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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 career college | 13 | $25,502 | $6,333 | 100% | $17,912 |
| Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy | Reston | for-profit career school | 43 | $24,896 | $6,333 | 94% | $13,557 |
| Avi Career Training | Great Falls | for-profit career school | 9 | $23,423 | $6,333 | 86% | $20,685 |
| Asher Institute of Hampton | Hampton | for-profit career college | 25 | $21,775 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| The Chrysm Institute of Esthetics | Virginia Beach | for-profit career college | 44 | $20,597 | $6,333 | 81% | $25,017 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Tysons Corner | McLean | for-profit career school | 66 | $19,777 | $12,389 | not reported | not reported |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Woodbridge | Woodbridge | for-profit career school | 18 | $19,777 | $12,389 | not reported | not reported |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Roanoke | Roanoke | for-profit career school | 41 | $18,726 | $12,500 | 59% | $25,572 |
| Luckes Beauty Academy LLC | Newport News | for-profit career school | 9 | $18,092 | not reported | 25% | not reported |
| Rudy & Kelly Academy, A Paul Mitchell Partner School | Virginia Beach | for-profit career school | 91 | $17,950 | $13,000 | 73% | $22,335 |
| Empire Beauty School-Midlothian | Midlothian | for-profit career school | 29 | $17,189 | $12,090 | 44% | $28,381 |
| Empire Beauty School-Richmond | Richmond | for-profit career school | 27 | $17,189 | $12,090 | 39% | $28,179 |
| Empire Beauty School-Newport News | Newport News | for-profit career school | 26 | $17,189 | $12,090 | 50% | $27,690 |
| Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy | Lynchburg | for-profit career school | 45 | $17,040 | $9,732 | 50% | not reported |
| Empire Beauty School-Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach | for-profit career school | 69 | $16,897 | $13,583 | 37% | $28,563 |
| Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Lafayette-Arlington | Arlington | for-profit career college | 63 | $14,604 | $8,298 | not reported | $38,623 |
| Staunton School of Cosmetology | Staunton | for-profit career school | 13 | $12,790 | not reported | 71% | $15,762 |
| The Esthetic Institute | Vienna | for-profit career college | 46 | not reported | $6,333 | 89% | $25,235 |
| Lotus Professional College | Richmond | for-profit college | 29 | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culpeper Cosmetology Training Center | Culpeper | Public community college | 28 | not reported | $10,466 | 88% | $19,550 |
| Another Level Barbering and Cosmetology School | Petersburg | for-profit career school | 8 | not reported | $9,500 | 100% | $13,772 |
| Tomorrow's Image Barber And Beauty Academy of Virginia | Newport News | for-profit career school | 5 | not reported | $10,036 | 46% | $18,331 |
| Jazz Barber and Hairstyling Academy | Petersburg | for-profit career school | 4 | not reported | not reported | 67% | $21,138 |
| Crown Cutz Academy Bristol | Bristol | for-profit career school | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Eastern Virginia Career College | Fredericksburg | for-profit career college | 2 | not reported | $7,917 | 66% | not reported |
| CJ Hair School | Fairfax | career school | — | 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.