Cosmetology (Ballwin) is a Diploma program offered by Crave Beauty Academy in Ballwin, MO. The program takes 1,500 clock hours, 43 weeks full time to complete, with a total tuition of $19,000.
Program Overview
Cosmetology, 1,500 hours. Crave Beauty Academy's Cosmetology program at its Ballwin campus prepares students for the Missouri State Board licensing exam, combining classroom theory, Pivot Point's LAB online learning system and supervised work on guests in the student salon and spa. It is taught in English and runs 43 weeks full time or 75 weeks in the evening.
Core training first. The first 10 weeks (the first 18 in the evening program) are Core classroom training in infection control, hair care, skin care, foundational and combination haircuts, nail technology, chemical reformation and color design. After Core, students have class one day a week and spend the rest of their time in the student salon.
Advanced phases. The Experience, Create and Salon Life phases add texture and relaxing, makeup artistry, long hair design, color formulation, men's cutting, brow lamination and lash lifts, Babe hair extensions, texture haircutting and styling, and Pivot Point's taper and fade techniques.
What sets this Program apart
- Pivot Point curriculum. Classes use Pivot Point's LAB online learning system, its Beauty as a Business social media lessons and its Vitality well-being project.
- Sam Villa and Babe extensions. Crave is a Sam Villa partnership school with SkillsUp digital training, and students learn Babe hair extensions.
- Money skills and a portfolio. Money EDU and Qnity teach personal finance, and a digital portfolio platform helps students build their business.
- Taper and fade. The Salon Life phase teaches Pivot Point's salon taper and fade techniques for male clients.
Admission Requirements and Process
Admission requirements. Applicants must be at least 17 and high school graduates, showing a diploma, a transcript showing completion, a certificate of attainment, a GED or equivalency, or a state-issued home-school credential. A foreign diploma must be evaluated through the company the Missouri State Board recommends before enrolling, and the academy does not enroll ability-to-benefit students.
Before the first day. Applicants provide a birth certificate, passport or other proof of birth and a photo ID, pay the $100 non-refundable application fee, pass the entrance exam, complete the admissions application with a signed tour sheet, and apply to the Missouri State Board for an apprentice license. Enrollments are accepted year-round.
Transfer students. Transfer hours must be pre-approved by the Executive Director and Campus Director, the hours still needed are charged at an hourly rate, and transfer students bring the equipment their classes require. A diploma is issued to transfer students who attend at least 750 hours in cosmetology or 375 in esthetics.
School Information
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
When you attend an accredited institution, you attend a school that has been independently evaluated for educational quality.
Crave Beauty Academy is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS), and the Ballwin campus holds NACCAS additional location accreditation. Its programs prepare students for licensure by the Missouri State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners.
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
General Requirements
- High school completionA diploma, transcript, certificate of attainment, GED or equivalency, or a state home-school credential.
- Age and identificationAt least 17, with a birth certificate, passport or other proof of birth and a photo ID.
- Entrance examPass the academy's entrance exam.
- Application and tourThe admissions application, a signed tour sheet and the $100 non-refundable application fee.
- Apprentice licenseAn apprentice license application to the Missouri State Board.
Application Process
- 1Request informationFill out the Get Enrollment Info form on the Crave Beauty Academy website.
- 2Interview and tourMeet an admissions advisor for a personal interview, then tour the campus.
- 3ApplyComplete the admissions application and pay the $100 application fee.
- 4Entrance exam and documentsPass the entrance exam and provide proof of high school completion, proof of birth and a photo ID.
- 5EnrollApply for your Missouri apprentice license, sign the enrollment agreement and begin Core training.
Program Schedule
Full time or evenings. Full-time students attend Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 35 hours a week, for 43 weeks; evening part-time students attend Monday through Thursday from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., 20 hours a week, for 75 weeks. Since January 5, 2026, the academy has been closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Upcoming start dates. The Ballwin campus's 2026 start-date calendar lists Cosmetology starts on October 19 and November 23, 2026 (full time) and October 12, 2026 (evening).
Attendance and leaves. Students clock in and out on the time clock, take a 15-minute break each morning and afternoon, and report an absence before the school day begins. A leave of absence is requested in writing, lasts at least 30 days and no more than 60, and extends the contract end date by the same number of days.
Curriculum
Fifteen Missouri subject areas, 1,500 hours. The largest are hair setting, pin curls, finger waves and thermal curling (225 hours), hair coloring (130), haircutting (130), perms and relaxing (125) and manicuring (110), with 470 hours of advanced curriculum defined by the academy; the full list is shown below. Missouri requires 160 hours before students serve paying guests, and Crave students complete additional Core hours first.
Grading and progress. Grades are A (95-100), B (89-94) and C (85-88), and students keep at least an 85% grade average and 85% attendance. Tests are usually weekly, with two retakes allowed at a highest recorded score of 85%, and satisfactory progress is evaluated at 450, 900 and 1,200 actual hours. Full-time students must finish within 118% of the program, 1,770 hours or 50 weeks.
Graduation and licensure. Graduates follow academy rules, complete every academic and state credit requirement and attend graduation, then receive a diploma. To be licensed, a graduate completes the approved program, pays all fees to the school and passes the Missouri State Board's computer-based exam with 75% on both the written and practical exams.
Required Courses
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Shampooing | 40 |
| Hair Coloring, Bleaches and Rinses | 130 |
| Hair Cutting and Shaping | 130 |
| Permanent Waving and Relaxing | 125 |
| Hair Setting, Pin Curls, Finger Waves and Thermal Curling | 225 |
| Comb Outs and Hair Styling Techniques | 105 |
| Scalp Treatments and Scalp Diseases | 30 |
| Facials, Eyebrows and Arches | 40 |
| Manicuring, Hand and Arm Massage and Treatment of Nails | 110 |
| Cosmetic Chemistry | 25 |
| Salesmanship and Shop Management | 10 |
| Sanitation and Sterilization | 30 |
| Anatomy | 20 |
| State Law | 10 |
| Advanced Curriculum | 470 |
| Totals | 1,500 |
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (1,500 hours) | $19,000 |
| Equipment and books | $4,241.87 |
| Missouri sales tax on the kit | $308.95 |
| Application fee (non-refundable) | $100 |
| Total | $23,650.82 |
The Missouri State Board apprentice license fee ($5) is paid directly to the State Board.
Financial aid. Crave Beauty Academy participates in the Federal Pell Grant and Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Parent PLUS Loan programs for students who qualify. Students file the FAFSA using school code E02186 for the Ballwin campus, and the academy accepts third-party scholarships.
Paying for school. An interest-free payment plan is available while attending, with payments due on the 15th of each month and a $25 late fee after that; payments can be made through the online portal or by cash, credit card or check. Training more than 30 days past the contract end date is charged at $12.67 an hour, retaking a class after that date costs $50, and a transcript costs $10.
Cancellation and refunds. The $100 application fee is non-refundable. Cancelling in writing within three business days of signing, or later but before classes begin, refunds everything else paid, and equipment, books and supplies are non-refundable once used. After classes begin, based on scheduled hours, the academy keeps 20% of tuition through 4.9% of the program, 30% through 9.9%, 40% through 14.9%, 45% through 24.9%, 70% through 49.9%, and all tuition from 50%. Refunds are made within 30 days.
Career Outcomes
Careers. Cosmetology graduates work as professional hair stylists, hair color and perming specialists, nail care technicians, cosmetology school educators, platform artists, fashion stylists, salon consultants, salon managers and owners.
Career help. Placement help includes resume writing, mock job interviews and salon exposure, and the Rising Star Program brings salon owners and managers to the academy to meet students. Students are enrolled in the Beauty Cast Network career placement system, and employment is not guaranteed.
What to expect as a Crave student
The Ballwin campus. The St. Louis-area campus on Manchester Road spans more than 10,400 square feet, with three classrooms, a student salon, areas for guest services, and space for business and social media training.
Student life. Students arrive in professional attire with hair styled and makeup applied, and the student café is the place for breaks. The academy offers help locating housing or roommates, reduced prices on selected professional education, and a library of materials, and every service in the student salon and spa is performed under licensed instructors.
School Information
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
When you attend an accredited institution, you attend a school that has been independently evaluated for educational quality.
Crave Beauty Academy is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS), and the Ballwin campus holds NACCAS additional location accreditation. Its programs prepare students for licensure by the Missouri State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners.
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide