61 schools · North Carolina
Cosmetology and barber schools in North Carolina
61 schools in North Carolina offer cosmetology and barbering programs (49 of them public), with 61 certificate and 35 associate programs between them. Graduates of the typical certificate program here earned $23,040 a year after finishing, compared with $23,112 nationally.
Schools61
Public schools49
Certificate programs61
Certificate: earnings 1 yr after$23,040
Certificate: earnings 4 yrs after$27,163
Associate: earnings 1 yr after$24,001
All cosmetology and barbering programs in North Carolina
Sorted by earnings one year after graduation. Click a heading to sort; tuition is the school's yearly tuition and fees (2025-26), in-state for public schools.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt | School tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAsheville, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 75 | $31,583 | $24,940 | n/a | $2,882 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-RaleighRaleigh, NC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 42 | $30,686 | $31,587 | $9,833 | $18,524 |
| Gaston CollegeDallas, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 41 | $30,509 | n/a | n/a | $3,229 |
| Central Carolina Community CollegeSanford, NC | Community college | Certificate | 74 | $29,696 | $29,811 | n/a | $2,741 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community CollegeSalisbury, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 125 | $27,887 | $28,595 | n/a | $2,080 |
| Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 31 | $27,632 | $34,789 | $9,000 | $2,284 |
| Aveda Institute-Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 152 | $26,929 | $32,580 | $6,333 | $22,989 |
| Cape Fear Community CollegeWilmington, NC | Community college | Certificate | 143 | $25,092 | $28,983 | $4,750 | $2,772 |
| Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 18 | $24,015 | $26,550 | n/a | $2,454 |
| Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 18 | $24,001 | n/a | n/a | $2,284 |
| Empire Beauty School-CharlotteCharlotte, NC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 24 | $23,892 | $24,548 | $10,222 | $19,260 |
| Empire Beauty School-Winston-SalemWinston-Salem, NC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 26 | $23,829 | $25,814 | $10,667 | $20,100 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-FayettevilleFayetteville, NC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 86 | $23,776 | $27,448 | $9,833 | $18,575 |
| Carteret Community CollegeMorehead City, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 36 | $23,238 | n/a | n/a | $1,900 |
| Empire Beauty School-West GreensboroGreensboro, NC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 43 | $23,065 | $25,413 | $12,619 | $19,260 |
| Empire Beauty School-ConcordConcord, NC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 54 | $23,015 | $27,163 | $12,924 | $19,260 |
| Empire Beauty School-PinevilleCharlotte, NC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 30 | $23,015 | $27,163 | $12,924 | $19,260 |
| Davidson-Davie Community CollegeThomasville, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 48 | $22,202 | $20,572 | $8,250 | $1,979 |
| Caldwell Community College and Technical InstituteHudson, NC | Community college | Certificate | 31 | $21,494 | n/a | n/a | $2,620 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-CharlotteCharlotte, NC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 96 | $21,480 | $28,529 | $9,833 | $21,325 |
| College of WilmingtonWilmington, NC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 83 | $21,302 | $26,689 | $6,333 | $18,100 |
| Edgecombe Community CollegeTarboro, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 22 | $21,296 | n/a | n/a | $2,640 |
| Alexander Paul Institute of Hair DesignGreenville, NC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 35 | $20,861 | $24,316 | $8,750 | $18,398 |
| McDowell Technical Community CollegeMarion, NC | Community college | Certificate | 31 | $19,261 | n/a | n/a | $2,032 |
| Fayetteville Technical Community CollegeFayetteville, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 16 | $18,399 | n/a | n/a | $2,344 |
| Blue Ridge Community CollegeFlat Rock, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 34 | $16,638 | n/a | n/a | $2,690 |
| Leons Beauty School IncGreensboro, NC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 120 | $15,984 | $28,080 | n/a | $8,300 |
| Cleveland Community CollegeShelby, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 58 | $15,833 | $25,191 | n/a | $2,588 |
| Coastal Carolina Community CollegeJacksonville, NC | Community college | Certificate | 30 | $13,242 | $22,401 | n/a | $2,512 |
| Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown, NC | Community college | Certificate | 22 | n/a | $31,179 | $11,000 | $2,334 |
| Southwestern Community CollegeSylva, NC | Community college | Certificate | 34 | n/a | $27,538 | n/a | $2,448 |
| Catawba Valley Community CollegeHickory, NC | Community college | Certificate | 17 | n/a | $25,908 | n/a | $2,427 |
| Mitchell Community CollegeStatesville, NC | Community college | Certificate | 81 | n/a | $25,105 | n/a | $2,641 |
| Craven Community CollegeNew Bern, NC | Community college | Certificate | 41 | n/a | $22,812 | n/a | $2,022 |
| Alamance Community CollegeGraham, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 73 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,592 |
| Alamance Community CollegeGraham, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,592 |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAsheville, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,882 |
| Beaufort County Community CollegeWashington, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 32 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,540 |
| Beaufort County Community CollegeWashington, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,540 |
| Bladen Community CollegeDublin, NC | Community college | Certificate | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,638 |
| Bladen Community CollegeDublin, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,638 |
| Blue Ridge Community CollegeFlat Rock, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,690 |
| Brunswick Community CollegeBolivia, NC | Community college | Certificate | 19 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,553 |
| Brunswick Community CollegeBolivia, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,553 |
| Cape Fear Community CollegeWilmington, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,772 |
| Central Carolina Community CollegeSanford, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 16 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,741 |
| Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte, NC | Community college | Certificate | 52 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,454 |
| College of the AlbemarleElizabeth City, NC | Community college | Certificate | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,273 |
| Davidson-Davie Community CollegeThomasville, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,979 |
| Fayetteville Technical Community CollegeFayetteville, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 105 | n/a | n/a | $10,020 | $2,344 |
| Gaston CollegeDallas, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $3,229 |
| Halifax Community CollegeWeldon, NC | Community college | Certificate | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,638 |
| Halifax Community CollegeWeldon, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,638 |
| Haywood Community CollegeClyde, NC | Community college | Certificate | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,647 |
| Haywood Community CollegeClyde, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,647 |
| Isothermal Community CollegeSpindale, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 51 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,050 |
| Isothermal Community CollegeSpindale, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,050 |
| James Sprunt Community CollegeKenansville, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,592 |
| James Sprunt Community CollegeKenansville, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,592 |
| Johnston Community CollegeSmithfield, NC | Community college | Certificate | 27 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,756 |
| Johnston Community CollegeSmithfield, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,756 |
| Lenoir Community CollegeKinston, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 26 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,618 |
| Lenoir Community CollegeKinston, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,618 |
| Martin Community CollegeWilliamston, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 15 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,523 |
| Martin Community CollegeWilliamston, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,523 |
| Mayland Community CollegeSpruce Pine, NC | Community college | Certificate | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,626 |
| Mayland Community CollegeSpruce Pine, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,626 |
| McDowell Technical Community CollegeMarion, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,032 |
| Nash Community CollegeRocky Mount, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,800 |
| Nash Community CollegeRocky Mount, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,800 |
| Pamlico Community CollegeGrantsboro, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,946 |
| Piedmont Community CollegeRoxboro, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,616 |
| Randolph Community CollegeAsheboro, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 66 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,416 |
| Randolph Community CollegeAsheboro, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,416 |
| Roanoke-Chowan Community CollegeAhoskie, NC | Community college | Certificate | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,642 |
| Robeson Community CollegeLumberton, NC | Community college | Certificate | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,634 |
| Robeson Community CollegeLumberton, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 15 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,634 |
| Rockingham Community CollegeWentworth, NC | Community college | Certificate | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,006 |
| Rockingham Community CollegeWentworth, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,006 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community CollegeSalisbury, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,080 |
| Sampson Community CollegeClinton, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,877 |
| Sampson Community CollegeClinton, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,877 |
| Sandhills Community CollegePinehurst, NC | Community college | Certificate | 18 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,040 |
| Sandhills Community CollegePinehurst, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,040 |
| Southeastern Community CollegeWhiteville, NC | Community college | Certificate | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,600 |
| Southeastern Community CollegeWhiteville, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,600 |
| Southwestern Community CollegeSylva, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,448 |
| Stanly Community CollegeAlbemarle, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 30 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,681 |
| Stanly Community CollegeAlbemarle, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,681 |
| Surry Community CollegeDobson, NC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,728 |
| Surry Community CollegeDobson, NC | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,728 |
| Tri-County Community CollegeMurphy, NC | Community college | Certificate | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,705 |
| Tri-County Community CollegeMurphy, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,705 |
| Vance-Granville Community CollegeHenderson, NC | Community college | Certificate | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,964 |
| Western Piedmont Community CollegeMorganton, NC | Community college | Certificate | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,650 |
| Western Piedmont Community CollegeMorganton, NC | Community college | Associate degree | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,650 |
Cities with the most programs: Charlotte (4), Raleigh (2), Wilmington (2), Fayetteville (2), Greensboro (2), Asheville (1), Dallas (1), Sanford (1), Salisbury (1), Chapel Hill (1), Winston-Salem (1), Morehead City (1).
What counts: cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, nail technology and makeup.
Frequently asked questions
How many cosmetology and barber schools are in North Carolina?
61 schools in North Carolina awarded cosmetology and barbering certificates or associate degrees recently, according to the U.S. Department of Education: 61 certificate and 35 associate programs.
Which cosmetology and barbering program in North Carolina has the highest earnings?
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in Asheville, where certificate graduates earned a median of $31,583 one year after finishing (programs with at least 5 graduates).
What is the cheapest cosmetology and barbering school in North Carolina?
By yearly tuition and fees, Carteret Community College in Morehead City charges $1,900 (2025-26, in-state). Program fees, tools and licensing exams can add to that, so ask the school.
How much do cosmetology and barbering graduates make in North Carolina?
The typical certificate program in North Carolina reported median earnings of $23,040 one year after graduation and $27,163 four years after, for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
More in North Carolina: all trade schools · colleges
Other trades: Welding · HVAC · Electrician · Plumbing · Carpentry · Construction trades · Auto and diesel mechanic · Heavy equipment mechanic · Truck driving (CDL) · Culinary arts · Medical assistant · LPN and CNA · Dental assisting and hygiene · Phlebotomy and medical lab · EMT, surgical tech and imaging · Medical billing and coding · Massage therapy · Paralegal
Cosmetology and barber schools nationwide
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (institution and field of study files), data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. What each figure covers.