23 schools · South Carolina
Cosmetology and barber schools in South Carolina
23 schools in South Carolina offer cosmetology and barbering programs (7 of them public), with 23 certificate and 0 associate programs between them. Graduates of the typical certificate program here earned $23,277 a year after finishing, compared with $23,112 nationally.
All cosmetology and barbering programs in South 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trident Technical CollegeCharleston, SC | Community college | Certificate | 39 | $33,732 | $32,849 | n/a | $4,836 |
| Academy of Hair TechnologyGreenville, SC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 72 | $27,563 | $33,104 | $3,666 | $6,300 |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology and Nails-ColumbiaWest Columbia, SC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 60 | $26,543 | $26,778 | $5,923 | $18,637 |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose CreekGoose Creek, SC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 106 | $26,543 | $26,778 | $5,923 | $8,567 |
| Greenville Technical CollegeGreenville, SC | Public technical school | Certificate | 75 | $26,439 | $31,625 | n/a | $5,780 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-CharlestonNorth Charleston, SC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 205 | $23,776 | $27,448 | $9,833 | $18,575 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-ColumbiaWest Columbia, SC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 235 | $23,776 | $27,448 | $9,833 | $18,575 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-GreenvilleGreenville, SC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 74 | $23,776 | $27,448 | $9,833 | $18,575 |
| Southeastern Esthetics InstituteElgin, SC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 387 | $23,277 | $25,499 | $6,333 | $9,500 |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-GreenvilleGreenville, SC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 120 | $22,862 | $25,088 | $5,922 | $18,637 |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Rock HillRock Hill, SC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 163 | $22,862 | $25,088 | $5,922 | $8,567 |
| Charleston Cosmetology InstituteCharleston, SC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 64 | $21,420 | $29,424 | $6,333 | $21,500 |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-FlorenceFlorence, SC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 143 | $18,560 | $24,128 | $7,467 | $18,637 |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-North AugustaNorth Augusta, SC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 71 | $18,560 | $24,128 | $7,467 | $18,637 |
| Barber Tech AcademyOrangeburg, SC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 6 | $17,120 | n/a | n/a | $17,135 |
| Barber Tech Academy-ColumbiaColumbia, SC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 2 | $17,120 | n/a | n/a | $17,135 |
| Horry-Georgetown Technical CollegeConway, SC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 76 | $16,278 | $26,203 | n/a | $6,702 |
| Denmark Technical CollegeDenmark, SC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,495 |
| Florence-Darlington Technical CollegeFlorence, SC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,636 |
| Southeastern College-ColumbiaColumbia, SC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26,016 |
| Strand College of Hair DesignMyrtle Beach, SC | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 64 | n/a | n/a | $6,333 | $17,000 |
| Technical College of the LowcountryBeaufort, SC | Community college | Certificate | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $6,300 |
| Williamsburg Technical CollegeKingstree, SC | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,780 |
Cities with the most programs: Greenville (4), Charleston (2), West Columbia (2), Florence (2), Columbia (2), Goose Creek (1), North Charleston (1), Elgin (1), Rock Hill (1), North Augusta (1), Orangeburg (1), Conway (1).
What counts: cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, nail technology and makeup.
Frequently asked questions
How many cosmetology and barber schools are in South Carolina?
23 schools in South Carolina awarded cosmetology and barbering certificates or associate degrees recently, according to the U.S. Department of Education: 23 certificate and 0 associate programs.
Which cosmetology and barbering program in South Carolina has the highest earnings?
Trident Technical College in Charleston, where certificate graduates earned a median of $33,732 one year after finishing (programs with at least 5 graduates).
What is the cheapest cosmetology and barbering school in South Carolina?
By yearly tuition and fees, Florence-Darlington Technical College in Florence charges $4,636 (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 South Carolina?
The typical certificate program in South Carolina reported median earnings of $23,277 one year after graduation and $26,778 four years after, for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
More in South Carolina: all trade schools · colleges
Other trades: Welding · HVAC · Electrician · 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.