UnisHub University Compass

Barbering: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Barbering is a specialized field focused on the professional care and styling of men's hair, facial hair, and scalp health. This program equips students with the technical expertise and foundational knowledge required to excel in a licensed barbering career, emphasizing both artistic skill and client-centered service. Graduates are prepared to meet industry standards and pursue licensure in a variety of barbering environments.

  • Facial shaving techniques: Mastery of precision shaving methods for the face and neck, including proper use of straight razors and safety razors, with attention to skin sensitivity and client comfort.
  • Beard and mustache shaping: Advanced training in contouring, trimming, and sculpting facial hair to enhance natural features and align with client preferences.
  • Haircutting fundamentals: Development of core cutting skills across various techniques, including clipper work, scissor cutting, and layering, tailored to different hair textures and styles.
  • Hair styling and artistry: Instruction in creating contemporary and classic men’s hairstyles, with emphasis on form, balance, and personal expression.
  • Facial and scalp treatments: Application of massage techniques and skincare protocols to promote circulation, relaxation, and healthy scalp conditions.
  • Chemical applications: Safe and effective use of hair straightening, texturizing, and coloring products, including understanding chemical reactions and client suitability.
  • Anatomy and physiology of hair and scalp: In-depth study of hair structure, growth cycles, and scalp health to inform treatment and styling decisions.
  • Hairpiece and toupee fitting: Training in selecting, adjusting, and securing hair prosthetics for a natural, seamless appearance.
  • Equipment operation and maintenance: Proficiency in using and caring for barbering tools, including clippers, trimmers, razors, and styling appliances.
  • Health and safety protocols: Adherence to sanitation standards, infection control, and workplace safety regulations to ensure client and professional well-being.
  • Client service excellence: Building rapport, assessing needs, and delivering personalized experiences that enhance satisfaction and retention.
  • Business practices for barbershops: Introduction to shop operations, inventory management, pricing strategies, and ethical standards in a professional service environment.

Barbering Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

12,398
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
495
Universities & Colleges
1
Career Pathways

Barbering Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Barbering degrees, including Barbers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 18,100 professionals.


National Average Salaries

Occupation Median Salary Salary Range Total Employment Hourly Rate
Barbers 39-5011 $38,960 $27,770 - $78,440 18,100 $18.73

Barbering Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $24,110 in Mississippi to $102,360 in District of Columbia—a 325% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Iowa, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 18,100 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.

Average Salary Range:

Top Universities for Barbering by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 97 institutions offering Barbering programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Barbering is found at NUC University (NUC) (623 graduates), Texas Barber College (TBC) (238 graduates), Houston Barber School (164 graduates), D'Mart Institute (150 graduates), and Urban Barber College (150 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 6,912 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.

College Name Award Levels Graduates Location Control Website
NUC University (NUC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
623 Bayamon, Puerto Rico Private nuc.edu
Texas Barber College (TBC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
238 Houston, Texas Private txbarber.edu
Houston Barber School
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
164 Houston, Texas Private htxbarberschool.com
D'Mart Institute
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
150 Barranquitas, Puerto Rico Private dmartpr.com
Urban Barber College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
150 Concord, California Private urbanbarbercollege.com
Instituto Educativo Premier
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
139 Ponce, Puerto Rico Private premierponce.net
Moler Barber College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
129 Oakland, California Private moler.org
Advanced Barber College and Hair Design (ABC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
113 Weslaco, Texas Private abcrgv.com
Florida Barber Academy
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
101 Plantation, Florida Private floridabarberacademy.edu
Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
101 Warner Robins, Georgia Public centralgatech.edu
Academy of Hair Design (AHD)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
95 Springfield, Missouri Private aohd.edu
Sharp Edgez Barber Institute
Other Award
94 Rochester, New York Private sharpedgez.com
Olympian Academy of Cosmetology
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
90 LAS CRUCES, New Mexico Private olympianacademy.edu
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
88 Valdosta, Georgia Public wiregrass.edu
CRU Institute of Cosmetology and Barbering
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
87 Garden Grove, California Private cruinstitute.com
LaBarberia Institute of Hair
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
86 Mayfield Hts, Ohio Private labarberiainstitute.com
Winston Salem Barber School
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
84 Winston-Salem, North Carolina Private wsbarberschool.com
Deluxe Barber College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
80 San Antonio, Texas Private deluxebarbercollege.com
Emily Griffith Technical College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
79 Denver, Colorado Public emilygriffith.edu
Modern Hairstyling Institute
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
78 Bayamon, Puerto Rico Private modern.edu
Top of the Line Barber School
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
78 San Antonio, Texas Private totlbarberschool.org
Central Valley Barber College (CVBC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
75 Riverbank, California Private centralvalleybarbercollege.com
Alamo City Barber College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
73 San Antonio, Texas Private alamocitybarbercollege.com
Florida Academy
Other Award
70 Fort Myers, Florida Private florida-academy.edu
Mei Barber School
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
69 Brownsville, Texas Private meibarberschool.com
Bellus Academy
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
67 Chula Vista, California Private bellusacademy.edu
Denmark College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
67 Merrillville, Indiana Private successbarberschool.com
Boise Barber College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
66 Boise, Idaho Private boisebarbercollege.com
Phipps Academy of Barbering
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
65 Richton Park, Illinois Private phippsacademy.com
American Beauty College (ABC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
64 West Covina, California Private americanbeautycollege.edu
Cosmetology & Spa Academy
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
64 Crystal Lake, Illinois Private cosmetologyandspaacademy.edu
Modern Hairstyling Institute (MHI)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
64 Carolina, Puerto Rico Private modern.edu
Ohio State College of Barber Styling
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
60 Columbus, Ohio Private osbc.edu
Barber School of Pittsburgh
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
58 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Private bsp.edu
Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
58 West Palm Beach, Florida Private hi.edu
Rob Roy Academy
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
57 Worcester, Massachusetts Private rob-roy.com
Atlanta Technical College (Atlanta Tech)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
56 Atlanta, Georgia Public atlantatech.edu
Paul Mitchell the School (PMTS)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
56 Costa Mesa, California Private paulmitchell.edu
Academy Di Capelli
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
56 Wallingford, Connecticut Private academydicapelli.com
Kenny's Academy of Barbering
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
56 Indianapolis, Indiana Private kennysacademy.com
Advantage Technical College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
56 San Juan, Puerto Rico Private adtecpr.com
College of Hair Design
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Other Award
55 Lincoln, Nebraska Private collegeofhairdesign.com
Paul Mitchell the School (PMTS)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
55 Wichita, Kansas Private paulmitchell.edu
Trend Barber College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
54 Houston, Texas Private trendbarbercollege.com
Designer Barber & Stylist School
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
54 Fort Smith, Arkansas Private designercollege.net
Sierra College of Beauty
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
53 Merced, California Private sierrabeautycollege.net
Paul Mitchell the School
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
52 Sacramento, California Private paulmitchell.edu
Associated Barber College of San Diego
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
52 San Diego, California Private associatedbarbercollege.edu
Lu Ross Academy
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
51 Ventura, California Private lurossacademy.com
Celebrity School of Beauty
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
50 Miami, Florida Private celebrity.edu
Hawaii Institute of Hair Design
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
48 Honolulu, Hawaii Private hihd.edu
American Educational College (AEC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
48 Bayamon, Puerto Rico Private amedcopr.com
The Barber School
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
48 Midvale, Utah Private thebarberschool.com
California Barber and Beauty College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
48 San Diego, California Private californiabarberandbeauty.com
A Better U Beauty Barber Academy
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
48 Albuquerque, New Mexico Private abuacademy.com
International School of Beauty Inc
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
47 Palm Desert, California Private btyschool.com
Bene's Career Academy
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
47 New Port Richey, Florida Private benes.edu
Hair Academy II
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
47 Hillcrest Heights, Maryland Private hairacademy2.com
Milan Institute
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
47 Clovis, California Private milaninstitute.edu
ZMS The Academy
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
47 Los Angeles, California Private zmsacademy.com
World A Cuts Barber Institute
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
46 York, Pennsylvania Private worldacuts.com
Paul Mitchell the School (PMTS)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
45 Fresno, California Private paulmitchell.edu
California College of Barbering and Cosmetology
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
45 Stockton, California Private calcbc.com
MIXED Institute of Cosmetology & Barber
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
45 Sacramento, California Private mixed.institute
Salon Success Academy
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
44 Riverside, California Private salonsuccessacademy.com
South Georgia Technical College (SGTC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
44 Americus, Georgia Public southgatech.edu
Old Town Barber College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
44 Wichita, Kansas Private otbcollege.com
Bellus Academy
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
44 Poway, California Private bellusacademy.edu
Paul Mitchell the School (PMTS)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
43 Temecula, California Private paulmitchell.edu
Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
43 Amarillo, Texas Private wadegordonacademy.com
Coahoma Community College (CCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
42 Clarksdale, Mississippi Public coahomacc.edu
Baldwin Park Adult & Community Education (BPACE)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
42 Baldwin Park, California Public bpace.bpusd.net
Paul Mitchell the School (PMTS)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
42 Springfield, Missouri Private paulmitchell.edu
Premier Barber Institute
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
42 Norristown, Pennsylvania Private premierbarberinstitute.com
Savannah Technical College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
41 Savannah, Georgia Public savannahtech.edu
Montgomery Beauty School
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
41 Baltimore, Maryland Private https
Federico Beauty Institute
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
40 Sacramento, California Private federico.edu
The Michigan Barber School
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
39 Detroit, Michigan Private michiganbarberschool.org
New England Hair Academy
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
39 Malden, Massachusetts Private newenglandhairacademy.com
Emma's Beauty Academy
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
39 Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico Private ebajuanadiaz.com
Barber & Beauty Institute of New York
Other Award
39 Hempstead, New York Private bbiny.edu
GA Beauty & Barber School
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
39 McAllen, Texas Private gabeautybarber.com
Academy of Hair Design (AHD)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
38 Jackson, Mississippi Private mississippibarberacademy.com
American Institute of Beauty (AIB)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
38 Largo, Florida Private aibschool.edu
Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College (NLTCC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
37 Minden, Louisiana Public nltcc.edu
Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
37 Tampa, Florida Private artistic.edu
Hacienda La Puente Adult Education (HLPAE)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
37 La Puente, California Public hlpae.com
Cutting Edge Barber Academy
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
37 Lancaster, Pennsylvania Private thecuttingedgebarberacademy.com
Daytona State College (DSC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
36 Daytona Beach, Florida Public daytonastate.edu
Coachella Valley Beauty College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
36 La Quinta, California Private cvbeautycollege.com
JB's Hair Design and Barber College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
36 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Private jbsbarbercollege.org
Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
36 Casselberry, Florida Private hi.edu
International Barber College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
36 Chandler, Arizona Private internationalbarber.net
Massachusetts School of Barbering
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
35 Quincy, Massachusetts Private massschoolofbarbering.com
Ogden-Weber Technical College
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
35 Ogden, Utah Public otech.edu
Northwest Educational Center (NWEC)
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
35 Houston, Texas Private nwec.edu
Empire Beauty School
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
35 Hooksett, New Hampshire Private empirebeautyschools.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Barbering programs

How much can I earn with a Barbering degree?

Salaries for Barbering graduates vary by role and location. Barbers earn a median of $38,960 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $102,360 compared to $24,110 in Mississippi. Approximately 18,100 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.

Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.

Which universities have the largest Barbering programs?

Currently 495 accredited institutions offer Barbering degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include NUC University (NUC) (623 graduates), Texas Barber College (TBC) (238 graduates), and Houston Barber School (164 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.

Is enrollment in Barbering growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 6,328 in 2010 to 12,398 in 2023-24. This represents a 96% increase overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.

What career paths are available with a Barbering degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Barbers. Related occupations employ approximately 18,100 professionals nationwide.

Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.

Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.

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