Cosmetology school in Iowa

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

9 schools offer these cosmetology programs, and Iowa 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 Iowa, all 9 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.

All 9 are the same kind of program: cosmetology license program.

See the 9 programs

How much does cosmetology school cost in Iowa?

$19,165 to $19,849 is what most cosmetology programs in Iowa cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 9 programs with a price. All of them: $17,590 to $27,988

In the typical program

Finished the program: 70%
Working 6 months later: 80%
Earned a year, estimated: about $19,500
Length: 45 to 62 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 Iowa may also offer cosmetology school. How these figures are made

Is there free cosmetology school in Iowa?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.²³⁴
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁵ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁴
Or pay yourself. Most cosmetology programs in Iowa cost $19,165 to $19,849. Prices on this page run from $17,590 to $27,988.

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

All 9 cosmetology programs in Iowa approved for WIOA funding

9 programs

Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Cosmetology
Capri College
Dubuque
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Capri College, DubuqueCosmetology license program · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$20,700
Price if you pay yourself$18,580
Program website, Cosmetology at Capri College
More details about Cosmetology at Capri College
Finished
70%
Working at 6 months
80%
Earned in a quarter
$5,185
Length
62 weeks, 34 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,165
Students counted
1,028
Earned a year, estimated
$20,700
Price if you pay yourself
$18,580
Program website, Cosmetology at Capri College
Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Cosmetology
PCI Academy
Ames
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
PCI Academy, AmesCosmetology license program · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$21,000
Price if you pay yourself$27,988
Program website, Cosmetology at PCI Academy
More details about Cosmetology at PCI Academy
Finished
58%
Working at 6 months
81%
Earned in a quarter
$5,245
Length
78 weeks, 30 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
505
Earned a year, estimated
$21,000
Price if you pay yourself
$27,988
Program website, Cosmetology at PCI Academy
Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Cosmetology
Midwest Technical Institute
Moline, IL
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Midwest Technical Institute, Moline, ILCosmetology license program · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Classes are outside Iowa; Iowa approved the program for its funding.
Earned a year, estimated$10,800
Price if you pay yourself$19,849
Program website, Cosmetology at Midwest Technical Institute
More details about Cosmetology at Midwest Technical Institute
Finished
40%
Working at 6 months
64%
Earned in a quarter
$2,697
Length
52 weeks, 29 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,351
Students counted
214
Earned a year, estimated
$10,800
Price if you pay yourself
$19,849
Program website, Cosmetology at Midwest Technical Institute
Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Cosmetology
La' James International College
Johnston
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
La' James International College, JohnstonCosmetology license program · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$26,200
Price if you pay yourself$19,165
Program website, Cosmetology at La' James International College
More details about Cosmetology at La' James International College
Finished
73%
Working at 6 months
85%
Earned in a quarter
$6,546
Length
45 weeks, 35 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$1,691
Students counted
103
Earned a year, estimated
$26,200
Price if you pay yourself
$19,165
Program website, Cosmetology at La' James International College
Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Cosmetology
La' James International College - Cedar Rapids / Davenport
Davenport
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
La' James International College - Cedar Rapids / Davenport, DavenportCosmetology license program · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$19,500
Price if you pay yourself$19,165
Program website, Cosmetology at La' James International College - Cedar Rapids / Davenport
More details about Cosmetology at La' James International College - Cedar Rapids / Davenport
Finished
55%
Working at 6 months
77%
Earned in a quarter
$4,865
Length
45 weeks, 35 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$1,691
Students counted
99
Earned a year, estimated
$19,500
Price if you pay yourself
$19,165
Program website, Cosmetology at La' James International College - Cedar Rapids / Davenport
Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Cosmetology
LoriAnn LTD dba American Hair Academy
Mt. Pleasant
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
LoriAnn LTD dba American Hair Academy, Mt. PleasantCosmetology license program · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$15,900
Price if you pay yourself$17,590
Program website, Cosmetology at LoriAnn LTD dba American Hair Academy
More details about Cosmetology at LoriAnn LTD dba American Hair Academy
Finished
65%
Working at 6 months
80%
Earned in a quarter
$3,971
Length
57 weeks, 37 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,185
Students counted
63
Earned a year, estimated
$15,900
Price if you pay yourself
$17,590
Program website, Cosmetology at LoriAnn LTD dba American Hair Academy
Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Cosmetology
La'James College Of Hairstyling, Inc Of Mason City
Mason City
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
La'James College Of Hairstyling, Inc Of Mason City, Mason CityCosmetology license program · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$16,100
Price if you pay yourself$20,650
Program website, Cosmetology at La'James College Of Hairstyling, Inc Of Mason City
More details about Cosmetology at La'James College Of Hairstyling, Inc Of Mason City
Finished
71%
Working at 6 months
76%
Earned in a quarter
$4,014
Length
64 weeks, 35 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,800
Students counted
59
Earned a year, estimated
$16,100
Price if you pay yourself
$20,650
Program website, Cosmetology at La'James College Of Hairstyling, Inc Of Mason City
Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Cosmetology
La' James International College
Cedar Falls
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
La' James International College, Cedar FallsCosmetology license program · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$19,200
Price if you pay yourself$19,165
Program website, Cosmetology at La' James International College
More details about Cosmetology at La' James International College
Finished
74%
Working at 6 months
92%
Earned in a quarter
$4,810
Length
45 weeks, 35 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$1,691
Students counted
37
Earned a year, estimated
$19,200
Price if you pay yourself
$19,165
Program website, Cosmetology at La' James International College
Cosmetology license programIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Cosmetology
La' James International College
Fort Dodge
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
La' James International College, Fort DodgeCosmetology license program · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$20,200
Price if you pay yourself$19,165
Program website, Cosmetology at La' James International College
More details about Cosmetology at La' James International College
Finished
73%
Working at 6 months
56%
Earned in a quarter
$5,051
Length
45 weeks, 35 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$1,691
Students counted
29
Earned a year, estimated
$20,200
Price if you pay yourself
$19,165
Program website, Cosmetology at La' James International College

How to pay for cosmetology school in Iowa

WIOA funding can pay for cosmetology school in Iowa

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

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.

Quick facts: Cosmetology school in Iowa

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare: 19th of 20
other states where the typical program's graduates earned less: 5 of 9
cosmetology programs here, against the typical state's 4: 9 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).

Cosmetology school in Davenport, Dubuque, Ames and other Iowa cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 more program is in 1 other area, 1 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in Iowa

How cosmetology school compares with the rest of beauty and personal care: Beauty school in Iowa

Where the Iowa cosmetology program numbers come from

Which Iowa cosmetology programs are on this list?

These are the cosmetology programs Iowa 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 Iowa offers.

How the prices and results of Iowa cosmetology programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about cosmetology school in Iowa

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Cosmetology school in Iowa

How much does cosmetology school cost in Iowa?

Is there free cosmetology school in Iowa?

All 9 cosmetology programs in Iowa approved for WIOA funding

Cosmetology

Cosmetology

Cosmetology

Cosmetology

Cosmetology

Cosmetology

Cosmetology

Cosmetology

Cosmetology

How to pay for cosmetology school in Iowa

WIOA funding can pay for cosmetology school in Iowa

Financial aid and grants for cosmetology school

GI Bill for cosmetology school

Quick facts: Cosmetology school in Iowa

Cosmetology school in Davenport, Dubuque, Ames and other Iowa cities

Other training in Iowa

Where the Iowa cosmetology program numbers come from

Which Iowa cosmetology programs are on this list?

How the prices and results of Iowa cosmetology programs are measured

Sources for the facts about cosmetology school in Iowa