Est. 1960 · Family-owned · NACCAS accredited · Pivot Point curriculum North(512) 458-4127South(512) 441-6898

Est. 1960 · Two Austin campuses

Learn it in class. Prove it on real clients.

Baldwin has been family-owned since 1960. You start with classroom instruction, then practice in our full-service Student Salons — open to the public, supervised by licensed instructors — at our North and South Austin campuses.

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Three programs · full-time · published totals

Three Baldwin students in black on the Student Salon floor
On the floor
An instructor demonstrates a haircut on a mannequin while students watch
In class
A stylist in a Baldwin apron smiles beside a client with a finished bob
In the Student Salon

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Three licenses. Everything you need to decide, side by side.

Hours, time, cost and the next class — from one source, so the numbers match everywhere you see them.

Cosmetology

Hair, skin and nails

Clock hours
1,000
Full-time
34 weeksabout 8 months
Published total
$15,900tuition, books & tools, enrollment fee
  • Cutting, color, balayage and chemical texture
  • Blow-drying, hot tools, wigs, extensions and braiding
  • Facials, waxing, lash tinting and makeup
  • Manicures, pedicures and nail enhancements
  • Salon management and business skills

A Texas cosmetology license covers hair care, skin care and nail services.

Hours, costs and remaining 2026 starts
SubjectHours
Hair care800
Skin care100
Nail care100
Tuition$13,900
Books and tools$1,900
Non-refundable enrollment fee$100
Published total$15,900

Not in the total: $25 registration fee payable to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (first-time enrollees); State written and practical exam fees and the license application fee, paid when you schedule your exams.

Upcoming starts

Oct 13 · Nov 3 · Nov 17 · Dec 8 · Dec 15

Transfer students: up to 500 clock hours may be accepted, subject to review at enrollment.

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Esthetician

Skin care and body treatments

Clock hours
750
Full-time
25 weeksabout 6 months
Published total
$11,400tuition, books & tools, enrollment fee
  • Facial treatments and skin analysis
  • Facial and body waxing
  • Microdermabrasion, galvanic, steam and high-frequency equipment
  • Makeup, color theory and body treatments
  • Skin science, sanitation and infection control

A Texas esthetician license covers skin-care services including facials, waxing, eyelash tinting and extensions, facial equipment, cosmetic makeup and body treatments.

Hours, costs and remaining 2026 starts
SubjectHours
Facial treatment225
Anatomy and physiology90
Makeup and color psychology85
Electricity, machines and related equipment75
Orientation50
Chemistry50
Client consultation and analysis50
Sanitation, safety and first aid40
Management35
Superfluous hair removal25
Aromatherapy15
Nutrition10
Tuition$10,400
Books and tools$900
Non-refundable enrollment fee$100
Published total$11,400

Not in the total: $25 registration fee payable to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (first-time enrollees); State written and practical exam fees and the license application fee, paid when you schedule your exams.

Upcoming starts

Oct 13 · Nov 17 · Dec 8

Transfer students: up to 375 clock hours may be accepted, subject to review at enrollment.

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Manicurist

Manicures, pedicures and nail enhancements

Clock hours
600
Full-time
20 weeksabout 5 months
Published total
$8,500tuition, books & tools, enrollment fee
  • Manicures and pedicures
  • Polish techniques and nail art
  • Sculptured nails and acrylic tips
  • Hand, arm and foot massage
  • Nail anatomy, sanitation and infection control

A Texas manicurist license covers manicures, pedicures and all artificial nail enhancements.

Hours, costs and remaining 2026 starts
SubjectHours
Procedures320
Sanitation, safety and bacteriology100
Professional practices80
Arms and hands anatomy and physiology70
Orientation15
Equipment and implements15
Tuition$7,700
Books and tools$700
Non-refundable enrollment fee$100
Published total$8,500

Not in the total: $25 registration fee payable to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (first-time enrollees); State written and practical exam fees and the license application fee, paid when you schedule your exams.

Upcoming starts

Oct 13 · Nov 3 · Nov 17 · Dec 8

Transfer students: up to 300 clock hours may be accepted, subject to review at enrollment.

Plan a visit

Full-time means 32 clock hours a week. Published totals include tuition, books and tools, and the non-refundable $100 enrollment fee. A $25 Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation registration fee (first-time enrollees) and state exam and license fees are separate. Start dates are our published 2026 calendar.

How you'll learn

From the classroom to the chair — with an instructor beside you.

Every Baldwin program follows the same path: foundation first, then supervised practice, then real clients, with the business side taught all the way through.

  1. An instructor demonstrates cutting technique on a mannequin
    01 · FOUNDATION

    Learn the craft in class

    Required classroom instruction comes first — 8 weeks for Cosmetology, 4 for Esthetician, 2 for Manicurist — taught with the Pivot Point International curriculum and textbooks, with a professional supply kit.

  2. Foils being placed on a mannequin during a color lesson
    02 · PRACTICE

    Practice until it's second nature

    You build technique on mannequins and each other, then move to the salon floor. On a typical day, class is in the morning and salon floor work is in the afternoon.

  3. Three Baldwin students in black uniforms on the Student Salon floor
    03 · REAL CLIENTS

    Work with real clients in our Student Salons

    Both campuses run a full-service Student Salon open to the public. All Student Salon work is performed by students under the supervision of licensed instructors.

    • Haircut$10
    • Haircut with blow-dry$15+
    • Permanent color$40+
    • Full balayage$70+
    • Eyebrow wax$7
    • Full-face wax$21

    Prices as published on our Student Salon and Student Spa menus. Prices are subject to change and may vary with hair length and density; check with your campus for the current schedule.

  4. 04 · THE BUSINESS SIDE

    Learn to build a book of clients

    Every program includes our Retail Skills and Salon Business courses, which teach sales techniques, career management skills and how to build a steady client base. Cosmetology students also study salon management and business skills as part of their hair-care hours.

  5. Baldwin graduate Ricky Hodge cutting a client’s hair in his own salon
    05 · LICENSED & CONNECTED

    Get licensed. Get introduced.

    After graduation you take the Texas state board written and practical exams, administered for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, to receive your license. We maintain an active list of Austin salons seeking licensed professionals and will help connect you with interviews as long as you remain in the profession.

    Employment assistance is offered to graduates who remain in the beauty profession. No job is guaranteed by graduation.

Results we report

Our 2024 rates, published — not buried.

83.33%Completionof students completed their program
87.84%Placementof graduates were placed in the field
100%Licensureof graduates who tested were licensed

Baldwin Beauty Schools 2024 annual report rates · Published on Baldwin's Consumer Information page (last updated May 11, 2026).

What these numbers do and don't mean

School-wide rates for 2024 as Baldwin publishes them. They describe that reporting year, not every student or every program, and they are not a promise of employment or licensure.

Read our consumer information

NACCAS accreditedNational Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences
Pivot Point curriculumTextbooks, workbook and supply kit
Federal aid eligibleFAFSA school code 012268, for those who qualify
Two Student SalonsNorth and South Austin, open to the public

Family-owned since 1960

Still the Baldwins. Still in the room.

Ross Baldwin founded the school in 1960. His son Randy joined him in 1989 and leads Baldwin today as President, alongside Wendi Baldwin, our Director of Education.

  1. 1960

    Ross Baldwin founds Baldwin Beauty Schools to train professional hairstylists.

  2. 1989

    His son, Randy Baldwin, joins him. Randy now serves as President.

  3. 2010

    The Austin Independent School District announces the opening of Ross Baldwin Elementary School in South Austin, named for him.

  4. Today

    Randy Baldwin, President, and Wendi Baldwin, Director of Education, continue the family-owned school.

Randy and Wendi Baldwin
Randy Baldwin, President, and Wendi Baldwin, Director of Education.
Founder Ross Baldwin, black-and-white portrait
Founder Ross Baldwin, 1924–2007.
Randy Baldwin at age three, in a family photograph
Randy Baldwin, age 3 — from our family archive.

Where Baldwin can lead

Graduates who built their own chairs.

“At Baldwin, I felt recognized. I felt important. Today, I have clients. I have confidence. I have a great education.”
Ricky HodgeOwner, Ricky Hodge SalonFeatured by Baldwin, September 2015
“I didn't consider any other schools. Walking in, the environment and the vibe and everything about it's awesome. The fact that it's family owned is great.”
Danielle BensonOwner, Wild Orchid SalonFeatured by Baldwin, September 2015
“It's not about being a rockstar, it's about making the people in your chair every day feel comfortable and want to come back.”
Michael DillOwner, Turquoise Salon & SpaFeatured by Baldwin, September 2015
“Every single instructor that I had at the schools stuck out to me. Every one of them taught me something valuable, very important lessons.”
Vanessa BohlmannHairstylist, VB Hair Studio at Studio EliteFeatured by Baldwin, September 2015

Two campuses

North on Burnet. South on Lamar.

Both campuses have classrooms, treatment rooms and a full-service Student Salon. Pick the one that fits your commute — and come see it before you enroll.

The Baldwin Beauty Schools storefront, South Austin campus

Campus, full-service Student Salon and headquarters administration

South Austin

3005 South Lamar, Suite 103
The Corners Shopping Center
Austin, TX 78704
Visit South Austin (512) 441-6898

Compare campuses, hours and directions

Paying for school

Know the cost. Then find the help.

Federal Pell Grants and Federal Direct Loans are available to those who qualify, and monthly payment plans carry no interest. There are no over-contract fees on any program.

Start with the FAFSA

We recommend that students — and parents of dependent students — submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Baldwin school code012268

It takes approximately 10 business days from the date you submit the FAFSA for the school to receive it. Once we receive it, we email you eligibility information.

Open the FAFSA

Estimate your cost

Our Net Price Calculator gives a broad first-year estimate based on what similar students paid. Our financial aid office can give you a personal one.

Talk it through

Parents and family are welcome at every step — including your campus visit and your financial aid appointment.

Plan a visit with your family

Questions

What people ask us first.

Do I need any beauty experience to enroll?

No. You need to be 17 or older and have a high school diploma, GED or approved equivalent. Every program starts with required classroom instruction — 8 weeks for Cosmetology — so the curriculum takes you from the beginning.

How often do classes start?

Often. We published 21 Cosmetology, 13 Esthetician and 19 Manicurist start dates for 2026, so you rarely wait long for the next class. See each program above for the dates still ahead.

Do I get to work on real people?

Yes. Both campuses run a full-service Student Salon open to the public. After your classroom foundation, classes are typically held in the morning with salon floor work in the afternoon. All Student Salon work is performed by students under the supervision of licensed instructors.

What does it cost, and can I get help paying?

Published totals are $15,900 for Cosmetology, $11,400 for Esthetician and $8,500 for Manicurist, including tuition, books and tools and the $100 enrollment fee. Federal Pell Grants and Federal Direct Loans are available to those who qualify, and monthly payment plans carry no interest. Our FAFSA school code is 012268.

What happens after I graduate?

You take the Texas state board written and practical exams to receive your license. We maintain an active list of Austin salons seeking licensed professionals and will help connect you with interviews as long as you remain in the profession.

Can I study part-time or transfer hours?

Full-time is 32 clock hours a week. If you're interested in part-time, tell us when you apply. Transfer hours may be accepted — up to 500 for Cosmetology, 375 for Esthetician and 300 for Manicurist — subject to review at enrollment.

Your next step

Go at your own pace. We'll meet you there.

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