How Much Is Esthetician School?

Esthetician school costs include tuition and fees. Tuition is how much your esthetician school instruction costs, while student fees are what you pay for additional program-related things provided by your school. In general, esthetician school tuition runs around $8,000 to $10,000, not including student fees and other costs. Depending on your school, fees could cover your student kit, extracurricular activities, and other relevant costs.

 

Before enrolling in esthetician school, you need to research esthetician programs, compare costs, and figure out your budget. Many esthetician schools have a cost calculator on their websites, so you can figure out more precisely what to expect for tuition, fees, and living experiences, all in one place. Financial aid options, such as scholarships and grants, can help bring down your out-of-pocket costs.

Esthetician School Tuition

There can be a wide range in how much esthetician school tuition runs, and the price depends on several factors. Here are some things that influence the cost of esthetician school:

Program Length: The length of the esthetician program affects the overall cost. Longer programs may cost more than shorter programs. However, most program lengths depend on your state's esthetician training requirements.

Type of School: Esthetician programs can be offered by a variety of institutions, including private beauty schools, community colleges, vocational schools, and even some high schools. Private beauty schools, especially brand-name schools, may be more expensive than the other options.

Location: Esthetician schools in major cities or areas with high costs of living tend to be more expensive than those in smaller towns or rural areas. However, it may be harder to find a school outside of highly populated areas, so you need to factor in travel costs if this applies to you.

To paint a picture of the costs at different types of esthetician schools across the United States, see the table below.

Esthetician School (Metro Area) Program Tuition
Bellus Academy (Chula Vista, CA) $9,824
Elite Cosmetology School (Palm Desert, CA) $9,063
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Seattle (Seattle, WA) $11,500
Avalon Institute (Phoenix, AZ) $8,850
Avenue Five Institute (Austin, TX) $12,300
Blue Cliff College (Mobile, AL) $16,400
Boca Beauty Academy (Boca Raton, FL) $11,225
Celebrity School of Beauty (Miami, FL) $4,045
American Vocational Institute (Great Falls, VA) $10,350
Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics (Woburn, MA) $11,750
New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa (White Plains, NY) $8,475
Capri College (Cedar Rapids, IA) $8,600
Crave Beauty Academy (Wichita, KS) $10,500

Source: U.S. Department of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS); school websites. Tuition data most recent available as of 2021 or 2022, depending on school.

How Much Does Esthetician School Cost Across the U.S.?

State Tuition Range Average Tuition
Alabama $10,150 - $14,800 $12,475
Arizona $4,996 - $15,295 $11,187
Arkansas $6,000 - $8,824 $7,168
California $2,675 - $14,512 $8,966
Colorado $2,795 - $12,150 $8,168
Connecticut $7,021 - $9,552 $8,276
Delaware $9,100 - $14,560 $11,853
District of Columbia $9,200 - $12,000 $10,733
Florida $654 - $14,620 $5,923
Georgia $4,890 - $17,350 $13,177
Hawaii $6,858 - $12,000 $9,429
Idaho $5,100 - $10,189 $8,293
Illinois $8,300 - $16,500 $12,840
Indiana $7,497 - $16,000 $11,316
Iowa $6,450 - $14,088 $10,381
Kansas $11,500 - $21,301 $14,071
Kentucky $7,800 - $13,600 $11,014
Louisiana $4,850 - $12,900 $10,184
Maine $9,600 - $11,950 $10,775
Maryland $8,795 - $12,635 $10,633
Massachusetts $6,045 - $13,820 $10,417
Michigan $3,315 - $13,500 $8,551
Minnesota $9,000 - $21,175 $13,125
Mississippi $4,175 - $12,502 $8,392
Missouri $4,394 - $18,668 $12,007
Montana $8,500 - $8,700 $8,600
Nebraska $9,500 - $9,500 $9,500
Nevada $9,000 - $16,100 $11,458
New Hampshire $11,196 - $16,794 $13,995
New Jersey $8,250 - $13,400 $11,187
New Mexico $8,500 - $11,800 $9,897
New York $1,010 - $17,500 $9,390
North Carolina $5,100 - $14,545 $10,410
North Dakota $7,600 - $11,500 $10,200
Ohio $6,800 - $16,170 $12,039
Oklahoma $1,320 - $12,520 $6,127
Oregon $1,700 - $17,634 $8,771
Pennsylvania $2,400 - $8,100 $5,132
Rhode Island $9,498 - $9,498 $9,498
South Carolina $5,150 - $9,500 $7,764
South Dakota $7,250 - $8,914 $7,888
Tennessee $7,575 - $14,495 $9,819
Texas $3,350 - $14,700 $9,991
Utah $6,500 - $16,990 $11,499
Vermont $6,600 - $9,600 $8,100
Virginia $5,500 - $14,175 $9,861
Washington $7,500 - $19,630 $13,797
West Virginia $5,800 - $9,400 $7,363
Wisconsin $6,798 - $11,700 $8,976

Esthetician School Fees

Like tuition, esthetician school fees vary by school. They may also cover different costs. Because of this, you can't necessarily make an apples-to-apples comparison between schools. When looking at price tags, double-check what fees are included and what are not.

These fees can include:

Supplies and Materials: Esthetician students may need to purchase textbooks, skincare products, uniforms, and equipment for training. An increasing number of schools include iPads in their fees, and you may have to use theirs even if you have one already.

Licensing Exam Fees: Your school might include your licensing exams in your fees, though this isn't universal. You may need to factor this into your personal budget instead. Be sure to know if your school includes this cost, which varies by state.

Miscellaneous Fees: Your esthetician school might have fees for applications or enrollment or field trips, among other things. If your program's fees aren't clear, ask them!

Sample Beauty School Budget

Feeling overwhelmed? That's okay! We have created a budget guide to help you determine how much you can afford based on tuition, fees, and living costs.

Esthetics/Skin Care
Select a beauty program and state to view schools