Career Training Path › Cosmetology schools › Virginia
Cosmetology schools in Virginia
Virginia has 26 accredited campuses awarding cosmetology credentials. If you finish and work as a cosmetologist in Virginia, expect to start around $27,040–$30,120 and reach a median of $35,790 with experience; the top quarter earn $48,830 or more (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025, national). Graduates of these Virginia programs — every graduate, whatever job they took — earned a median of $18,726 in their first year, against $17,178 nationally; that is the figure used to rank campuses below.
What hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists earn in the U.S.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national figures; the state estimate is not published). National median: $35,790.
Campuses in Virginia, ranked by what their graduates earned
Cities: ArlingtonAshlandBristolCulpeperFairfaxFredericksburgGreat FallsHamptonLynchburgMcLeanMidlothianNewport NewsNewport NewsPetersburgRestonRichmondRoanokeStauntonViennaVirginia BeachWoodbridge
| Campus | City | Type | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Program debt | Completion | Cost / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics | Ashland | for-profit | 13 | $25,502 | $6,333 | 100% | $17,912 |
| Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy | Reston | for-profit | 43 | $24,896 | $6,333 | 94% | $13,557 |
| Avi Career Training | Great Falls | for-profit | 9 | $23,423 | $6,333 | 86% | $20,685 |
| Asher Institute of Hampton | Hampton | for-profit | 25 | $21,775 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| The Chrysm Institute of Esthetics | Virginia Beach | for-profit | 44 | $20,597 | $6,333 | 81% | $25,017 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Tysons Corner | McLean | for-profit | 66 | $19,777 | $12,389 | not reported | not reported |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Woodbridge | Woodbridge | for-profit | 18 | $19,777 | $12,389 | not reported | not reported |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Roanoke | Roanoke | for-profit | 41 | $18,726 | $12,500 | 59% | $25,572 |
| Luckes Beauty Academy LLC | Newport News | for-profit | 9 | $18,092 | not reported | 25% | not reported |
| Rudy & Kelly Academy, A Paul Mitchell Partner School | Virginia Beach | for-profit | 91 | $17,950 | $13,000 | 73% | $22,335 |
| Empire Beauty School-Midlothian | Midlothian | for-profit | 29 | $17,189 | $12,090 | 44% | $28,381 |
| Empire Beauty School-Richmond | Richmond | for-profit | 27 | $17,189 | $12,090 | 39% | $28,179 |
| Empire Beauty School-Newport News | Newport News | for-profit | 26 | $17,189 | $12,090 | 50% | $27,690 |
| Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy | Lynchburg | for-profit | 45 | $17,040 | $9,732 | 50% | not reported |
| Empire Beauty School-Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach | for-profit | 69 | $16,897 | $13,583 | 37% | $28,563 |
| Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Lafayette-Arlington | Arlington | for-profit | 63 | $14,604 | $8,298 | not reported | $38,623 |
| Staunton School of Cosmetology | Staunton | for-profit | 13 | $12,790 | not reported | 71% | $15,762 |
| The Esthetic Institute | Vienna | for-profit | 46 | not reported | $6,333 | 89% | $25,235 |
| Lotus Professional College | Richmond | for-profit | 29 | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culpeper Cosmetology Training Center | Culpeper | Public | 28 | not reported | $10,466 | 88% | $19,550 |
| Another Level Barbering and Cosmetology School | Petersburg | for-profit | 8 | not reported | $9,500 | 100% | $13,772 |
| Tomorrow's Image Barber And Beauty Academy of Virginia | Newport News | for-profit | 5 | not reported | $10,036 | 46% | $18,331 |
| Jazz Barber and Hairstyling Academy | Petersburg | for-profit | 4 | not reported | not reported | 67% | $21,138 |
| Crown Cutz Academy Bristol | Bristol | for-profit | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Eastern Virginia Career College | Fredericksburg | for-profit | 2 | not reported | $7,917 | 66% | not reported |
| CJ Hair School | Fairfax | — | — | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Ranked by median earnings of this program's graduates one year after completion (College Scorecard field-of-study, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026); campuses without a reported figure follow, by credentials awarded. "Program debt" is the median federal loan debt for graduates of this program at this campus. Completion is the campus-wide 150%-of-time rate. "Not reported" means the federal file suppresses the value for privacy.