VA-approved barber and cosmetology programs
- Page last updated October 23, 2026
- VA data retrieved October 23, 2026 (Comparison Tool data version 1522)
Quick answer
VA's GI Bill® Comparison Tool lists 1,563 barber and cosmetology training locations in 52 states and territories, with 2,353 approved programs. 59 of them offer apprenticeship or on-the-job training. What the GI Bill pays for barber or cosmetology school.
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Source: VA GI Bill Comparison Tool program data, retrieved October 23, 2026; school details from VA's Comparison Tool data file dated October 8, 2026. Caution flags are shown in VA's wording.
Barber & Cosmetology programs by state
- Alabama (24)
- Arizona (21)
- Arkansas (43)
- California (100)
- Colorado (35)
- Connecticut (10)
- Delaware (5)
- Florida (116)
- Georgia (78)
- Idaho (14)
- Illinois (59)
- Indiana (39)
- Iowa (15)
- Kansas (22)
- Kentucky (19)
- Louisiana (44)
- Maryland (14)
- Massachusetts (16)
- Michigan (39)
- Minnesota (24)
- Mississippi (32)
- Missouri (26)
- Montana (5)
- Nebraska (10)
- Nevada (10)
- New Hampshire (8)
- New Jersey (42)
- New Mexico (11)
- New York (53)
- North Carolina (67)
- North Dakota (5)
- Ohio (44)
- Oklahoma (37)
- Oregon (5)
- Pennsylvania (78)
- Puerto Rico (18)
- South Carolina (33)
- South Dakota (6)
- Tennessee (58)
- Texas (157)
- Utah (16)
- Virginia (29)
- Washington (14)
- West Virginia (14)
- Wisconsin (33)
States with at least 5 locations have their own page. Use the filter above for any state.
Counts for all 52 states and territories
| State | Locations | With school programs | With apprenticeship / OJT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 24 | 23 | 1 |
| Alaska | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Arizona | 21 | 20 | 1 |
| Arkansas | 43 | 43 | 0 |
| California | 100 | 90 | 10 |
| Colorado | 35 | 32 | 3 |
| Connecticut | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| Delaware | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Florida | 116 | 116 | 0 |
| Georgia | 78 | 63 | 15 |
| Guam | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Hawaii | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Idaho | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| Illinois | 59 | 59 | 0 |
| Indiana | 39 | 39 | 0 |
| Iowa | 15 | 12 | 3 |
| Kansas | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| Kentucky | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| Louisiana | 44 | 43 | 1 |
| Maine | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Maryland | 14 | 13 | 1 |
| Massachusetts | 16 | 15 | 1 |
| Michigan | 39 | 39 | 0 |
| Minnesota | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| Mississippi | 32 | 32 | 0 |
| Missouri | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| Montana | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Nebraska | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| Nevada | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| New Hampshire | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| New Jersey | 42 | 41 | 1 |
| New Mexico | 11 | 10 | 1 |
| New York | 53 | 53 | 0 |
| North Carolina | 67 | 67 | 0 |
| North Dakota | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Ohio | 44 | 44 | 0 |
| Oklahoma | 37 | 36 | 1 |
| Oregon | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Pennsylvania | 78 | 75 | 3 |
| Puerto Rico | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| Rhode Island | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| South Carolina | 33 | 32 | 1 |
| South Dakota | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| Tennessee | 58 | 57 | 1 |
| Texas | 157 | 157 | 0 |
| Utah | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| Virginia | 29 | 23 | 6 |
| Washington | 14 | 13 | 1 |
| West Virginia | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| Wisconsin | 33 | 30 | 3 |
| Wyoming | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Common questions
How many barber and cosmetology programs are approved for the GI Bill?
As of October 23, 2026, VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool lists 2,353 approved programs at 1,563 locations in 52 states and territories. By type: 1,038 for-profit schools, 444 public colleges and technical schools, 59 employers and apprenticeship sponsors, 22 private nonprofit schools.
Which states have the most GI Bill-approved barber and cosmetology locations?
By number of locations in VA's data: Texas (157), Florida (116), California (100), Georgia (78), Pennsylvania (78).
How much barber and cosmetology training approved for the GI Bill is on the job?
59 locations offer VA-approved apprenticeship or on-the-job training (4% of all locations), with 72 programs. The other locations offer school (non-college degree) programs only.
[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool] [VA: On-the-job training and apprenticeships]
What are barber and cosmetology programs usually called in VA's data?
The most common program titles are “Cosmetology” (588), “Certificate: Cosmetology” (167), “Barbering” (162), “Barber” (125), “Dipl-Cosmetology” (68). Titles are as the school or employer reported them to VA.
Do any barber and cosmetology schools have VA caution flags?
Yes. 180 locations have at least one VA caution flag. We show each flag on its listing in VA's wording.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Non-college degree programs” (page last updated December 13, 2024). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “On-the-job training and apprenticeships” (page last updated February 4, 2025). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Post-9/11 GI Bill rates (Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027)” (page last updated October 13, 2026). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Licensing and certification tests and prep courses” (page last updated October 23, 2026). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.