How Much Does Barber School Cost?
If you believe that styling hair primarily for male clients is a career that you’d like to engage in for life, you are no doubt interested in going to barber school. This occupation does not pay much, especially if you are still starting, but if you have plans of opening your own barbershop or salon, getting a certificate or diploma in barbering or even an associate degree in applied science in barbering is going to be worth it. Graduating from a state-licensed barbering school or cosmetology school is also a requirement for obtaining a barber’s license which is necessary for barbers to practice the profession.
The cost of attending a barbering school is certainly going to be one of your major considerations when choosing a barbering program. Actually, there is a wide difference in the expenses associated with obtaining a barbering degree with some schools costing only $2,000 while others charging a high of $16,000. Your total expenses for tuition and fees, supplies, room and board and personal expenses will depend on the number of hours required by the school, where the school is located and whether you are obtaining a certificate or a degree program.
In order to give you an idea of how much you’ll spend, let’s take a look at some barbering programs. At Prestige Barber College, the tuition fee for a barber program that takes 10 to 12 months to finish is $8,450. The other fees are: Registration fee of $150, barber kit which costs $600, a non-refundable student permit fee of $25 and a graduation fee of $10. Upon enrollment, students are required a non-refundable registration deposit of $500. This is deducted from the cost of tuition. This program will cost about $9,235 to complete.
At Texas Barber College, the 53-week undergraduate certificate in barbering charge tuition and fees of $12,450 and books and supplies cost $1,300 for a total of $13,750. Dayton Barber College, a private technical school located in Ohio charges about $11,000 for a 1,800-hour barbering course. This includes tuition, books and fees.
Public colleges offering barbering programs offer discounted rates to in-state students. At the Northern New Mexico College, a two-year associate degree in barbering costs $13,640 for in-state students and $21,103 for out-of-state students. This covers tuition and fees, housing and books and supplies.
Housing and food expenses are going to comprise a major expense in your budget since most barber colleges don’t offer on-campus housing. The cost is going to depend on where the school is located. The housing calculation is already included in the Northern New Mexico costs given above and their estimate for off-campus housing is $7,180 a year. This may be more or less expensive depending on which part of the country you are in. You should also budget for food which can comprise a large portion of the cost of living expenses. Some students budget $5,000 for food, others higher or lower. You can reduce the cost by making your meals at home. You may also have to budget for personal expenses and transportation costs if you need to travel to and from school.
Accredited barbering schools are able to offer financial aid to their students. You may be eligible for scholarships, grants or financing plans which allow you to pay the tuition in increments. You may also choose to enroll in barbering course part-time or take evening courses while you continue with your day job.
Career Spotlight: Barber
If you have a particular interest for styling hair, you can consider becoming a barber. In this profession, you have the opportunity to cut and style hair, mostly for a male clientele. You may also se[...]
