Cosmetology Schools in Kentucky
19 Kentucky schools offer Cosmetology. Average graduate earnings run 13% below the national average — something worth factoring in alongside tuition, location, and program fit.
Cosmetology Training in Kentucky: What You Need to Know
Local program supply
Kentucky has 19 schools offering Cosmetology programs, concentrated in 4 cities including {'city': 'Louisville', 'city_slug': 'louisville', 'count': 5, 'avg_earn': 17351.0}, {'city': 'Bowling Green', 'city_slug': 'bowling-green', 'count': 3, 'avg_earn': 16608.0}, {'city': 'Lexington', 'city_slug': 'lexington', 'count': 3, 'avg_earn': 16249.0}. Most students attend within 60 miles of home — local choice matters more than national rankings.
Earnings vs. national
Cosmetology graduates in Kentucky earn approximately $14,962/year on average, which is -13% below the national average for this trade. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Kentucky-specific licensing
Most skilled trades require a state-issued license or certification before you can work independently. Requirements vary substantially by state. Verify Kentucky-specific licensing through the relevant state board (Department of Labor, Contractors Board, or trade-specific licensing body). Apprenticeship hours often count toward licensure.
How Kentucky compares
Average TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Cosmetology programs in Kentucky is 42/100. Cost of living, wage levels, and program supply all vary by state — see the school list below ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines earnings, debt, and job-market demand.
Cosmetology Programs in Kentucky
All 19 Kentucky schools offering Cosmetology, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click a school to see full earnings projections and program details.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green Bowling Green, KY |
44 |
| 2 | Paul Mitchell the School-Louisville Louisville, KY |
44 |
| 3 | Ideal Beauty Academy Louisville, KY |
43 |
| 4 | Paul Mitchell the School-Lexington Lexington, KY |
43 |
| 5 | Empire Beauty School-Florence Florence, KY |
43 |
| 6 | Summit Salon Academy-Lexington Lexington, KY |
42 |
| 7 | Empire Beauty School-Dixie Louisville, KY |
42 |
| 8 | Regina Webb Academy Bowling Green, KY |
42 |
| 9 | Empire Beauty School-Chenoweth Louisville, KY |
42 |
| 10 | West Kentucky Community and Technical College Paducah, KY |
42 |
| 11 | Empire Beauty School-Elizabethtown Elizabethtown, KY |
42 |
| 12 | American College of Barbering Louisville, KY |
42 |
| 13 | Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education Lexington, KY |
41 |
| 14 | Lindsey Institute of Cosmetology Bowling Green, KY |
41 |
| 15 | Somerset Community College Somerset, KY |
42 |
| 16 | PJ's College of Cosmetology-Glasgow Glasgow, KY |
41 |
| 17 | Allure Beauty College Whitesburg, KY |
41 |
| 18 | Appalachian Beauty School Belfry, KY |
41 |
| 19 | Campbellsville University Campbellsville, KY |
34 |
Where Cosmetology Programs Cluster in Kentucky
Cities with the most Cosmetology programs — useful if you want to minimize commute or relocate within state.
| City | Schools | Avg Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY | 5 | $17,351/yr |
| Bowling Green, KY | 3 | $16,608/yr |
| Lexington, KY | 3 | $16,249/yr |
| Florence, KY | 1 | $18,408/yr |
Compare Cosmetology in Other States
Considering a nearby state? Here's how Kentucky compares to others with strong Cosmetology offerings.