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Esthetics instructor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an esthetics instructor. Esthetics instructors usually study cosmetology, business, or elementary education. 26% of esthetics instructors hold a associate degree, and 24% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 295 real esthetics instructor resumes to see exactly what esthetics instructor education sections show.

The most common colleges for esthetics instructors are the University of Iowa and the University of Iowa.

There are also many online esthetics instructor courses to help get the education required to be an esthetics instructor.

What education do you need to become an esthetics instructor?

What degree do you need to be an esthetics instructor?

The most common degree for esthetics instructors is associate degree, with 26% of esthetics instructors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 24% and bachelor's degree degree at 18%.
  • Associate, 26%
  • Bachelor's, 24%
  • Master's, 18%
  • Diploma, 14%
  • Other Degrees, 18%

What should I major in to become an esthetics instructor?

You should major in cosmetology to become an esthetics instructor. 41% of esthetics instructors major in cosmetology. Other common majors for an esthetics instructor include business and elementary education.

Most common colleges for esthetics instructors

Esthetics instructors often get their degrees at University of Iowa, Utah Valley University, and University of Phoenix. Here are the most common colleges for esthetics instructors in the US based on their resumes.
Esthetics instructor common collegePercentages
University of Iowa11.54%
Utah Valley University11.54%
University of Phoenix7.69%
Middle Tennessee State University7.69%
Western Washington University3.85%

Best majors for esthetics instructors

RankMajorPercentages
1Cosmetology40.7%
2Business14.8%
3Elementary Education5.6%
4Psychology3.7%
5Fine Arts2.8%

Best colleges for esthetics instructors

The best colleges for esthetics instructors are University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, and New York University.

An esthetics 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 esthetics 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 esthetics instructors.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

3. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

4. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,816

Enrollment

21,047

5. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Enrollment

33,495

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

7. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Enrollment

34,564

8. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

9. University of California, Irvine

Irvine, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,700

Enrollment

29,722

10. Utah State University

Logan, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$8,138

Enrollment

21,658

20 best online courses for esthetics instructors

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Everything You Need to Know About Offering Microneedling Collagen Induction In Your Esthetics Practice...

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Top 10 most affordable universities for esthetics instructors

The most affordable schools for esthetics instructors are University of Florida, california state university - los angeles, and brigham young university.

If the best universities for esthetics 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 esthetics instructors.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

3. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

4. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

5. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

6. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

7. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

8. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

9. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

10. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for esthetics instructors

The hardest universities for esthetics instructors to get into are University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, and New York University.

Some great schools for esthetics 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 esthetics 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

8%

SAT average

1,492

2. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

26%

SAT average

1,427

3. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,434

6. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,321

7. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

8. University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL • Private

Admissions rate

32%

SAT average

1,365

9. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

Admissions rate

30%

SAT average

1,339

10. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

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

The easiest schools for esthetics instructors to get into are Gwynedd Mercy University, holy names university, and wayland baptist university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an esthetics 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 esthetics 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. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

4. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

5. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

6. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

7. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

8. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

9. Grand View University

Des Moines, IA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,060

10. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

Average esthetics instructor salary by education level

According to our data, esthetics instructors with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $60,667 annually. Esthetics instructors with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $49,828.
Esthetics instructor education levelEsthetics instructor salary
Master's Degree$49,828
Doctorate Degree$60,667

Esthetics instructor education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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.

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