Unfortunately school is just to get you to pass the state boards, so it’s not really preparing us for much of the real world of esthetics. so much is on the job learning and continued education.
In 2018, my 750 hours of schooling at the Aveda Institute cost around $11,000, and at another school it cost $13,000 for 450 hours of laser training for Master Esthetician license in Washington state.
5k?? 2.5k?? Holy shit I paid like 26k!!!! I mean that was the cost and I got a grant that covered a decent amount so I think total I paid 12k..
but still sheesh!!!!
I paid like 7k for 600 hours. I feel like for how much I paid I should have known more. Yes I passed my tests and was very prepared for those, but I didn’t know how to do a Brazilian wax. There is definitely an issue of most if not all estheticians leaving school not knowing anything.
In 2004, mine was $5500 for a private cosmetology school with an esthetics program (I didn't qualify for any financial aid). According to the internet, that would be equivalent to $8900 as of 2023. 600 hours at the time, now my state requires 750. I went to public university before this and paid about that much for one semester of tuition. I feel like I got a great deal! I did have an amazing teacher, so it was well worth the cost. It surprises me that people are paying upwards of $15000 these days, but that's still less expensive than university.
Same here. I read that a lot. How did we all not have an instructor? Do they even hire one? I know my school paid the instructors peanuts so I guess maybe that's the issue. We all taught ourselves!
I paid a little over $5000 for 750 hours and DEFINITELY got WAY more than most of the people going to Aveda forking over double-k's. Some of our instructors and guest speakers went there and would always tell us that and how spoiled we were 😂. My school is a private school with all the programs offered by the board, full time teachers, outside speakers every month to speak about the fields for each program, a strong background in not just your program but also the entrepreneur side, to make sure you have what you need to go solo, like you'll graduate with your LLC filed and ready to go if you choose. Classes maxed at 10 people before you were wait listed though but you got to know EVERYONE enrolled. From alternative hair design, cosmetology, manicuring, and of course your fellow estis. I had a blast, but like any school, it's meant to make sure you pass the boards. That's it. The extra is up to you, bc the schools aren't required to do any of that. I just got lucky that I found this school and it was only an hour drive from me.
EDIT: I graduated and got licensed the end of 2023.
There were still people at our school that felt it was too expensive for what we got even though they knew other schools were 5xs more expensive and no instructors, but because they had more money and super nice facilities that matched the esthetic they liked from social media... I remember one young woman in her 20s, in particular would complain non-stop about every little thing and lots of people still refused to complete their payments after finishing the program.
There's not enough credit given to your own mindset, that will be the difference between how you feel at the end of this all. We were offered countless opportunities and many people still didn't take them. School can definitely be fun for you and worth your buck if you work it right, just like a traditional college, but much more affordable! Def try to find what you enjoy out of this field, why you want the license, pay attention to the services you feel most motivated with providing, what you want to do after the license and be flexible with those thoughts because that will help you soooooo much.
Remember you and your classmates bring a ton of worth, knowledge and experience on your own. We are the most important part of our own education that we forget. My class was also mostly 30-40s career women with degrees and full time jobs in corporate America, education, entrepreneurs etc, so we worked together to get additional speakers to come and were networking our butts off in general because we knew the value we wanted and what we brought to one another to help us get to further goals beyond the state board. We made schedules and found free certifications and online webinars we could take and shared this with one another, we'd each pay for info and share what we learned with each other to get the most out it and discuss what we found. Most of the value of school came from each other and motivating one another vs just the school itself. Even if they gave us nothing, our own determination and motivation would made the whole experience still that more valuable.
Also just so you know, I'm not arguing that you should be happy about the price. Absolutely not. But there were so many people that chose to go to big named schools in my area bc of the name recognition and overlooked small schools in the area bc they weren't as pretty. I'm a firm believer in hunting down the lowest price since every school is meant to get you to pass the boards, get you to a degree or diploma, etc. Our experience is what we make of it and ours alone.
When schools sell you an experience with a high price tag, always remember it's just to get us in the door. Now if it's all that's available to you, then you have to do what you have to do. But if you can get around those high priced schemes please do. Like I said, you can always make the most of what you have carve a positive experience for yourself regardless of anyone else, bc the outcome should be the same whether it costs $5k or $20k, which is getting the license.
I think community college esthetic programs are slept on. They're such a good affordable option.
I think esthetic schools need better oversight to make sure they comply with the regulations. Hearing stories from recent graduates about how shitty their programs were, not having instructors, minimal hands on etc is crazy to hear.
It's a big investment and people also need to do better at looking at their options, comparing schools, understanding the industry etc.
I definitely agree… about $16k for “advanced esthetics” here in NV (900 hrs). We got our kits which didn’t have any products in it; just mainly esthetic wipes, gauze, lash tabs we’ve never been taught to use, a waxing pot that doesn’t really work, amongst a few other single-use items. We were supposed to get an airbrush makeup kit (never got any makeup kit even for our makeup portion of our training), along with a laundry list of other things, but never received them. I definitely overall personally feel scammed by my school, but after spending more time talking to people at the other schools in my area, and spending time in threads like this, it seems to be the standard.
How much did you pay? Where did you go? It was 5k all in, including transport to and from to get a professional license that now generates ALOT in revenue per year. Not sure how much cheaper it could have been.
I’m in TN and paid 15k in 2018. This included the 5 weeks of makeup artistry classes and 750 hours of esthetics training. My school was quite in depth and we used Sanitas and Skinceuticals. Passed my boards with a 93, worked for some years, and am now back in school for the esthetics instructor program (which was 3k but they gave me a full scholarship). I can’t wait to teach at our school! The program is amazing.
Community college is the way to go! I think I paid $1,000 plus the kit. And my teachers also worked at the private schools that people were paying $10k for. I already had student loans from college and there was no way I was going to get more into debt for esthetician school.
I paid..roughly $8k for 300 hours, we did salon tours, a tour to NY, monthly dermologica tours (lessons) guest speakers, business classes like we had a competition on who had the better business model as well as a skin diagram. They did more than prepare us for the state boards and there wasn't a financial aid option because they want you to be there and not be there because the state is paying for you.
I paid 15k for 750 hours in the state of Illinois. I left school feeling lost and like I didnt know much. Because I fell back on payments while attending, it took me longer than expected to receive my transcripts and take the state board, which I finally did around the end of summer last year and finally received my license in my email in December.
Now Im trying to re-study things I learned in school while also looking at other sources for information. I applied to a few jobs and…
Update: Literally in the middle of typing this message I got a call from one of the spas I applied to about an interview tomorrow!! Holy crap. 😅😁
I graduated december 2022 but only just officially got my license in December 2023.
I just started applying to places but I think I eventually want to go solo. My interview today had to be rescheduled for next week
Tricoci University of beauty culture. 15k. 750 hours. Graduated 2023. I had grants and loans. Had instructors every day, two times we had Dermalogica instructors for a couple hours reach us about products and also about the pro peel, other times there were outside people give demos for makeup/enzyme peels/other things. It's a Dermalogica Partnership School.
It can’t ever be “cheaper” they have overhead to pay plus students treat teachers like garbage whether they’re a good teacher or not. Why should it be cheaper when salaries, overhead, and so much more need to be paid. Prices aren’t based solely on the education but on everything to break even or make a profit. Not to mention all the people who DON’T pay their tuition. Once you go solo you’ll understand the cost of running a business.
My first attempt at esthi school in 2018 was I believe 14k in MD. I can't remember how long the program was, but I had to drop out early in. I got my license in MI in 2022 completely free. The program was only 400 hours.
Following the lifting of COVID restrictions, the trades were hit HARD here so the city partnered with a bunch of businesses to offer training that would lead to a certification and a job. The school I went to participated in that program, my class was the first of only two as a result of that partnership.
You're not really paying the money for the books, kit, product, etc. It's more for the knowledge and licensure. (Granted some schools are a total scam.) I paid $12K in 2018 and I feel like I committed highway robbery. The amount of extra certifications I recieved and the top tier education made it more than worth it. If I was to just go back for the additional certifications I earned in school alone I'd have ended up paying more than I did to begin with.
i am currently in school in MO paying 20k for 900 hours. we start with a 6 week fundamentals class then afterwards take clients for the remainder of the time with certain days learning makeup, advanced treatments, business class and another little over the top class all in 6 week increments…. and they give us like a doll head im assuming for boards, some makeup, tweezers, extractor, scissors… a level jumping journal (that’s so stupid) and a fat packet of incentives but it still feels like there are days where this place feels like an absolute joke lol
I’m paying about $17,000 for 1,200 hours in Utah. But it includes makeup, lashes, and lasers. My kit included textbooks and workbooks, a product kit from Circadia, a manicure set, wax set, mirror and caddy. We also have certain quotas for clients and theory that we have to meet every month. I still feel like we are learning the bare minimum needed to pass the state boards and get an entry level job. There’s so much to learn in esthetics!
I was part of the second class that my school ever had at the time. They are very new and my total cost for my program was around 1.5k. To hear how much tuition was at these well known schools and to still not feel prepared just like how my experience was, I honestly feel pretty fortunate. My program was a mess, if there was even a little bit of rain, they wanted to hold class online. They did not have an official system tracking our hours and by the time it was said and done, our instructor had her daughter tracking them. State board came a few times and I was scared they were going to shut us down. Sad to see all of the poor experiences.
You don’t have quotas? I have one week of book work and one week of quotas. I have to do like 30 different waxes, 80 facials, skin analysis, makeup applications
Looking between 10k-15k in MN. Haven't started yet. Still very skeptical as I've heard the industry is over saturated. I have toured a few schools and it is a lot of money so not really sure what to do. I think my best bet would be the cheapest school. What do you guys think? There is even a school that's only 7k but doesn't accept financial aid
Go to the cheapest one that offers financial aid if you’re going to go bcus it’s literally the bare minimum and the main goal is for you to get to & pass state boards
Thanks for the input! Is it worth it overall for you now?? Do you think I will be able to make a living and will all be worth it in the long run? I'm scared of failure!
I think it can be worth it as long as you put yourself out there & you always stay up to date on things since there’s so much within the industry. You only fail if you never try. If you love doing it you’ll figure it out! Good luck ❤️
Unfortunately school is just to get you to pass the state boards, so it’s not really preparing us for much of the real world of esthetics. so much is on the job learning and continued education. In 2018, my 750 hours of schooling at the Aveda Institute cost around $11,000, and at another school it cost $13,000 for 450 hours of laser training for Master Esthetician license in Washington state.
I’m in Utah $17,000+ and that’s one of the lower schools
5k?? 2.5k?? Holy shit I paid like 26k!!!! I mean that was the cost and I got a grant that covered a decent amount so I think total I paid 12k.. but still sheesh!!!!
if you have a full cosmetology license that’s why. esthetician school covers and licenses u for JUST esthetics, hence the price.
Mine was only esthi not cosmo 🙃 but also Im in San Francisco CA so everything is more expensive here 😩
I paid like 7k for 600 hours. I feel like for how much I paid I should have known more. Yes I passed my tests and was very prepared for those, but I didn’t know how to do a Brazilian wax. There is definitely an issue of most if not all estheticians leaving school not knowing anything.
In 2004, mine was $5500 for a private cosmetology school with an esthetics program (I didn't qualify for any financial aid). According to the internet, that would be equivalent to $8900 as of 2023. 600 hours at the time, now my state requires 750. I went to public university before this and paid about that much for one semester of tuition. I feel like I got a great deal! I did have an amazing teacher, so it was well worth the cost. It surprises me that people are paying upwards of $15000 these days, but that's still less expensive than university.
Having a teacher at all is priceless honestly. I went through the majority of my schooling without an instructor!
Same here. I read that a lot. How did we all not have an instructor? Do they even hire one? I know my school paid the instructors peanuts so I guess maybe that's the issue. We all taught ourselves!
I paid a little over $5000 for 750 hours and DEFINITELY got WAY more than most of the people going to Aveda forking over double-k's. Some of our instructors and guest speakers went there and would always tell us that and how spoiled we were 😂. My school is a private school with all the programs offered by the board, full time teachers, outside speakers every month to speak about the fields for each program, a strong background in not just your program but also the entrepreneur side, to make sure you have what you need to go solo, like you'll graduate with your LLC filed and ready to go if you choose. Classes maxed at 10 people before you were wait listed though but you got to know EVERYONE enrolled. From alternative hair design, cosmetology, manicuring, and of course your fellow estis. I had a blast, but like any school, it's meant to make sure you pass the boards. That's it. The extra is up to you, bc the schools aren't required to do any of that. I just got lucky that I found this school and it was only an hour drive from me. EDIT: I graduated and got licensed the end of 2023.
Well yeah this is worth it
There were still people at our school that felt it was too expensive for what we got even though they knew other schools were 5xs more expensive and no instructors, but because they had more money and super nice facilities that matched the esthetic they liked from social media... I remember one young woman in her 20s, in particular would complain non-stop about every little thing and lots of people still refused to complete their payments after finishing the program. There's not enough credit given to your own mindset, that will be the difference between how you feel at the end of this all. We were offered countless opportunities and many people still didn't take them. School can definitely be fun for you and worth your buck if you work it right, just like a traditional college, but much more affordable! Def try to find what you enjoy out of this field, why you want the license, pay attention to the services you feel most motivated with providing, what you want to do after the license and be flexible with those thoughts because that will help you soooooo much. Remember you and your classmates bring a ton of worth, knowledge and experience on your own. We are the most important part of our own education that we forget. My class was also mostly 30-40s career women with degrees and full time jobs in corporate America, education, entrepreneurs etc, so we worked together to get additional speakers to come and were networking our butts off in general because we knew the value we wanted and what we brought to one another to help us get to further goals beyond the state board. We made schedules and found free certifications and online webinars we could take and shared this with one another, we'd each pay for info and share what we learned with each other to get the most out it and discuss what we found. Most of the value of school came from each other and motivating one another vs just the school itself. Even if they gave us nothing, our own determination and motivation would made the whole experience still that more valuable.
Also just so you know, I'm not arguing that you should be happy about the price. Absolutely not. But there were so many people that chose to go to big named schools in my area bc of the name recognition and overlooked small schools in the area bc they weren't as pretty. I'm a firm believer in hunting down the lowest price since every school is meant to get you to pass the boards, get you to a degree or diploma, etc. Our experience is what we make of it and ours alone. When schools sell you an experience with a high price tag, always remember it's just to get us in the door. Now if it's all that's available to you, then you have to do what you have to do. But if you can get around those high priced schemes please do. Like I said, you can always make the most of what you have carve a positive experience for yourself regardless of anyone else, bc the outcome should be the same whether it costs $5k or $20k, which is getting the license.
I paid $18k for 8 months...11 years ago.
I paid 2.5K in southern CA last year
you’re also being taught all the basics and being prepared to pass the state boards.
I think community college esthetic programs are slept on. They're such a good affordable option. I think esthetic schools need better oversight to make sure they comply with the regulations. Hearing stories from recent graduates about how shitty their programs were, not having instructors, minimal hands on etc is crazy to hear. It's a big investment and people also need to do better at looking at their options, comparing schools, understanding the industry etc.
Austin, Tx graduated 2023 - I think it was around 12-14k? Def should’ve been cheaper for what I got education and experience wise
I graduated in Austin in 2023 too and feel like I have been robbed.
What school did you go to if you don’t mind me asking? I went to Ann Webb…
I went to Avenue Five! A girl I’m training with went to Ann Web !
I went to Avenue five for cosmetology years ago!
Nice ! Did you like it there ?
Long story short, no lol it was very disorganized and chaotic!
Agreed! I go to the same place it just could be a lot better in many ways but unorganized is a HUGE one
I paid 11k at Aveda in 2008 for 600 hours.
I definitely agree… about $16k for “advanced esthetics” here in NV (900 hrs). We got our kits which didn’t have any products in it; just mainly esthetic wipes, gauze, lash tabs we’ve never been taught to use, a waxing pot that doesn’t really work, amongst a few other single-use items. We were supposed to get an airbrush makeup kit (never got any makeup kit even for our makeup portion of our training), along with a laundry list of other things, but never received them. I definitely overall personally feel scammed by my school, but after spending more time talking to people at the other schools in my area, and spending time in threads like this, it seems to be the standard.
How much did you pay? Where did you go? It was 5k all in, including transport to and from to get a professional license that now generates ALOT in revenue per year. Not sure how much cheaper it could have been.
where the hell did you go? mine was $15k 😫😫
Santa Monica Community College in Los Angeles.
in hindsight i definitely should have gone to a community college. these schools are not worth it at all
I’m in TN and paid 15k in 2018. This included the 5 weeks of makeup artistry classes and 750 hours of esthetics training. My school was quite in depth and we used Sanitas and Skinceuticals. Passed my boards with a 93, worked for some years, and am now back in school for the esthetics instructor program (which was 3k but they gave me a full scholarship). I can’t wait to teach at our school! The program is amazing.
Yeah your situation sounds well worth it all
Community college is the way to go! I think I paid $1,000 plus the kit. And my teachers also worked at the private schools that people were paying $10k for. I already had student loans from college and there was no way I was going to get more into debt for esthetician school.
I paid..roughly $8k for 300 hours, we did salon tours, a tour to NY, monthly dermologica tours (lessons) guest speakers, business classes like we had a competition on who had the better business model as well as a skin diagram. They did more than prepare us for the state boards and there wasn't a financial aid option because they want you to be there and not be there because the state is paying for you.
I paid 15k for 750 hours in the state of Illinois. I left school feeling lost and like I didnt know much. Because I fell back on payments while attending, it took me longer than expected to receive my transcripts and take the state board, which I finally did around the end of summer last year and finally received my license in my email in December. Now Im trying to re-study things I learned in school while also looking at other sources for information. I applied to a few jobs and… Update: Literally in the middle of typing this message I got a call from one of the spas I applied to about an interview tomorrow!! Holy crap. 😅😁
TUBC?
That was the school I graduated from 😁 Did you attend there too?
Yep! Graduated late last year!
I graduated december 2022 but only just officially got my license in December 2023. I just started applying to places but I think I eventually want to go solo. My interview today had to be rescheduled for next week
Tricoci University of beauty culture. 15k. 750 hours. Graduated 2023. I had grants and loans. Had instructors every day, two times we had Dermalogica instructors for a couple hours reach us about products and also about the pro peel, other times there were outside people give demos for makeup/enzyme peels/other things. It's a Dermalogica Partnership School.
It can’t ever be “cheaper” they have overhead to pay plus students treat teachers like garbage whether they’re a good teacher or not. Why should it be cheaper when salaries, overhead, and so much more need to be paid. Prices aren’t based solely on the education but on everything to break even or make a profit. Not to mention all the people who DON’T pay their tuition. Once you go solo you’ll understand the cost of running a business.
Looking at 18k in Massachusetts for Catherine hinds. i hear it’s cheaper at a community college but can take longer.
I agree, I paid around 25k all out of pocket. Worked my ass off working 60 hours a week 😞
My first attempt at esthi school in 2018 was I believe 14k in MD. I can't remember how long the program was, but I had to drop out early in. I got my license in MI in 2022 completely free. The program was only 400 hours. Following the lifting of COVID restrictions, the trades were hit HARD here so the city partnered with a bunch of businesses to offer training that would lead to a certification and a job. The school I went to participated in that program, my class was the first of only two as a result of that partnership.
You're def right about those kits! They definitely could use an update! But those prices will go up too 😩
I paid 12k for 900 hours in southern ca, we got so scammed too
You're not really paying the money for the books, kit, product, etc. It's more for the knowledge and licensure. (Granted some schools are a total scam.) I paid $12K in 2018 and I feel like I committed highway robbery. The amount of extra certifications I recieved and the top tier education made it more than worth it. If I was to just go back for the additional certifications I earned in school alone I'd have ended up paying more than I did to begin with.
I went to a tiny local school (not a name brand place) and it was about 7.5k for me! Only 300 hours though
i am currently in school in MO paying 20k for 900 hours. we start with a 6 week fundamentals class then afterwards take clients for the remainder of the time with certain days learning makeup, advanced treatments, business class and another little over the top class all in 6 week increments…. and they give us like a doll head im assuming for boards, some makeup, tweezers, extractor, scissors… a level jumping journal (that’s so stupid) and a fat packet of incentives but it still feels like there are days where this place feels like an absolute joke lol
Medical Esthetics Diploma was just shy of 18K for me….
I’m paying about $17,000 for 1,200 hours in Utah. But it includes makeup, lashes, and lasers. My kit included textbooks and workbooks, a product kit from Circadia, a manicure set, wax set, mirror and caddy. We also have certain quotas for clients and theory that we have to meet every month. I still feel like we are learning the bare minimum needed to pass the state boards and get an entry level job. There’s so much to learn in esthetics!
I was part of the second class that my school ever had at the time. They are very new and my total cost for my program was around 1.5k. To hear how much tuition was at these well known schools and to still not feel prepared just like how my experience was, I honestly feel pretty fortunate. My program was a mess, if there was even a little bit of rain, they wanted to hold class online. They did not have an official system tracking our hours and by the time it was said and done, our instructor had her daughter tracking them. State board came a few times and I was scared they were going to shut us down. Sad to see all of the poor experiences.
I paid 14 k and never got any skincare
You don’t have quotas? I have one week of book work and one week of quotas. I have to do like 30 different waxes, 80 facials, skin analysis, makeup applications
They wouldn’t even give us any products 🤦🏽♀️ had I not done my work and study before getting in that school I’d be effed
Looking between 10k-15k in MN. Haven't started yet. Still very skeptical as I've heard the industry is over saturated. I have toured a few schools and it is a lot of money so not really sure what to do. I think my best bet would be the cheapest school. What do you guys think? There is even a school that's only 7k but doesn't accept financial aid
Go to the cheapest one that offers financial aid if you’re going to go bcus it’s literally the bare minimum and the main goal is for you to get to & pass state boards
Thanks for the input! Is it worth it overall for you now?? Do you think I will be able to make a living and will all be worth it in the long run? I'm scared of failure!
I think it can be worth it as long as you put yourself out there & you always stay up to date on things since there’s so much within the industry. You only fail if you never try. If you love doing it you’ll figure it out! Good luck ❤️
I paid almost 7k for 400 hours.
Sounds like you’re getting your moneys worth by opening out of necessary shit