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Cosmetology schools in Arkansas
Arkansas has 31 accredited campuses awarding cosmetology credentials. If you finish and work as a cosmetologist in Arkansas, expect to start around $23,920–$24,410 and reach a median of $28,830 with experience; the top quarter earn $33,730 or more (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025, Arkansas). Graduates of these Arkansas programs — every graduate, whatever job they took — earned a median of $14,720 in their first year, against $17,178 nationally; that is the figure used to rank campuses below.
What hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists earn in Arkansas
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; 1,410 employed in Arkansas. National median: $35,790.
Campuses in Arkansas, ranked by what their graduates earned
Cities: BatesvilleCamdenConwayDe QueenEl DoradoFayettevilleForrest CityFort SmithHelenaHot SpringsJacksonvilleJonesboroLittle RockMalvernMenaNewportNorth Little RockPine BluffRogersRussellvilleSearcySherwoodSpringdale
| Campus | City | Type | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Program debt | Completion | Cost / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Beauty School-Little Rock | Little Rock | for-profit | 9 | $18,233 | $6,333 | 100% | $26,670 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Arkansas | Fayetteville | for-profit | 70 | $18,055 | $9,833 | 68% | $19,771 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Little Rock | North Little Rock | for-profit | 97 | $17,086 | $13,057 | 71% | $24,054 |
| Designer Barber & Stylist School | Fort Smith | for-profit | 3 | $16,843 | $16,298 | 68% | $25,078 |
| Career Academy of Hair Design | Springdale | for-profit | 76 | $16,735 | $8,303 | 73% | $17,005 |
| Arthur's Beauty College | Conway | for-profit | 31 | $15,549 | $9,500 | 39% | $22,871 |
| Arthur's Beauty College | Jacksonville | for-profit | 21 | $15,549 | $9,500 | 79% | $24,256 |
| The Salon Professional Academy | Sherwood | for-profit | 51 | $14,789 | $6,333 | 90% | $15,262 |
| Arkansas State University-Newport | Newport | Public | 19 | $14,720 | not reported | 46% | not reported |
| Arkansas Technical School | North Little Rock | for-profit | 8 | $14,435 | $16,500 | 58% | $24,705 |
| University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain | Mena | Public | 15 | $13,914 | not reported | 55% | not reported |
| Academy of Salon and Spa | Fort Smith | for-profit | 14 | $13,288 | $6,333 | 81% | $18,683 |
| Hot Springs Beauty College | Hot Springs | for-profit | 34 | $13,127 | not reported | 48% | $21,068 |
| Arthur's Beauty College | Jonesboro | for-profit | 35 | $12,640 | $11,857 | 52% | $27,133 |
| Arkansas Beauty College | Russellville | for-profit | 9 | $11,476 | not reported | 50% | $14,367 |
| University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology | El Dorado | for-profit | 14 | $11,093 | $9,833 | 50% | $15,499 |
| Washington Barber College Inc | Little Rock | for-profit | 17 | $10,805 | $12,972 | 89% | $19,913 |
| Searcy Beauty College | Searcy | for-profit | 19 | $8,882 | $12,500 | 55% | $22,515 |
| East Arkansas Community College | Forrest City | Public | 34 | not reported | not reported | 51% | not reported |
| New Beginnings Beauty Academy | Pine Bluff | for-profit | 31 | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville | Batesville | Public | 21 | not reported | not reported | 66% | not reported |
| University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College | North Little Rock | Public | 20 | not reported | not reported | 36% | not reported |
| Academy of Professional Cosmetology | Rogers | for-profit | 16 | not reported | $6,211 | 90% | $21,996 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville | Public | 16 | not reported | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Southern Arkansas University Tech | Camden | Public | 12 | not reported | not reported | 62% | not reported |
| Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas | De Queen | Public | 9 | not reported | not reported | 54% | not reported |
| Arkansas State University Three Rivers | Malvern | Public | 8 | not reported | not reported | 26% | not reported |
| Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas | Helena | Public | 8 | not reported | not reported | 55% | not reported |
| Velvatex College of Beauty Culture | Little Rock | for-profit | 6 | not reported | not reported | 64% | $14,598 |
| GoodFellas Barber College | Little Rock | for-profit | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported | $18,819 |
| College of Barber & Hair Design | Little Rock | — | — | 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.