{"id":54202,"date":"2026-05-08T17:14:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T21:14:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newamerica.org\/?post_type=insight&p=54202"},"modified":"2026-05-08T17:14:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T21:14:40","slug":"cosmetology-education-in-the-united-states","status":"publish","type":"insight","link":"https:\/\/www.newamerica.org\/insights\/cosmetology-education-in-the-united-states\/","title":{"rendered":"Cosmetology Education in the United States"},"author":49,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","issue_tax":[47],"topic_tax":[48],"program_tax":[112],"project_tax":[],"person_tax":[1118,642,3053],"podcast_show_tax":[],"insight_type":[],"fellowship_tax":[],"award":[],"class_list":["post-54202","insight","type-insight","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"details":{"hero_type":"small-image","abstract":"This is a round-up of the Higher Education program\u2019s research and investigative reporting on cosmetology education.\u00a0<\/span>","subheading":"A round-up of research, analysis, and investigative reporting from New America\u2019s Higher Education program.","read_time":"","watch_time":"","podcast_player":"","apple_podcast_link":"","spotify_podcast_link":"","podcast_link":null,"listen_time":"","youtube_id":"","":null,"featured_image":54215,"add_image_caption":false,"caption":"","pdf_version":null,"helper_taxonomies":{"issue_tax":[47],"topic_tax":[48],"program_tax":[112],"project_tax":false,"person_tax":[642,3053,1118],"fellowship_tax":false,"event_type":false,"location":false,"insight_type":false,"award":false,"podcast_show_tax":false,"person_type":false,"demographic_key":false,"survey_topic":false,"organization":false},"media_inquiry":false,"media_inquiry_title":"","media_inquiry_email":""},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"add_background_color":false,"content":"Cosmetology education in the United States is in dire need of reform. Cosmetology students enter the industry to transform lives and make the world more beautiful\u2014but often, they\u2019re stuck in a system that prioritizes profit over education<\/span>.<\/span>\r\n\r\nAs evidenced by New America\u2019s research, many programs leave students with poor training, high debts, and wildly low wages, all while receiving federal financial aid intended to boost cosmetologists into better, more-rewarding careers.<\/span>\r\n\r\nOften reinforcing this predatory system is the beauty industry itself: Many schools and their associations pursue limitations related to federal consumer protection rules and, at the same time, fight to fortify expensive and unnecessary state licensure requirements.<\/span>\r\n<\/span>\r\n<\/span>Ultimately, the beauty industry thrives on creativity and confidence. But behind the glamour, many students face heavy burdens, lots of debt, and low-quality programs<\/span>.<\/span> These dynamics result in an educational experience that, for most, falls short and leaves learners earning less than a living wage.<\/span>\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nNew America\u2019s Higher Education team conducts research from the field and uses storytelling to uplift student experiences that expose predatory practices. We review data on programs that receive federal financial aid and investigate legal actions the beauty industry has taken over the years. By researching the history of these programs and raising awareness of these alarming policies, we are holding up a mirror\u2014and holding institutions accountable.<\/span>\r\n<\/span>\r\n<\/span>Cosmetology students deserve better educational experiences and should have the tools needed to complete their programs and further their careers. Below is a compilation of our reports and analyses.\u00a0<\/span>","":null,"drop_cap":false,"anchor_id":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_link_set","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_link_set":{"heading":"Reports ","intro":"","links":[{"link_type":"external","image":42169,"link_title":"Cosmetology Without Accountability: Failures of a Beauty School Accreditor","internal_link":null,"external_link":"https:\/\/www.newamerica.org\/insights\/cosmetology-without-accountability-failures-of-a-beauty-school-accreditor\/","details":"Accreditation is a system built to protect students and taxpayers, but NACCAS has turned it into a shield for failing beauty schools.","cta":""},{"link_type":"external","image":35243,"link_title":"Cut Short: The Broken Promises of Cosmetology Education","internal_link":null,"external_link":"https:\/\/www.newamerica.org\/insights\/cut-short-the-broken-promises-of-cosmetology-education\/","details":"Cosmetology education in the U.S. needs dire reform. It fails to meet student expectations and leaves graduates with burdensome debt.","cta":""}],"":null,"anchor_id":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_link_set","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_link_set":{"heading":"Brief Analyses","intro":"","links":[{"link_type":"external","image":6626,"link_title":"Should Failing Beauty Schools Keep Access to Federal Aid? New Data Suggests No","internal_link":null,"external_link":"https:\/\/www.newamerica.org\/insights\/should-failing-beauty-schools-keep-access-to-federal-aid-new-data-suggests-no\/","details":"Federal aid should not flow to schools with abysmal outcomes.","cta":""},{"link_type":"external","image":7099,"link_title":"Beauty School Finally Drops Out: Why Did It Take a Troubled Paul Mitchell Campus Years to Close?","internal_link":null,"external_link":"https:\/\/www.newamerica.org\/insights\/why-did-it-take-a-troubled-paul-mitchell-campus-years-to-close\/","details":"Only 40 percent of the school's students have salaries higher than a typical high school graduate, according to Education Department data.","cta":""},{"link_type":"external","image":7859,"link_title":"Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s Scholarships Shine Light on Shady Cosmetology School","internal_link":null,"external_link":"https:\/\/www.newamerica.org\/insights\/beyonce-scholarships-shine-light-on-shady-cosmetology-school\/","details":"Beyonc\u00e9 is funding scholarships for a school with poor student outcomes and regulatory troubles.","cta":""},{"link_type":"external","image":41109,"link_title":"The Cost of Beauty: Inside the Broken Promise of Cosmetology School","internal_link":null,"external_link":"https:\/\/www.newamerica.org\/insights\/how-cosmetology-schools-exploit-students\/","details":"Through three students\u2019 experiences, we uncover how cosmetology education exploits passion and labor, leaving beauty workers behind.","cta":""},{"link_type":"external","image":6477,"link_title":"Cutting Barriers: Addressing the Challenges of Parenting Students in Cosmetology Programs","internal_link":null,"external_link":"https:\/\/www.newamerica.org\/insights\/cutting-barriers-addressing-the-challenges-of-parenting-students-in-cosmetology-programs\/","details":"Parenting students are often overlooked in postsecondary education. Here\u2019s how cosmetology programs can improve how they support them.","cta":""},{"link_type":"external","image":6612,"link_title":"What the One Big Beautiful Bill Means for Cosmetology Students","internal_link":null,"external_link":"https:\/\/www.newamerica.org\/insights\/what-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-means-for-cosmetology-students\/","details":"This post focuses on how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will impact cosmetology education and the students it enrolls.","cta":""},{"link_type":"external","image":8074,"link_title":"Student Parents in Cosmetology Programs Matter","internal_link":null,"external_link":"https:\/\/www.newamerica.org\/insights\/student-parents-in-cosmetology-programs-matter\/","details":"New America is starting a project to learn more about cosmetology programs generally, and the student parent experiences within them.","cta":""},{"link_type":"external","image":42169,"link_title":"Cosmetology Students Deserve Better Than Debt and Broken Promises","internal_link":null,"external_link":"https:\/\/www.newamerica.org\/insights\/cosmetology-students-deserve-better-than-debt-and-broken-promises\/","details":"This insight details why stronger accountability standards in cosmetology education protect students and taxpayers.","cta":""}],"":null,"anchor_id":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_add_component","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_authors","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_authors":{"":null,"anchor_id":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_taxonomies","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_taxonomies":{"":null,"anchor_id":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_related","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_related":{"":null,"anchor_id":""}}]},"yoast_head":"\nCosmetology Education in the United States - 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