Veteran Trade Schools

VA-approved barber and cosmetology programs in Wisconsin

Quick answer

Barber and cosmetology training in Wisconsin is spread across 20 cities, with Milwaukee the largest at 6 locations.

VA's GI Bill® Comparison Tool lists 33 barber and cosmetology training locations in Wisconsin with 47 approved programs: 30 with school programs and 3 with apprenticeship or on-the-job training. 5 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]

33 locations, by city

Show all 33 locations

Institute of Beauty and Wellness

Milwaukee, WI
VA profile for Institute of Beauty and Wellness (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program For-profit VA caution flag
  • Diploma Barbering
  • 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): 6Accredited (hybrid)

Paul Mitchell the School-Milwaukee

Wauwatosa, WI
VA profile for Paul Mitchell the School-Milwaukee (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program For-profit VA caution flag
  • Cert Barbering
  • Cert 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): 6Accredited (hybrid)

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 Wisconsin?

VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool lists 47 approved programs at 33 locations in Wisconsin as of October 23, 2026. That's about 2% of the 1,563 barber and cosmetology locations in VA's data nationally. By type: 17 for-profit schools, 13 public colleges and technical schools, 3 employers and apprenticeship sponsors.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Which cities in Wisconsin have barber and cosmetology programs?

By number of locations: Milwaukee (6), Madison (4), Appleton (3), Eau Claire (3), Wausau (2), Ashwaubenon (1) and 14 more cities.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

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

Yes. 3 locations offer VA-approved on-the-job training in Wisconsin (4 programs); 3 of them are registered apprenticeships. 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 Wisconsin have VA caution flags?

Yes. 5 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 Wisconsin

← 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.