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Cosmetology schools in South Carolina

South Carolina has 25 accredited campuses awarding cosmetology credentials. If you finish and work as a cosmetologist in South Carolina, expect to start around $21,340–$27,410 and reach a median of $33,700 with experience; the top quarter earn $56,770 or more (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025, South Carolina). Graduates of these South Carolina programs — every graduate, whatever job they took — earned a median of $18,217 in their first year, against $17,178 nationally; that is the figure used to rank campuses below.

What hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists earn in South Carolina

$21,340starting (10th percentile)
$27,410early career (25th)
$33,700median, all experience
$56,770experienced (75th)
$77,430top earners (90th)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; 3,570 employed in South Carolina. National median: $35,790.

Campuses in South Carolina, ranked by what their graduates earned

25campuses in South Carolina
1,046credentials awarded / yr
$18,217median earnings, yr 1 (South Carolina)
$17,178median earnings, yr 1 (U.S.)

Cities: BeaufortCamdenCharlestonColumbiaConwayDenmarkFlorenceGoose CreekGreenvilleGreenwoodKingstreeMyrtle BeachNorth AugustaNorth CharlestonRock HillSpartanburgWest Columbia

CampusCityTypeGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Program debtCompletionCost / yr
Charleston Cosmetology Institute Charleston for-profit 13 $18,983 $6,333 55% $17,691
Academy of Hair Technology Greenville for-profit 61 $18,839 $4,233 100% $18,804
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Greenville Greenville for-profit 65 $18,309 $6,333 79% $24,774
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Rock Hill Rock Hill for-profit 46 $18,309 $6,333 71% $17,445
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology and Nails-Columbia Columbia for-profit 45 $18,217 $5,893 54% $22,984
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Spartanburg Spartanburg for-profit 39 $18,217 $5,893 69% $17,812
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose Creek Goose Creek for-profit 35 $18,217 $5,893 84% $20,331
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Columbia Columbia for-profit 21 $18,217 $5,893 not reported not reported
Paul Mitchell the School-Charleston North Charleston for-profit 106 $17,189 $10,564 75% $22,289
Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia West Columbia for-profit 97 $17,189 $10,564 69% $23,181
Paul Mitchell the School-Greenville Greenville for-profit 88 $17,189 $10,564 55% $22,924
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Florence Florence for-profit 74 $15,358 $9,500 80% $28,021
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-North Augusta North Augusta for-profit 56 $15,358 $9,500 43% $22,473
LeGrand Institute of Cosmetology Inc Camden for-profit 20 $13,167 $9,150 87% $18,170
Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway Public 77 not reported not reported 38% not reported
Greenville Technical College Greenville Public 58 not reported not reported not reported not reported
Trident Technical College Charleston Public 29 not reported not reported 30% not reported
Technical College of the Lowcountry Beaufort Public 26 not reported not reported 18% not reported
Charzanne Beauty College Greenwood for-profit 24 not reported not reported not reported not reported
Strand College of Hair Design Myrtle Beach for-profit 23 not reported not reported 75% $13,811
Florence-Darlington Technical College Florence Public 16 not reported not reported 34% not reported
Vski Cosmetology School Charleston non-profit 12 not reported not reported 80% $15,170
Williamsburg Technical College Kingstree Public 9 not reported not reported 15% not reported
Denmark Technical College Denmark Public 6 not reported not reported 13% not reported
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology Rock Hill 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.

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