Licensed and earning in ~11 months — for less than one year of
university.
Itemized program costs
Cosmetology — full cost, itemized
Registration fee
$100
Books, kit & equipment
$2,800
Tuition
$16,000
Total cost
$18,900
1,500 hours · ~11 months · both campuses
Nail Technology — full cost, itemized
Registration fee
$100
Books, kit & equipment
$900
Tuition
$3,595
Total cost
$4,595
350 hours · 3 months · both campuses
One of the lowest-priced programs in Kansas — and we publish every
number. For scale: Aveda Institute Denver lists $21,150 in
tuition alone for the same 1,500 cosmetology hours.
Paying for it
Three ways students actually pay.
1 · FAFSA — federal aid
File the FAFSA® with our school code: Hays
015944 or Salina E02178.
Processing takes about 2–3 weeks to reach us, then we contact you
about eligibility. Many of our students have tuition completely
covered through federal loans and grants.
Pell Grant: Need-based; no repayment.
Subsidized Stafford Loan: Need-based; no interest while in school.
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan: All eligible students; interest accrues immediately; payments begin ~6 months after leaving school.
You'll also complete a Master Promissory Note and Entrance
Counseling at studentaid.gov — we'll point you at both.
2 · Payment plans
Don't qualify for aid, or choose not to use it? We can set up a
payment plan to fit your needs — talk to Summer, our Financial
Aid Director, about what works for your family.
Veteran or currently unemployed? Additional benefits may apply —
call and an admissions director will walk you through it.
3 · Scholarships
We award one $500 scholarship
each year to a graduating senior from any Kansas high school —
application, short essay, and transcript due by
May 1, winner notified May 15.
A directory of a dozen external beauty-school scholarships is
coming to this page — ask admissions in the meantime.
Want a personalized estimate first? Use the school's net price
calculator:
Hays ·
Salina.
Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
For parents
The adult conversation.
Is this school legitimate?
Yes. Hays Academy is nationally accredited by NACCAS and licensed by the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. In the 2024 NACCAS annual report, 100% of graduates passed their licensure exams and 83.91% were placed in jobs. It has operated in Hays since 1981.
What will it actually cost?
Cosmetology is $18,900 all-in; nail technology is $4,595. Those totals include registration, books, kit and equipment — there is no 'call for pricing.' For comparison, Aveda Institute Denver lists $21,150 in tuition alone for the same 1,500 hours.
Will financial aid cover it?
The school participates in federal Title IV aid: Pell Grants and Stafford loans via the FAFSA®. Many students have tuition fully covered through federal loans and grants. Payment plans are available for those who don't qualify or prefer not to borrow.
Is this a durable career?
A licensed trade that cannot be outsourced or automated away — you can't offshore a haircut. The program includes business and financial-literacy education (MONEY by Qnity, plus an FHSU Business Essential Certificate) aimed at ownership, not just employment.
Where would my kid live?
Through the school's partnership with Fort Hays State University, Hays-campus students can live in FHSU dorms — a rare arrangement for a beauty school.
Questions we didn't answer? Call Hays at
(785) 628-6624 — and come
along on the tour. We'll answer the money questions in person.
Text me the cost breakdown.
We'll send the itemized numbers for your program, what FAFSA can cover, and the next start dates — straight to your phone.
Ok — check your texts. 💌
Randi will text you real answers — cost, start dates, and a tour invite. No spam, no pressure.
Randi Gerstner Admissions Director — she's the one texting you.
“The owners and instructors truly seem to care about our success in school and afterwards. They do so much more than just preparing you for your state board exams. They help you build habits and character that will last a lifetime.”
