Cedar Rapids, Iowa

La’ James International College

4444 1st Ave NE #12, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Visit website (319) 378-6456
Program price
Price unavailable
Schedule
Full-time schedule (35 hours/week)
Program length
1,550 hours45 instructional weeks; 49 contract weeks
Next start
Nov 2, 2026

About the program

La’ James International College in Cedar Rapids offers a 1,550-hour cosmetology program combining classroom instruction with supervised salon practice. Training covers hair cutting, color and texture, styling, skincare, nails and makeup, alongside client service and business skills.

The course progresses through three terms: foundational skills in Term 1, broader services and salon practice in Term 2, then salon readiness, exam preparation and resume development in Term 3. LJIC calls its client-service approach the Seven Standards of Customer Service.

What you get

You receive a signed LJIC diploma after completing the required hours and coursework, earning at least a 75% cumulative average on written, practical and rubric exams, and satisfying your financial obligations.

  • The diploma is your school qualification, not your professional license. Iowa’s exam and licensing process is separate; the school covers the first exam and licensing fees, but not retakes.
  • An associate degree is an additional pathway. Completing cosmetology can count toward Iowa Central Community College’s A.A.S. in Health and Beauty Management, but the degree also requires six additional courses totaling 18 credits.

Schedules & start dates

The full-time course is planned over 45 instructional weeks, with 49 weeks allowed in the enrollment contract, including the school’s absence allowance. Students are still expected to make up missed hours.

Cosmetology starts are scheduled separately from other programs. A start may depend on minimum class size, and dates can change. Orientation takes place the week before classes begin.

Study optionClass scheduleHours per weekUpcoming starts
Full-time
On campus

45 instructional weeks; 49 contract weeks

Class schedule

Five days per week. Terms 1 and 2 are 16 weeks each; Term 3 is 13 weeks. Exact weekdays and daily meeting times are not specified.

Weekly hours35 hours/weekUpcoming starts

Cost & financial aid

Program price

Price unavailable

Tuition is $22,860 before financial aid. Application and registration fees, required tools, books, uniforms and the lab fee are additional. Using LJIC’s full kit and book packages, the listed charges add up to $26,040 before applicable additional sales tax. This is a school-supplied materials budget, not an all-inclusive or lowest-possible price.

The $2,037 kit includes a tablet. Comparable professional kit items may be sourced elsewhere with advance school approval; new students must use either a complete outside kit or the school kit, except for required LJIC shirts. Correct-edition books and unused workbooks may also be sourced elsewhere.

Living expenses, replacement supplies and charges for completing hours after the contract end date are separate. LJIC covers the first state exam and licensing fees; retakes are the student’s responsibility.

What's included

TuitionCosmetology tuition; fees and materials are separate.
$22,860
Application feeDue with the enrollment application.
$50
Registration feeCharged upon enrollment and starting classes.
$100
Complete cosmetology kitRequired tools. $2,037 is LJIC’s stated complete-kit price before tax, including a tablet; a complete comparable outside kit is permitted with advance review. Not a separately optional tablet.
$2,037
Uniform — LJIC shirtsAdditional sales tax applies. Required school shirts are not replaceable with outside kit purchases.
$45
Lab feeSeparate from tuition.
$285
Cosmetology book packageLJIC package price. Correct-edition books and unused workbooks may also be sourced elsewhere.
$663

Federal financial aid

Available to qualifying students

Eligible students may use federal grants and Direct Loans. Complete the FAFSA using Cedar Rapids campus code 015133. LJIC asks federal-aid applicants to submit it within 48 hours of the enrollment application; this is the school’s procedure, not a general federal deadline.

Your financial-planning appointment establishes how the program will be paid for. Grants and loans have different conditions, loans must be repaid, and aid is not guaranteed to cover every expense. LJIC scholarships are tuition credits at completion and require a separate application, continuous enrollment and graduation by the contract end date.

LJIC tuition scholarships

Eligibility: Separate scholarship application, continuous enrollment and graduation by contract end date.

Credited to tuition at completion, not a guaranteed upfront discount.

Veterans’ education benefits

Eligibility: The school lists veterans, eligible dependents and eligible National Guard/Reserve personnel; individual benefit rules apply.

School-reported benefit availability, not a guarantee of individual or specific benefit-program eligibility.

Vocational rehabilitation and workforce funding

Eligibility: Each funding agency sets its own requirements.

The catalog lists vocational rehabilitation, Promise Jobs, job-training funding and Iowa Works.

How to enroll

Entry requirements

  • Education: A high school diploma, graduation transcript, GED/HSED, verified homeschool completion, or an evaluated foreign high school qualification with an English translation.
  • Identification: Valid government-issued photo ID.
  • Application: A completed enrollment application and the $50 application fee. These requirements must be met before signing the contract and starting classes. LJIC does not admit students through Ability to Benefit.

Application steps

  1. Review the Cedar Rapids campus and cosmetology course. An on-campus or virtual visit is recommended.
  2. Submit the enrollment application, education documents, photo ID and $50 application fee. A $100 registration fee is charged upon enrollment and starting classes.
  3. If using federal aid, submit the FAFSA within the school’s 48-hour application window using campus code 015133.
  4. Complete your financial-planning appointment and enrollment documents, then attend orientation the week before classes start.
Read LJIC enrollment steps

School approval & accreditation

Iowa school or program approval
Approval number:
000136
Status:
Active
Accreditation
NACCASNational Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and SciencesStatus: Accreditation on ProbationAbout NACCAS accreditation

Sources

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