If you have a knack for showing your creativity through makeup, joining a cosmetology school and becoming an esthetician could be the right career path for you. But how much does an esthetician program cost? To be a legit esthetician and work in a salon or spa, you need a license.
Many factors determine the tuition fees, depending on whether you are opting for community college, private institutions, or if you are further specializing in specific fields. Let’s discuss them in detail.
Esthetician Program Cost
In general, esthetician programs can cost anywhere between $4,000 to $20,000. Depending on what you choose, private cosmetology school goes as high as $9,000 minimum. And the more well-known it is, the more the prices go up.
Esthetician program costs are also dependent on the time period of the course. Some courses last only a few hours, while some can go up to a year, all of them making you eligible to take the exam and get a license.
Additional Fees
The tuition fee is not the only expense of a cosmetology school. You also need to pay for a tool kit, books, and other supplies. Some esthetician programs include the supplies and books cost in their overall tuition, while others don’t. Besides supplies, you also need to pay the registration fee, initial exam fee, and license fee. So it’s important to ask such questions before applying.
For example, for the esthetician program’s of the Missouri College of Cosmetology in Springfield, MO, the tuition is $9,073, the registration fee is $100, books and kit cost $1,087, and the state testing fee is $140, bringing the total to $10,400 for a 750-hour curriculum.
What Does an Esthetician Program Include?
There is a lot more than makeup when it comes to an esthetician. The primary job description of an esthetician is to focus on skincare, facial, and other body treatments.
The course outline can vary for each program. In general, an esthetician program includes training in:
- Basic skincare and facials.
- Advanced body massages and complete body treatments.
- Microdermabrasion and cellulite.
- Product and ingredient knowledge.
- Advanced courses like chemical peels, lash lifting, skin analysis, lash extension, etc.
Popular Cosmetology School
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular cosmetology schools and how much they cost.
| Esthetician Program | Tuition Cost |
| Blue Cliff College | $10,650 (including books and supplies) |
| Pure Aesthetic Tucson in Arizona | $8,400 |
| Pennsylvania Academy of Cosmetology | $4,326 (including books and supplies) |
| Costa Mesa Esthetician School in Costa Mesa, California | $11,800 (including books and supplies) |
Now that you know how much does an esthetician program cost, you can make a well-informed decision. The program’s overall cost can increase if a student fails to finish the course in the given period.
Since the fees can be really high, you can always apply for financial aid, grants, and loans to pay your college fee. Many esthetician programs offer financial aid but not all. On the other hand, an esthetician can earn up to $31,720 annually. Thus you can quickly pay off your debts and grow in this ever-increasing market.