Cosmetology Diploma Program
If you dream of a career in beauty, Blue Cliff College is here to help you get the training you need for your future! We offer a Cosmetology diploma program that provides excellent preparation to launch a creative career helping clients look and feel their best.
Cosmetology is the study of beauty, focusing on hair care and styling, skin care, makeup application, and nail services. Some people with cosmetology training narrow their focus to practice a particular skillset, such as focusing on hair styling and coloring. Others offer a broad set of beauty services.
How Long Is the Cosmetology Diploma Program?
The Cosmetology diploma program at Blue Cliff College requires 1,500 clock hours, which takes 12 months for full-time students. At our Louisiana campuses, you may also choose a part-time, evening class schedule, which takes 19 months to complete.
Our Cosmetology Curriculum: What to Expect
As a cosmetologist, you’ll need training in many topics. Of course, you’ll learn the basics of techniques in hair cutting and styling, as well as manicuring and skin care basics. This includes classes covering:
- Fundamentals of Haircare: Properties of the hair and scalp, shampooing and conditioning, principles of hair design and the fundamentals of hair cutting, plus understanding hair loss
- Haircutting: Introductory hair cutting techniques, including blunt and graduated cuts, layered cuts, and men’s clipper cuts, how to provide services for curly hair, conducting client consultations, and proper sanitation and disinfection
- Hairstyling: Wet styling, thermal straightening, braiding and extensions, wigs, weaves, hair enhancements, and considerations for men’s hair
- Hair Texturizing: Chemical hair relaxing and perming, including how-tos and relevant science
- Hair Color: Hair coloring and lightening processes, including special effects
- Skin Care: Facials, science of the skin, skin treatments, brow tinting, basic makeup for diverse skin tones, artificial eyelashes, and facials with electrotherapy
- Nails: Manicuring and pedicuring, nail tips, wraps, gels, and acrylics
The Cosmetology diploma program also covers additional topics to help you become a successful and well-rounded beauty pro:
- Science of Cosmetology: Anatomy, biology and chemistry, infection control, and the use of electrical equipment
- The Salon Business: Cosmetology business development, job hunting, and professional skills in a salon setting
In addition, every cosmetology student at Blue Cliff College completes multiple units of hands-on skills work, first with mannequins and then with real clients in the student salon, under the supervision of licensed instructors.
Blue Cliff College’s Cosmetology curriculum meets all expectations of the Louisiana or Mississippi cosmetology boards. After you complete your required clock hours, you are eligible to take the Mississippi or Louisiana cosmetology licensure exams, aka state board exams. Our school will help you to prepare for this step.
Explore Related Programs
Should I Take Cosmetology or Esthetics?
In addition to cosmetology, Blue Cliff College offers an Esthetics program. Estheticians exclusively study skincare and services, and they can offer more types of skin care treatments than cosmetologists. However, estheticians can’t offer hair or nail services.
If this skin care focus sounds like it’s more up your alley, check out our esthetics program.
Cosmetology Diploma Program Locations
You can enroll in our CMA diploma program at the following Blue Cliff campuses:
Our Cosmetology Facilities
Each of our campuses offering the Cosmetology diploma program has spaces designed for effective beauty education. Our facilities include lecture rooms for theory coursework and technique lab rooms and workstations for hands-on skills practice and demonstrations. Our cosmetology student clinics, open to the public, are where our students practice their newfound skills on real clients.
Enrollment Requirements
All applicants to the Blue Cliff College Cosmetology program need to:
- Have graduated from high school (or equivalent)
- Be at least 16 years old
- Complete a survey regarding health and physical ability to work in the field
- Have a score of at least 12 on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam
- Meet requirements set by the Louisiana and Mississippi State Cosmetology Boards
- Meet with an admissions representative
While Blue Cliff College’s admissions requirements are largely aligned with the state cosmetology board requirements, those applying for enrollment in our Cosmetology diploma program should also make sure they meet all their state’s board licensing requirements before applying to our training program.
You can also contact an admissions representative at Blue Cliff College for assistance with any part of the admissions process.
Cosmetology Tuition and Fees at Blue Cliff College
As of 2025, the Cosmetology program at Blue Cliff College costs $26,459, including tuition, fees, graduation costs, and the price of your state-approved cosmetology exam. In Louisiana, you will owe an additional $10 to the Louisiana Board of Cosmetology for your registration.
Financial Aid at Blue Cliff College
Many students at Blue Cliff College are eligible for financial aid, including federal student grants and loans, depending on the results of your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Veterans in either state who intend to use U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs assistance should let the admissions office know before registering.
If you’re attending our program in Louisiana, qualifying students can apply for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarship.
After Graduating from Our Cosmetology Program
After getting a cosmetology license, you might go on to work at salons, day spas and resorts, in the performing arts, or even work for yourself from your home or on location. Many cosmetologists also branch out beyond beauty practice, to fields such as sales or beauty education.
Licensing Information and Accreditation
Blue Cliff College’s cosmetology school maintains current certification and accreditation so you know you’re learning skills that are valued in your field. We are:
- Licensed by the Mississippi Commission on Proprietary School and College Registration (Certificate No. C-736)†
- Licensed by the Louisiana and Mississippi State Boards of Cosmetology†
- Licensed by the Louisiana Board of Regents (License Nos. 2349,2360, 434821, and 3261)
- Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).‡
†State requirements and licensing vary from state to state.
‡The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) is a recognized accrediting agency by the US Department of Education.
