Cosmetology (1,500 Hours)

Options abound at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Austin, where we offer not one but two different Cosmetology programs to start your journey to hair and beauty success: a shorter training program at 1,000 clock hours, and a more comprehensive training program at 1,500 hours.

Both our 1,000-hour and 1,500-hour Cosmetology programs focus heavily on hair but also cover a wide variety of other creative topics including makeup, nails, skincare, and more. Whatever your passion, you can follow it here at our Austin campus!

Both of our Cosmetology programs cover a wide variety of hair, manicure, and skincare techniques, from hair cutting, coloring, and design, to facials, massage, skincare, and even salon management for those of you who truly want to go the extra mile and launch your own business.

Our programs emphasize the use of natural Aveda treatments and products, to ensure you can always give your clients the best service possible.

While we do integrate classroom sessions into our programs, we focus on that all-important hands-on training. Working in a salon environment with real clients under supervision encourages our students to build their confidence and practice their skills.

The objective of this program is to prepare the students for the state licensing examination in cosmetology. The program is intended to train students to enter the workforce as an entry-level hair stylist. A student will also learn the technical, personal, and business skills to prepare for the work in a professional salon as a stylist, retail sales specialist, salon manager, or salon owner with a focus on Aveda techniques and products.

The Aveda Arts & Sciences campus in Austin, Texas boasts a large, student-centered facility comfortably catering to both cosmetology and esthiology (esthetics) programs. Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Austin has five theory classrooms, 10 spa rooms, and an open-floor-plan clinic where students can practice mastering their craft in a setting that mimics a true salon.

Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Austin has your back when it comes to placing you in jobs. We connect students to the beauty industry with twice-yearly career fairs. Our Austin staff strives to teach our students not only beauty techniques but also how to market yourself to establish and grow your future business. You may even participate in social media contests and backstage at fashion shows to learn how to brand yourself.

Aveda Arts Austin provides beauty education with a 96.7% licensure pass rate and a 100% state board pass rate among esthetics students.*

Don’t be shy—if you’ve got any questions about enrolling on either of the Cosmetology programs at our Austin campus, just reach out. We’re here to help!

Before enrolling on either program, you must meet the following requirements:

Age: 16 years old (17 years old to take licensing exams)

Education: High school diploma (or equivalent)

Other Requirements: Submit an application, pay a $50 non-refundable application fee and a $25 State Board registration fee, submit a government-issued ID with proof of age and photo, and social security card. You must also schedule an interview with an Admissions Manager

Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute is committed to ensuring a safe educational environment and reserves the right to deny admission to applicants with a criminal record. Transfer hours are only accepted from schools within the Aveda Institute network.

Cosmetology – Five-Day Curriculum: 20 hours per week, Monday – Friday 6pm – 10pm; or 30 hours per week, Monday – Friday 9am – 3:30pm (30-min. lunch). Five-Day/Three-Day Curriculum: weeks 1-12, 30 hours per week, Monday – Friday 9am – 3:30pm (30-min. lunch); weeks 13-50, 30 hours per week, Wednesday – Friday 9am – 8pm (1-hour lunch). Five-Day/Four-Day Curriculum: weeks 1-12, 30 hours per week, Monday – Friday 9am – 3:30pm; weeks 13-50, 38 hours per week, Wednesday – Friday 9am – 8pm and Saturday 8am – 4:30pm; or weeks 13-50, 40 hours per week, Tuesday – Friday 10am – 6:30pm and Saturday 8am – 4:30pm.

Upcoming start dates: November 16, 2026.

Tuition: $18,850. Kit fee: $3,200 (kit fees are mandatory and may not be pro-rated; students may not opt out of kit fees). Application fee: $50 (nonrefundable; not eligible for VA funding). State Board registration fee: $25 (payable by money order, due with the enrollment agreement).

Total of listed charges: $22,125.

Required textbooks are included in the kit cost, but students can choose to purchase their textbooks from another source, in which case the kit fee is reduced by the applicable cost.

Payment plans: students can pay in installments through an interest-free monthly payment plan; no interest is charged if the total is paid off before graduation.

Financial aid is available for those students that meet the necessary requirements. Aveda Arts & Sciences Institutes participate in the Pell Grant Program and the Federal Direct Loan Program. Complete the FAFSA at fafsa.gov using federal school code 026009.

Veterans’ benefits are not available in all institute locations, and only to those who qualify.

Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute graduates who enroll in another program receive a 15% discount off the published tuition rate.

Net Price Calculator: https://avedaarts.edu/wp-content/themes/avedaarts/net-price-calculators/npcalc-austin.htm

The program is intended to train students to enter the workforce as an entry-level hair stylist, with the technical, personal, and business skills to work in a professional salon as a stylist, retail sales specialist, salon manager, or salon owner.

Graduation, placement and licensure (2024 Annual Report to NACCAS, as published in the 2026-27 catalog — Austin, Cosmetology 1500): graduation 61.97%, placement 84.21%, licensure 90.91%.

Aveda Arts & Sciences Institutes do not guarantee employment to students; however, the schools assist students in finding employment, hold annual job fairs, and can assist with out-of-state placement subject to licensing transfer.

The Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Austin campus is centrally located in Highland, close to popular Austin neighborhoods like North Loop, Brentwood, Windsor Park, and Hancock in Texas. Our newer multi-level green facility captures our students’ creative energy. In this serene, light-filled environment, you can gain confidence in your new skills from hands-on practice both in the classroom and on the student clinic floor.

Our campus is near the kind of independent businesses that give Austin, TX its character. Grab your morning joe at Kick Butt Coffee before class or take a bubble tea break with classmates at Feng Cha.

Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Austin is accessible for commuters and locals alike. The school is located just off the intersection of I-35 and 290, with a large parking lot. The campus is also near local bus stops and within walking distance of the Highland CapMetro station. Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Austin is a convenient hub for everyday needs, with three banks, several ATMs, and two grocery stores nearby.

Austin, Texas, celebrated for its vibrant music scene and the SXSW festival, is a prime destination for young talent, reflected in the energy of Aveda Arts, one of the best beauty schools in the city. Students enjoy a creative and individualized approach, allowing them to customize their paths in Cosmetology or Esthiology.