putting your customer first...

13. Customer Service: 6 Keys To Exceptional Customer Service

4.6

(601)

Master Customer Satisfaction & Astonish Your Customers With A+ Customer Service...

14. Customer Service Fundamentals: Putting People First

4.4

(313)

Customer Care Listening Great Customer Service Concern for Others Company Culture Engaging People Responding...

15. Fundamentals of Logistics, Supply Chain & Customer Service

4.5

(3,822)

Learn Logistics, Supply Chain and Customer Service. 3 Courses in 1...

16. ServiceNow IT Service Management (CIS - ITSM) Practice Tests

4.4

(641)

Prepare for the Service Now Certified Implementation Specialist exam in IT Service Management (CIS-ITSM)...

17. Customer Service Success: Take Your Skills to the Next Level

4.5

(2,276)

3-in-1 Customer Service Training: Levels 1, 2, 3 Improve Your Soft Communication Skills, Customer Support & Experience...

18. Brilliant Customer Service: How to Impress your Customers!

4.7

(12,891)

Enhance your customer support and truly differentiate yourself from your competition!...

19. SAP Customer Service (CS/SM) - Service Management module

4.4

(960)

Real World SAP CS and SD, Repair Orders, Service Orders, Service Contracts...

20. Good Clinical Practice ICH GCP for Clinical Research

4.5

(710)

Certification on ICH GCP E6 R2 Good Clinical Practice for Clinical Research The Only Complete Course You Can Find Online...

Top 10 most affordable universities for cosmetology instructors

The most affordable schools for cosmetology instructors are University of Florida, baruch college of the city university of new york, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for cosmetology instructors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for cosmetology instructors.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

4. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

5. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

8. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

9. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

10. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,587

Cost of attendance

13,043

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for cosmetology instructors

The hardest universities for cosmetology instructors to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for cosmetology instructors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for cosmetology instructors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,492

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

7. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

Admissions rate

30%

SAT average

1,339

8. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

9. Brandeis University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

31%

SAT average

1,398

10. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

26%

SAT average

1,427

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for cosmetology instructors

The easiest schools for cosmetology instructors to get into are Gwynedd Mercy University, holy names university, and oklahoma wesleyan university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a cosmetology instructor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for cosmetology instructors.

1. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

2. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

5. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

6. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,017

7. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

8. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

9. Iona College

New Rochelle, NY • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,089

10. Lewis-Clark State College

Lewiston, ID • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,009

Average cosmetology instructor salary by education level

According to our data, cosmetology instructors with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $50,824 annually. Cosmetology instructors with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $43,458.

Cosmetology instructor education level	Cosmetology instructor salary
Master's Degree	$43,458
Doctorate Degree	$50,824

Cosmetology instructor education FAQs

What is the best college for Cosmetology Instructors?

Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.

Search for cosmetology instructor jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Zippia Careers
Education, Training, and Library Industry
Cosmetology Instructor
Cosmetology Instructor Education

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse education, training, and library jobs