Veteran Trade Schools

VA-approved barber and cosmetology programs in Tennessee

Quick answer

Barber and cosmetology training in Tennessee is spread across 36 cities, with Memphis the largest at 7 locations.

VA's GI Bill® Comparison Tool lists 58 barber and cosmetology training locations in Tennessee with 76 approved programs: 57 with school programs and 1 with apprenticeship or on-the-job training. 12 have a VA caution flag.

Before you enroll, open the VA profile to confirm the exact program, and ask the School Certifying Official to confirm your start date. [VA: Choosing a GI Bill approved school]

58 locations, by city

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Upper Cumberland

Crossville, TN
VA profile for Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Upper Cumberland (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Public VA caution flag
  • Dipl-Cosmetology

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

GI Bill students (all programs): 34Accredited (national)

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump

Crump, TN
VA profile for Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Public VA caution flag
  • Cosmetology-Diploma

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

GI Bill students (all programs): 28Accredited (national)

Show all 58 locations

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson

Dickson, TN
VA profile for Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Public VA caution flag
  • Dipl-Barbering
  • Dipl-Cosmetology

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

GI Bill students (all programs): 236Accredited (national)

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Harriman

Harriman, TN
VA profile for Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Harriman (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Public VA caution flag
  • Dipl-Cosmetology

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

GI Bill students (all programs): 13Accredited (national)

Douglas J Aveda Institute

Knoxville, TN
VA profile for Douglas J Aveda Institute (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program For-profit VA caution flag
  • Certificate: Cosmetology
  • Certificate: Master Barber

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

GI Bill students (all programs): 7Accredited (hybrid)

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN
VA profile for Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Public VA caution flag
  • Dipl-Cosmetology

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

GI Bill students (all programs): 78Accredited (national)

Paul Mitchell the School-Memphis

Memphis, TN
VA profile for Paul Mitchell the School-Memphis (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program For-profit VA caution flag
  • Certificate: Cosmetology

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

GI Bill students (all programs): 5Accredited (hybrid)

Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro, TN
VA profile for Paul Mitchell the School-Murfreesboro (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program For-profit VA caution flag
  • Certificate: Cosmetology

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

GI Bill students (all programs): 9Accredited (hybrid)

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry Carroll

Paris, TN
VA profile for Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Henry Carroll (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Public VA caution flag
  • Diploma: Cosmetology

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

GI Bill students (all programs): 31Accredited (national)

Source: VA GI Bill Comparison Tool program data, retrieved October 23, 2026. School details come from VA's data file dated October 8, 2026. The list is sorted by city, then name. It isn't a ranking.

Common questions

How many GI Bill-approved barber and cosmetology programs are in Tennessee?

VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool lists 76 approved programs at 58 locations in Tennessee as of October 23, 2026. That's about 4% of the 1,563 barber and cosmetology locations in VA's data nationally. By type: 36 for-profit schools, 20 public colleges and technical schools, 1 private nonprofit school, 1 employer or apprenticeship sponsor.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Which cities in Tennessee have barber and cosmetology programs?

By number of locations: Memphis (7), Nashville (5), Cookeville (4), Knoxville (4), Chattanooga (2), Franklin (2) and 30 more cities.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Are there paid barber and cosmetology apprenticeships in Tennessee that take the GI Bill?

Yes. 1 location offers VA-approved on-the-job training in Tennessee (2 programs); it's a registered apprenticeship. With the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you're paid wages plus a monthly housing payment that steps down every six months.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool] [VA: On-the-job training and apprenticeships]

Do any barber and cosmetology schools in Tennessee have VA caution flags?

Yes. 12 locations have a VA caution flag. Each flag is shown on its listing in VA's wording. Read it before you enroll.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Other trades in Tennessee

← All Barber & Cosmetology programs · Does the GI Bill cover barber or cosmetology school?

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  2. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool data (ComparisonToolData.xlsx)”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Choosing a GI Bill approved school”. 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.