Tuition & aid

Tuition & Scholarships

Graduate in ~11 months, for potentially less than one year of university.

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

The Nail Technology program does not qualify for financial aid.

And then aid happens

Financial Aid Available to those who Qualify.

We participate in federal Title IV aid for cosmetology. Many of our students qualify for tuition assistance through federal loans and grants, and what you'd personally pay comes down to your FAFSA, not to anything a website can promise you.

Cosmetology aid, by kind

Grant, Never repaid

Pell Grant

up to $7,395

Need-based.
Loans, Borrowed and repaid

Subsidized Stafford Loan

up to $3,500

Need-based. No interest while enrolled.

Unsubsidized Stafford Loan

up to $2,000

Interest builds right away. Repayment starts about 6 months after leaving school.
Scholarships, By application, never repaid

Our Kansas senior scholarship

$500

Awarded each year to a graduating Kansas high-school senior, by application.

Outside scholarships

No limit on how many

Community, foundation, industry and brand awards. Apply for as many as you qualify for, and stack them.

See every scholarship →

The Nail Technology program does not qualify for financial aid. Figures shown are illustrative federal maximums, not an award. Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Run the net price calculator for Hays or Salina for an estimate built on your own numbers.

Paying for it

Paying for School Is Possible!

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.

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.

Apply online, and find outside beauty-school scholarships worth stacking.

See every scholarship →

Common questions

Why Hays Academy of Hair Design?

Is Hays Academy accredited?

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 does it cost, all in?

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.'

Can financial aid cover it?

The school participates in federal Title IV aid for the cosmetology program: Pell Grants and Stafford loans via the FAFSA®. Many students have tuition fully covered through federal loans and grants. The Nail Technology program does not qualify for financial aid. Payment plans are available for those who don't qualify or prefer not to borrow.

Is this a career that lasts?

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) aimed at ownership, not just employment.

Where do students live?

If you want to live in the dorms, Fort Hays State University's student-housing office has the details: residence halls, rates and who can apply. FHSU student housing info ↗

Students working with clients in the nail suite at the Hays campus

Start Your Beauty Journey Here

Are You Ready for Beauty School?

Our goal is to produce the most hire-able, financially responsible graduates in the country! We hope that is your goal too!

Get Started (785) 628-6624 Email us Book a salon appointment

Tuition & Scholarships

Itemized program costs