Cosmetology

Day: all campuses, 35 hours a week, with Monday theory from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm or 12:30 to 4:30 pm and supervised clinic Tuesday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, with a one-hour lunch; the course can be completed in 43 weeks, with a scheduled completion time of 11 months. Part time: all campuses, 25 hours a week, Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Night: Rogers only, 25 hours a week, Monday to Friday 5:00 to 10:00 pm, completed in 64 weeks with a scheduled time of 15 months. Day students are scheduled for at least 140 hours a month and night students 104. The financial aid flyer describes the part-time schedule as 20 hours a week.

Boot Camp attendance. A cosmetology student who misses three days (21 hours) in the first three weeks is dropped and may re-enroll at the next start. Arriving 10 minutes late on theory day means waiting until class ends to clock in.

Starts. 2026 classes begin January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2, July 7, August 4, September 1, October 6, November 3 and December 1.

Cost of the program. The catalog's fee schedule, headed "2025 Charges" and matching the January 2026 financial aid flyer, prices Cosmetology at $18,000 tuition, a $702 kit, $549 books, a $170 registration fee and a $20 permit, for a $19,441 total. Tuition is split $10,800 for the first 900 hours and $7,200 for the rest, with the kit ($423 and $279) and books ($333 and $216) split the same way.

Paying for school. The $170 registration fee and $20 permit fee are paid when you sign, with the balance paid before your start or through an approved plan by cash, check, money order, credit card or outside loan programs; the financial aid flyer adds in-house financing and monthly payment plans for cash-paying students. Enrollment agreements include 20% extra time for make-up; after the contract end date, remaining hours cost $15 each ($120 a day), within a 150% maximum, and students who finish on time receive a $78 scholarship. Withdrawing costs a $150 fee, and re-entering after more than 30 days a $170 fee.

Federal aid. The school takes part in Title IV programs: Pell Grants, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and Parent PLUS Loans, and VA education benefits are accepted (hybrid classes are not available to VA students). The catalog lists FAFSA school codes by campus: Fayetteville E02161, Fort Smith E40413, Rogers E01654, Siloam Springs E01766 and Springdale 016596. Springdale's code differs from the institution's federal OPEID (02341700), so confirm your campus's code with the financial aid office before filing. The catalog's cost of attendance ranges are Cosmetology $31,346 to $37,846, Aesthetics $12,500 to $14,500, Manicure $13,400 to $15,900 and Instructor $10,500 to $12,500.

Cancelling and refunds. Cancel in writing within three business days of signing for a full refund, even after classes start; cancel later but before starting and everything except the $170 registration fee is refunded. After you start, the school keeps a share of tuition based on scheduled time: 20% up to 4.9%, 30% to 9.9%, 40% to 14.9%, 45% to 24.9%, 70% to 49.9%, and all of it from 50%. The $150 withdrawal fee applies, kits and books are non-refundable once issued, refunds are paid within 45 days, and a student absent 14 consecutive calendar days is withdrawn.

Licensing. Graduates receive a diploma after completing the hours and theory, an 81% average and the final exams, and settling their account. The Arkansas practical exam is held at your campus and the written exam at a Laser Grade testing site, each with a $78 fee; you need 75% on the practical and 70% on the written exam, which includes state law, before the Department of Health issues a license.

Finding work. The school keeps placement information, trains students in professional appearance, resume writing, goal setting and job referrals, and contacts salon owners where graduates want to work, though placement is not guaranteed. The catalog describes pay ranging from minimum wage plus commission to flat commissions of about 50%, sometimes 60%, with tips as a second source of income, and advises against booth rental until you are established.

Published outcomes. The catalog's 2023 rates report that 87% of students scheduled to graduate finished within 150% of their scheduled time, 77% of graduates found jobs in the field and 89% of cosmetology exam takers passed. For Cosmetology by campus it lists Rogers 79% graduation, 60% placement and 91% licensure; Fayetteville 73% graduation, 89% placement and 90% licensure; Siloam Springs 69% graduation, 100% placement and 78% licensure; Springdale 88% graduation, 100% placement and 92% licensure; Fort Smith 74% graduation, 83% placement and 100% licensure. Some campuses show 0% rows, printed as they appear, which may reflect programs with no graduates that year.

The campuses. Career Academy of Hair Design has been in continuous operation for more than 30 years and today teaches at five Northwest and western Arkansas campuses: Springdale (346 East Robinson Avenue), Rogers (2100 West Hudson Road), Fayetteville (4310 West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard), Fort Smith (1000 Phoenix Avenue) and Siloam Springs (821 South Mount Olive Street). Each has a large clinic, several classrooms, a facial room, a manicure room, a dispensary and a break room, and the classrooms have styling chairs, dryers, large-screen TVs and a library; the business office is at Rogers. Instructors complete at least 12 hours of continuing education a year. Students moving to the area can get advice on finding housing.

Daily life. Students wear CAHD scrubs with a lanyard name tag, scan in and out on the Genesis time clock, and take a one-hour lunch between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. Phones are for school use only on the clinic floor and in class, food and drink stay in the break area, clients are booked through the school, and a student who refuses a client ticket is sent home for 24 hours. An advisory report sends a student home for the day; two can bring a week's suspension and three can end enrollment. The school no longer offers leaves of absence (since February 19, 2019), and students may switch campuses or programs only after finishing their current payment period.

Closures. In 2026 the school closes January 1 and 2, May 25, July 3 and 4, September 7, November 25 to 27 and December 24 and 25, and announces weather closings on Facebook and local television. The catalog notes long periods of standing and some exposure to hot wax, solvents and acrylic liquids.