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Cosmetology school in Tennessee

20 cosmetology programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

19 schools offer these cosmetology programs, and Tennessee has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Hairstylists and cosmetologists shampoo, cut, color and style hair. Every state requires a license: you finish a state-approved program, which usually leads to a certificate, and then pass a state licensing exam.1 In Tennessee, 7 of the 20 programs take students without a high school diploma, and 1 is taught partly or fully online.

See the 20 programs

How much does cosmetology school cost in Tennessee?

$4,916 to $7,414 is what most cosmetology programs in Tennessee cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 20 programs with a price. All of them: $3,650 to $18,000

In the typical program

Finished the program
70%
Working 6 months later
69%
Earned a year, estimated
about $17,300
Length
50 to 59 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Tennessee may also offer cosmetology school. How these figures are made

Is there free cosmetology school in Tennessee?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

Cosmetology school in Nashville, Knoxville, Cookeville and other Tennessee cities

Choosing an area filters the list below. 4 more programs are in 4 other areas, 3 in smaller cities and towns.

All 20 cosmetology programs in Tennessee approved for WIOA funding

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What you need to enroll
Kind of program
How it's taught
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20 programs

  • Cosmetology license programIn personNo diploma needed

    Cosmetology

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Dickson

    Dickson

    No diploma needed

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Dickson, Dickson · Cosmetology license program · In person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$16,700
    Price if you pay yourself$5,344
    School website, Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Dickson
    More details about Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Dickson
    Finished
    76%
    Working at 6 months
    69%
    Earned in a quarter
    $4,171
    Length
    56 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,276
    Students counted
    345
    a year, estimated
    $16,700
    price
    $5,344

  • Cosmetology license programIn personNo diploma needed

    Cosmetology

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Knoxville

    Knoxville

    No diploma needed

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Knoxville, Knoxville · Cosmetology license program · In person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$19,400
    Price if you pay yourself$5,016
    School website, Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Knoxville
    More details about Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Knoxville
    Finished
    50%
    Working at 6 months
    76%
    Earned in a quarter
    $4,848
    Length
    30 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,447
    Students counted
    327
    a year, estimated
    $19,400
    price
    $5,016

  • Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Cosmetology

    Genesis Career College Lebanon Campus

    Lebanon

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Genesis Career College Lebanon Campus, Lebanon · Cosmetology license program · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$20,800
    Price if you pay yourself$17,495

    9 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Cosmetology at Genesis Career College Lebanon Campus
    More details about Cosmetology at Genesis Career College Lebanon Campus
    Finished
    36%
    Working at 6 months
    77%
    Earned in a quarter
    $5,208
    Length
    50 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $3,500
    Students counted
    200
    a year, estimated
    $20,800
    price
    $17,495
    trained with WIOA funding
    9

  • Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Cosmetology

    Genesis Career College of Cookeville

    Cookeville

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Genesis Career College of Cookeville, Cookeville · Cosmetology license program · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$17,300
    Price if you pay yourself$17,495

    11 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Cosmetology at Genesis Career College of Cookeville
    More details about Cosmetology at Genesis Career College of Cookeville
    Finished
    43%
    Working at 6 months
    66%
    Earned in a quarter
    $4,325
    Length
    50 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $3,500
    Students counted
    195
    a year, estimated
    $17,300
    price
    $17,495
    trained with WIOA funding
    11

  • Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Cosmetology

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Nashville

    Nashville

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Nashville, Nashville · Cosmetology license program · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$5,154
    School website, Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Nashville
    More details about Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Nashville
    Finished
    84%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    60 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,301
    Students counted
    177
    a year, estimated
    Not reported
    price
    $5,154

  • Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Cosmetology

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Mcminnville

    McMinnville

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Mcminnville, McMinnville · Cosmetology license program · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$16,300
    Price if you pay yourself$5,344
    Program website, Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Mcminnville
    More details about Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Mcminnville
    Finished
    69%
    Working at 6 months
    64%
    Earned in a quarter
    $4,087
    Length
    50 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,565
    Students counted
    176
    a year, estimated
    $16,300
    price
    $5,344

  • Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Cosmetology

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Livingston

    Livingston

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Livingston, Livingston · Cosmetology license program · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$20,200
    Price if you pay yourself$4,916

    14 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Livingston
    More details about Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Livingston
    Finished
    67%
    Working at 6 months
    70%
    Earned in a quarter
    $5,050
    Length
    60 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,333
    Students counted
    175
    a year, estimated
    $20,200
    price
    $4,916
    trained with WIOA funding
    14

  • Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Cosmetology

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Hohenwald

    Hohenwald

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Hohenwald, Hohenwald · Cosmetology license program · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$14,500
    Price if you pay yourself$4,916

    6 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Hohenwald
    More details about Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Hohenwald
    Finished
    70%
    Working at 6 months
    69%
    Earned in a quarter
    $3,635
    Length
    60 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,399
    Students counted
    141
    a year, estimated
    $14,500
    price
    $4,916
    trained with WIOA funding
    6

  • Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Cosmetology

    TCAT Upper Cumberland

    Crossville

    High school diploma or equivalent

    TCAT Upper Cumberland, Crossville · Cosmetology license program · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$18,500
    Price if you pay yourself$4,916

    4 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Cosmetology at TCAT Upper Cumberland
    More details about Cosmetology at TCAT Upper Cumberland
    Finished
    73%
    Working at 6 months
    52%
    Earned in a quarter
    $4,635
    Length
    59 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,425
    Students counted
    140
    a year, estimated
    $18,500
    price
    $4,916
    trained with WIOA funding
    4

  • Cosmetology license programHybridNo diploma needed

    Cosmetology

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Harriman

    Harriman

    No diploma needed

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Harriman, Harriman · Cosmetology license program · Hybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$18,700
    Price if you pay yourself$5,760

    27 students trained with WIOA funding

    More details about Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Harriman
    Finished
    72%
    Working at 6 months
    80%
    Earned in a quarter
    $4,682
    Length
    64 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,059
    Students counted
    139
    a year, estimated
    $18,700
    price
    $5,760
    trained with WIOA funding
    27

  • Cosmetology license programIn personNo diploma needed

    Cosmetology

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Morristown

    Morristown

    No diploma needed

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Morristown, Morristown · Cosmetology license program · In person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$12,300
    Price if you pay yourself$5,154
    Program website, Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Morristown
    More details about Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Morristown
    Finished
    70%
    Working at 6 months
    77%
    Earned in a quarter
    $3,073
    Length
    50 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,370
    Students counted
    135
    a year, estimated
    $12,300
    price
    $5,154

  • Cosmetology license programIn personNo diploma needed

    Cosmetology

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Elizabethton

    Elizabethton

    No diploma needed

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Elizabethton, Elizabethton · Cosmetology license program · In person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$18,200
    Price if you pay yourself$4,916

    11 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Elizabethton
    More details about Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Elizabethton
    Finished
    70%
    Working at 6 months
    66%
    Earned in a quarter
    $4,546
    Length
    50 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,711
    Students counted
    128
    a year, estimated
    $18,200
    price
    $4,916
    trained with WIOA funding
    11

  • Cosmetology license programIn personNo diploma needed

    Cosmetology

    Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest

    Newbern

    No diploma needed

    Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest, Newbern · Cosmetology license program · In person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$17,500
    Price if you pay yourself$4,916
    Program website, Cosmetology at Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest
    More details about Cosmetology at Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest
    Finished
    80%
    Working at 6 months
    44%
    Earned in a quarter
    $4,385
    Length
    50 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,365
    Students counted
    109
    a year, estimated
    $17,500
    price
    $4,916

  • Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Cosmetology

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Oneida Huntsvill

    Huntsville

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Oneida Huntsvill, Huntsville · Cosmetology license program · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$15,900
    Price if you pay yourself$4,785

    5 students trained with WIOA funding

    More details about Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Oneida Huntsvill
    Finished
    83%
    Working at 6 months
    48%
    Earned in a quarter
    $3,979
    Length
    64 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,578
    Students counted
    52
    a year, estimated
    $15,900
    price
    $4,785
    trained with WIOA funding
    5

  • Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Cosmetology

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Jacksboro

    Jacksboro

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Jacksboro, Jacksboro · Cosmetology license program · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$5,154
    Program website, Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Jacksboro
    More details about Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Jacksboro
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    50 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,950
    Students counted
    45
    a year, estimated
    Not reported
    price
    $5,154

  • Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Cosmetology

    Queen City College, LLC

    Clarksville

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Queen City College, LLC, Clarksville · Cosmetology license program · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$13,700
    Price if you pay yourself$16,350
    Program website, Cosmetology at Queen City College, LLC
    More details about Cosmetology at Queen City College, LLC
    Finished
    45%
    Working at 6 months
    50%
    Earned in a quarter
    $3,426
    Length
    50 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,650
    Students counted
    45
    a year, estimated
    $13,700
    price
    $16,350

  • Cosmetology license programIn personNo diploma needed

    Cosmetology

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Ripley

    Ripley

    No diploma needed

    Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Ripley, Ripley · Cosmetology license program · In person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$13,900
    Price if you pay yourself$4,916
    Program website, Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Ripley
    More details about Cosmetology at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology At Ripley
    Finished
    67%
    Working at 6 months
    73%
    Earned in a quarter
    $3,482
    Length
    50 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,365
    Students counted
    35
    a year, estimated
    $13,900
    price
    $4,916

  • Cosmetology license programIn personPrerequisite courses

    Beauty 101

    SOT Test Provider

    Hermitage

    Prerequisite courses

    SOT Test Provider, Hermitage · Cosmetology license program · In person · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$18,000
    More details about Beauty 101 at SOT Test Provider
    Finished
    33%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    24 weeks, 50 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $850
    Students counted
    15
    a year, estimated
    Not reported
    price
    $18,000

  • Advanced, crossover or short courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Barber to Cosmetology

    Queen City College, LLC

    Clarksville

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Queen City College, LLC, Clarksville · Advanced, crossover or short course · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,650
    Program website, Barber to Cosmetology at Queen City College, LLC
    More details about Barber to Cosmetology at Queen City College, LLC
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    10 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $470
    Students counted
    Not reported
    a year, estimated
    Not reported
    price
    $3,650

  • Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Cosmetology

    Lawrenceburg Technical College

    Lawrenceburg

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Lawrenceburg Technical College, Lawrenceburg · Cosmetology license program · In person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$12,375
    Program website, Cosmetology at Lawrenceburg Technical College
    More details about Cosmetology at Lawrenceburg Technical College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    50 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $975
    Students counted
    Not reported
    a year, estimated
    Not reported
    price
    $12,375

How to pay for cosmetology school in Tennessee

WIOA funding can pay for cosmetology school in Tennessee

Every program on this page is approved for WIOA funding: public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It can pay for training for eligible adults, people who lost their job and young people.2People on public assistance, with a low income or lacking basic skills come first, and veterans have priority.3Your state or local area may limit how much WIOA pays and for how long. If a program costs more, a Pell Grant, a scholarship or severance pay can cover the rest.4

Ask at an American Job Center

Eligibility rules apply, and services vary from state to state. Your local American Job Center can tell you whether you qualify. The Department of Labor's page links to the center finder, or call 1-877-US-2JOBS (1-877-872-5627).5

Financial aid and grants for cosmetology school

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for cosmetology school

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Does WIOA pay for job training? Who qualifies and how to apply

Quick facts: Cosmetology school in Tennessee

programs with a price cost under $5,000
8 of 20
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
2nd of 20
other states where the typical program's graduates earned less
3 of 9
cosmetology programs here, against the typical state's 4
20 vs 4

State comparisons use the same figures as the cosmetology school by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Where the Tennessee cosmetology program numbers come from

Which Tennessee cosmetology programs are on this list?

These are the cosmetology programs Tennessee approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Tennessee offers.

How Tennessee cosmetology program prices are reported

The price is tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported it. "Trained with WIOA funding" on a program counts the people whose training there WIOA paid toward through a training account in program year 2024; the file never gives counts under 3, so a program without the line may still take WIOA students. It does not say how much of the price WIOA covered. Prices under $100 are treated as not reported, because the file holds many blanks entered as $0. Check the current price with the school.

What the graduate results of these programs measure

The figures at the top of this page are the middle program among those that report results: half did better, half did worse. Results describe students who left each program in recent years: the share who finished, the share working in the second quarter after leaving, and the middle earnings of those working in that quarter. States report earnings for that one quarter because they take them from the wage reports employers file every three months. The yearly figure here is that quarter times four, rounded to the nearest $100: an estimate, and an early one, since it is measured about half a year after training. The quarter as reported is under "More details" on each program. Results are withheld for small programs, and they describe past students, so they are no guarantee.

Why do some cosmetology programs say "Not reported"?

Where a school or the state left a field empty, or the Department of Labor withheld it, the page says "Not reported". Nothing here is estimated to fill a gap.

Why the kind of school is left off each program

The file also records whether a school is public, private or nonprofit, but those entries are wrong too often to print next to a school's name, so this page leaves them out.

Other training in Tennessee

Sources for the facts about cosmetology school in Tennessee

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Barbers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List