Cosmetology Schools in Indiana

Now may be a great time to become a cosmetologist in Indiana, especially after recent efforts to deregulate the state’s beauty industry failed. In early 2021, Indiana representatives proposed House Bill 1364, which would have allowed individuals to provide cosmetology services for pay without a state license. An outcry from industry professionals made sure the bill never got a hearing.

Browse our directory of cosmetology schools in Indiana, or skip ahead to learn about the state's cosmetology licensing requirements and job outlook.

Browse All Cosmetology Schools in Indiana

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5750 A Crawfordsville Road
Speedway, IN 46224

(317) 481-0717
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Teacher Training

1681 North College Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47404

Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics

2549 Highway Avenue
Highland, IN 46322

Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Teacher Training

9725 Crosspoint Commons
Indianapolis, IN 46256

Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Teacher Training

833 Ferry Street
Lafayette, IN 47901

(888) 616-9051
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology
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Art22 Academy – Accredited

2440 Getz Road Fort
Fort Wayne, IN 46804

Aveda Fredric’s Institute Indianapolis – Accredited

2208 East 116th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46032

Christina and Company Education Center – Accredited

220 Meijer Drive
Lafayette, IN 47905

Denmark College - Chicago – Accredited

214 South Wabash Avenue
Chicago, IN 60604

Denmark College - Merrillville – Accredited

8101 Polo Club Drive
Merrillville, IN 46410

Don Roberts School of Hair Design – Accredited

152 East US Highway 30
Schererville, IN 46375

Expressions Beauty College

2105 Miami Street
South Bend, IN 46613

Freestyle Academy for Hair

107 North Meridian Street
Lebanon, IN 46052

Fuqua Institute

7061 Twin Oaks Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46226

Ideal Beauty Academy - Jeffersonville

1401 Youngstown Drive
Jeffersonville, IN 47130

J. Michael Harrold Beauty Academy - Avon – Accredited

10898 East US Highway 36
Avon, IN 46123

J. Michael Harrold Beauty Academy - Terre Haute – Accredited

2232 Wabash Avenue Terre
Terre Haute, IN 47807

Kenny's Academy of Barbering - East Campus – Accredited

5670 Caito Drive Suite 101 Building 5
Indianapolis, IN 46226

Kenny's Academy of Barbering - Main Campus – Accredited

2150 Lafayette Road
Indianapolis, IN 46222

Kenny's Academy of Barbering - South Campus – Accredited

5425 South East Street
Indianapolis, IN 46227

Knox Beauty College – Accredited

320 East Culver Road
Knox, IN 46534

Lil Lou's Beauty and Barber College - Gary – Accredited

4853 Broadway
Gary, IN 46409

Lil Lou's Beauty and Barber College - Hammond – Accredited

5625 Hohman Avenue
Hammond, IN 46320

Madame Barbara's Accelerated Cosmetology School

455 West Springhill Road
Terre Haute, IN 47802

Michiana Beauty College – Accredited

7321 Heritage Square Drive 160
Granger, IN 46530

Paul Mitchell The School Indianapolis – Accredited

8751 U.S. 31 Highway South
Indianapolis, IN 46227

Paul Mitchell The School Merrillville – Accredited

7990 Broadway
Merrillville, IN 46410

PJ's College of Cosmetology - Brownsburg – Accredited

1012 C East Main Street
Brownsburg, IN 46112

PJ's College of Cosmetology - Clarksville – Accredited

1414 Blackiston Mill Road
Clarksville, IN 47129

PJ's College of Cosmetology - Greenfield – Accredited

1400 West Main Street
Greenfield, IN 46140

PJ's College of Cosmetology - Indianapolis – Accredited

4010 South Emerson Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46203

PJ's College of Cosmetology - Jeffersonville – Accredited

1710 East 10th Street
Jeffersonville, IN 47130

PJ's College of Cosmetology - Muncie – Accredited

3100 West Kilgore Avenue
Muncie, IN 47304

PJ's College of Cosmetology - Plainfield – Accredited

2026 Stafford Road
Plainfield, IN 46168

PJ's College of Cosmetology - Richmond – Accredited

50 Hayes Arboretum Road
Richmond, IN 47374

Prestige Beauty School - Indianapolis

5151 East 82nd Street Suite 400
Indianapolis, IN 46250

Ravenscroft Beauty College – Accredited

4530 Lahmeyer Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46835

Rudae's School of Beauty Culture – Accredited

5317 Coldwater Road Coldwater Crossing
Fort Wayne, IN 46825

Summit Salon Academy - Anderson – Accredited

1944 East 53rd Street
Anderson, IN 46013

Summit Salon Academy - Kokomo – Accredited

1012 South Reed Road
Kokomo, IN 46901

Textures Institute of Cosmetology – Accredited

8325 Michigan Road
Indianapolis, IN 46268

The Salon Professional Academy - Evansville – Accredited

5545 Vogel Road
Evansville, IN 47715

The Salon Professional Academy - Fort Wayne

10264 Coldwater Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46825

Vincennes Beauty College – Accredited

12 South Second Street
Vincennes, IN 47591

Vincennes University

1002 North First Street
Vincennes, IN 47591

Vogue Beauty College - Elkhart

2307 Charlotte Avenue
Elkhart, IN 46517

Vogue Beauty College - Mishawaka

301 Lincoln Way West
Mishawaka, IN 46544
Accredited School

You must attend a school that meets any licensure requirements as defined by your state. Most states require that you graduate from an accredited or state-approved school.

Cosmetology Schools Near Me

Check out the Cosmetology schools these cities in Indiana have to offer.

How to Become a Cosmetologist in Indiana

Indiana Cosmetology Careers At a Glance
  • 1,500 education hours are required to become licensed.
  • You must renew your license every 4 years.
  • 0 continuing education hours are required to renew your license.
  • The average salary for cosmetologists in Indiana is $31,320.
  • There is a predicted 18% job increase between 2020–2030 for cosmetologists.

In Indiana, hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists provide beauty services like cutting, coloring, and styling hair. They may also offer scalp treatments and massages, shampooing, makeup application, wig dressing, hair removal, or skin care and nail services.

To become a cosmetologist in Indiana, you must:

  • Be 18 years old
  • Have a 10th-grade education or the equivalent
  • Complete 1,500 training hours at an approved Indiana beauty school
  • Pass a written examination administered by the board
  • Apply for your license and pay the $40 application fee
  • Upload your examination pass notice and Beauty Culture Education Certification form with your application
  • Complete background questions and submit court documents, if applicable.

With the application, you have to answer background questions. If you answer yes to any question, you must include a statement explaining the details of the violation and submit copies of court documents. You may also need to submit documentation for any legal name changes.

Cosmetologist Salary and Projected Job Growth in Indiana

$31,320

Average yearly salary for cosmetology in Indiana

The average annual salary for cosmetologists in Indiana was $31,320 in 2021, which was an average of $15.06 per hour. Pay in the state ranged from $20,860 to $59,070 annually, but salaries vary widely based on location and industry. For example, performing arts companies tend to pay the highest wages on average.

Job growth for cosmetologists is promising in the Hoosier State. As of 2021, the number of hairdresser, hairstylist, and cosmetologist jobs in Indiana is projected to increase by 18% between 2020 and 2030.

The highest-paying metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas for cosmetologists in Indiana are:

Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Areas 2021 Median Salary
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI $36,530
Elkhart-Goshen, IN $30,100
Bloomington, IN $29,680
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $29,540
Kokomo, IN $29,460
Michigan City-La Porte, IN $29,220
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $29,100
Fort Wayne, IN $29,000
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $28,880
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $28,490
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $28,360
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN $28,350
Muncie, IN $27,930
Evansville, IN-KY $27,470
Terre Haute, IN $26,650

Table information sourced from O*Net (2022)

What to Expect From a Cosmetology Program in Indiana

1,500 Education Hours

Required to earn a cosmetology license

To become a cosmetologist in Indiana, you must attend a beauty school approved by the State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners. Approved cosmetology schools in Indiana agree to provide a minimum of 1,500 training hours, including training in the following subjects:

  • Hair cutting and dyeing
  • Hair perming and relaxing
  • Hair removal
  • Makeup application
  • Manicuring
  • Basic scalp massage
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Chemistry of cosmetology products
  • Health and safety

Due to the pandemic, many cosmetology schools offer remote programming options, but students are still required to attain the same number of total training hours.

Can I Apprentice as a Cosmetologist in Indiana?

Indiana does not offer apprenticeship programs for cosmetologists. However, the state accepts apprenticeship hours from another state as a part of its reciprocity agreements.

Indiana Cosmetology Licensing Requirements

To earn your license, you first have to complete 1,500 hours of training at an approved cosmetology school in Indiana. You have one year after graduation to pass the exam and apply for licensure, and you must pass the written test through PSI with a score of 75% or higher.

Your school pre-approves you to take the exam and provides PSI with your information. Once you receive an email confirmation, you can register and schedule your exam online. There are 14 testing center locations available across the state. On the day of your exam, arrive at the testing center 30 minutes early to sign in and bring two forms of signature-bearing identification, such as a driver’s license, passport, student ID, Social Security card, or birth certificate.  

The written exam typically takes 120 minutes and consists of 100 questions. Students pay a non-refundable fee when scheduling, which is $48 for cosmetologists and $44 for barbers. The exam is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Simplified Chinese and covers:

  • Rules, Regulations, and Safety: 30%
  • Trichology: 4%
  • Shampoo/Scalp Analysis: 4%
  • Styling: 5%
  • Haircutting: 8%
  • Hair Color, Bleaching/Lightening, and Tinting: 23%
  • Permanent Waving: 8%
  • Chemical Straightening and Relaxing: 8%
  • Esthetics: 5%
  • Nails: 5%

All exam centers provide access per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Registered applicants with disabilities may request alternative arrangements through PSI by submitting documentation from their beauty school or doctor for verification.

Your beauty school must also complete a Beauty Culture Education Certification form that you upload when applying for the exam. After passing the test, you should receive an examination pass notice, which you then submit to the board with your licensure application.

Your score is available immediately following the exam. If you fail, you have unlimited opportunities to retest within a year of graduation. Applicants who don’t pass the exam within a year must re-start the process.

Indiana Cosmetology Licensure Reciprocity

Reciprocity is available in Indiana with at least 1,500 training hours and verification from each state, territory, or country in which you have held a license.

To apply for a cosmetology license by reciprocity, you must meet the standard requirements (above) and pay the $40 application fee. If the state your earned licensure in did not require 1,500 hours of training, each year of practice may replace 100 hours of education if you have a minimum of 1,000 training hours and at least a 70% passing score on your written and practical exams.

Applicants with experience in a jurisdiction that does not require a license can apply for a provisional license and work under supervision. If your state does not meet Indiana’s minimum reciprocity requirements, you may transfer training hours from an out-of-state school and complete your education at an approved beauty school in Indiana and take the written exam.

Cosmetology License Renewal in Indiana

4 Years

License renewal period

0 Hours

Continuing education required

You must renew your Indiana cosmetology or barbering license every four years. You can renew your license online or by paper by printing and mailing a renewal form with your $40 renewal fee. If your license has been expired for less than three years, you incur a $50 late fee. Renewal after three years of expiration comes with a $40 reinstatement fee in addition to the late and renewal fees.

There are no continuing education hours required for cosmetologist license renewal in Indiana.

Contact the Indiana State Board of Cosmetology

Indiana Professional Licensing Agency

Cosmetology is integral to the fabric of communities in Indiana. It has become an intriguing pathway for individuals to find themselves. With more looking to join their ranks, a key step is to consult administrators at the following groups.

Indiana State Board of Barber and Cosmetology Examiners
MyLicense.IN.gov
American Association of Cosmetology Schools
Professional Beauty Association

Commercial_Combo_Program-Career-Geo
Cosmetology
Indiana

How to Become a Cosmetologist in Your State