Program price
At least $27,088
Schedule
Full-time and part-time options
Program length
1,550 hours
Next start
Oct 20, 2026

About the program

PCI Academy’s Iowa City campus offers 1,550 hours of cosmetology and barbering training, combining hair, skin and nail services with business development. The course includes 590 hours of theory and 960 hours of supervised practical instruction.

  • Fundamentals: the first 12 weeks build initial skills through a shared 20-hour weekly classroom schedule.
  • After Fundamentals: select a 20-, 30- or 40-hour weekly attendance pattern while developing practical skills with clients.

The current course is campus-based; hybrid distance education is not being offered.

What you get

  • School diploma: complete the 1,550 hours, all assignments/tests and project records, maintain 85% grades and 85% attendance, and pay tuition and fees in full.
  • Professional license: passing the state exam and obtaining the licence are separate from the diploma. PCI covers the first-time exam and licence fees for graduates.

Career-placement assistance is available, but employment is not guaranteed.

Schedules & start dates

The weekly hours shown are for After Fundamentals. Everyone begins with 20 hours per week for the first 12 weeks, then moves to the chosen pattern. Schedule changes depend on availability and must remain in effect for three months before another change can be requested.

Listed starts apply to the program; availability for an individual attendance pattern is not specified.

Study optionClass scheduleHours per weekUpcoming starts
Part-time
DaytimeEveningWeekendOn campus

20 months

Class schedule
  1. Weeks 1–12Fundamentals

    20 hours per week. Tuesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.

    Tue–Fri

  2. Week 13 onwardAfter Fundamentals — 20-MTWS-PM

    Monday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Tuesday: 5:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 5:00 PM–9:00 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.

    Mon, Tue, Wed, Sat

Weekly hours20 hours/weekUpcoming startsNot listed
Part-time
DaytimeEveningOn campus

20 months

Class schedule
  1. Weeks 1–12Fundamentals

    20 hours per week. Tuesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.

    Tue–Fri

  2. Week 13 onwardAfter Fundamentals — 20-MWTF-PM

    Monday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Wednesday: 5:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 5:00 PM–9:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.

    Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri

Weekly hours20 hours/weekUpcoming startsNot listed
Part-time
DaytimeEveningWeekendOn campus

20 months

Class schedule
  1. Weeks 1–12Fundamentals

    20 hours per week. Tuesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.

    Tue–Fri

  2. Week 13 onwardAfter Fundamentals — 20-MTWS-AM

    Monday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Tuesday: 9:00 AM–1:00 PM; Wednesday: 9:00 AM–1:00 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.

    Mon, Tue, Wed, Sat

Weekly hours20 hours/weekUpcoming startsNot listed
Part-time
DaytimeEveningOn campus

20 months

Class schedule
  1. Weeks 1–12Fundamentals

    20 hours per week. Tuesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.

    Tue–Fri

  2. Week 13 onwardAfter Fundamentals — 20-MWTF-AM

    Monday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Wednesday: 9:00 AM–1:00 PM; Thursday: 9:00 AM–1:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.

    Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri

Weekly hours20 hours/weekUpcoming startsNot listed
Full-time
DaytimeEveningWeekendOn campus

14 months

Class schedule
  1. Weeks 1–12Fundamentals

    20 hours per week. Tuesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.

    Tue–Fri

  2. Week 13 onwardAfter Fundamentals — 30-MTWTS-PM

    Monday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Tuesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 3:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 3:00 PM–9:00 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM.

    Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat

Weekly hours30 hours/weekUpcoming startsNot listed
Full-time
DaytimeEveningOn campus

14 months

Class schedule
  1. Weeks 1–12Fundamentals

    20 hours per week. Tuesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.

    Tue–Fri

  2. Week 13 onwardAfter Fundamentals — 30-MTWTF-PM

    Monday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Tuesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 3:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 3:00 PM–9:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM.

    Mon–Fri

Weekly hours30 hours/weekUpcoming startsNot listed
Full-time
DaytimeEveningWeekendOn campus

14 months

Class schedule
  1. Weeks 1–12Fundamentals

    20 hours per week. Tuesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.

    Tue–Fri

  2. Week 13 onwardAfter Fundamentals — 30-MTWTS-AM

    Monday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Tuesday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM; Wednesday: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM; Thursday: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM.

    Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat

Weekly hours30 hours/weekUpcoming startsNot listed
Full-time
DaytimeEveningOn campus

14 months

Class schedule
  1. Weeks 1–12Fundamentals

    20 hours per week. Tuesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.

    Tue–Fri

  2. Week 13 onwardAfter Fundamentals — 30-MTWTF-AM

    Monday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Tuesday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM; Wednesday: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM; Thursday: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM.

    Mon–Fri

Weekly hours30 hours/weekUpcoming startsNot listed
Full-time
DaytimeEveningWeekendOn campus

12 months

Class schedule
  1. Weeks 1–12Fundamentals

    20 hours per week. Tuesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.

    Tue–Fri

  2. Week 13 onwardAfter Fundamentals — 40-MTWTS-PM

    Monday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Tuesday: 12:00 PM–5:00 PM and 6:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 1:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 1:00 PM–9:00 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.

    Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat

Weekly hours40 hours/weekUpcoming startsNot listed
Full-time
DaytimeEveningOn campus

12 months

Class schedule
  1. Weeks 1–12Fundamentals

    20 hours per week. Tuesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.

    Tue–Fri

  2. Week 13 onwardAfter Fundamentals — 40-MTWTF-PM

    Monday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Tuesday: 12:00 PM–5:00 PM and 6:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 1:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 1:00 PM–9:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.

    Mon–Fri

Weekly hours40 hours/weekUpcoming startsNot listed
Full-time
DaytimeEveningWeekendOn campus

12 months

Class schedule
  1. Weeks 1–12Fundamentals

    20 hours per week. Tuesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.

    Tue–Fri

  2. Week 13 onwardAfter Fundamentals — 40-MTWTS-AM

    Monday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Tuesday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; Wednesday: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM; Thursday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.

    Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat

Weekly hours40 hours/weekUpcoming startsNot listed
Full-time
DaytimeEveningOn campus

12 months

Class schedule
  1. Weeks 1–12Fundamentals

    20 hours per week. Tuesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Wednesday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Thursday: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.

    Tue–Fri

  2. Week 13 onwardAfter Fundamentals — 40-MTWTF-AM

    Monday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Tuesday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; Wednesday: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM; Thursday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.

    Mon–Fri

Weekly hours40 hours/weekUpcoming startsNot listed

Upcoming program starts

Cosmetology program
Cosmetology program
Cosmetology program
Cosmetology program
Cosmetology program
Cosmetology program
Cosmetology program
Cosmetology program
Cosmetology program
Cosmetology program
Cosmetology program
Cosmetology program
Cosmetology program
Cosmetology program
Cosmetology program
Cosmetology program

Cost & financial aid

Program price

At least $27,088

Minimum program cost before financial aid

The comparison includes tuition and the $100 application fee. Books, kits and products used for services are supplied at no extra charge. PCI pays each graduate’s first-time state exam and licence fees.

You supply basic classroom materials, an electronic device, an apron and bookbag, and clothing that meets the dress code. The $2,200 completion scholarship is conditional on finishing and is shown separately, not deducted from the initial comparison.

What's included

1550-hour Cosmetology tuition1550-hour cosmetology tuition, effective January 1, 2026.
$26,988
Application FeeNon-refundable and due with the enrollment application.
$100

Federal financial aid

Available to qualifying students

Eligible students can apply for Pell Grants, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, and Parent PLUS Loans, using FAFSA code E40493.

PCI offers a $2,200 cosmetology completion scholarship and 0% monthly payment plans with at least 10% down. The first monthly payment is due on the first day of class. Other scholarships and supported funding routes depend on individual eligibility.

Cosmetology completion scholarship

$2,200

Conditional on completing cosmetology training; transfer scholarships are prorated to contracted hours.

0% monthly tuition payments

Minimum 10% down; first monthly payment due on the first class day and the balance paid before graduation.

Second-program discount and fee waiver

Students taking a second PCI program receive 10% off its stated tuition and an application-fee waiver; not a general first-course discount.

High-school and industry scholarships

External opportunities are listed; amounts and eligibility vary.

Beauty Changes Lives

External beauty-industry scholarship opportunities; no award is guaranteed.

Beauty Schools Directory scholarship

External scholarship opportunity for qualifying beauty students.

GI Bill and military benefits

The school reports acceptance; individual eligibility must be determined by the applicable benefit program.

Vocational rehabilitation funding

Listed support route, subject to individual eligibility.

Education and Training Voucher grant

The school lists ETV grant funding; individual eligibility and award amounts are not established.

529 education savings

Education savings are listed as a funding route, not a scholarship or federal aid award.

How to enroll

Entry requirements

  • Education: high-school graduation or an equivalent credential; Ability-to-Benefit admission is not offered. Foreign education requires a SpanTran evaluation at the student’s expense.
  • Documents: education records, photo identification and the enrollment contract.
  • Transfers: prior training is individually reviewed before classes begin; adjustments are not made after starting.

Application steps

  1. Complete the enrollment application and pay the $100 application fee.
  2. Provide education records and photo ID, and arrange a career-planning meeting. Complete the enrollment agreement.
  3. Choose an available start and attendance pattern. The enrollment cutoff is two weeks before orientation; orientation is required before classes.
  4. Complete the FAFSA if seeking federal aid, using Iowa City code E40493.
View PCI admissions information

School approval & accreditation

Iowa school or program approval
Approval number:
095529
Status:
Active
Accreditation
Not confirmed

Sources

View source list8 sources