California Barber Exam Pass Rates by School (2025)
California's Board of Barbering and Cosmetology publishes how each school's students do on the state licensing exams. We added up the board's four quarterly reports for 2025 for the barber written exam, so you can see how a school's students do before you enroll.
Key findings
- Students of California schools passed 2,878 of 5,940 barber written exams in 2025: 48.5%, down slightly from 49.3% in 2024.
- Among the 128 schools with at least 10 exam takers, the typical (median) school's pass rate was 50%, and rates ran from 15% to 100%.
- Big schools vary as much as small ones. At the 10 schools with more than 100 exam takers each, pass rates ranged from 26% to 67%.
Schools with 10 or more exam takers in 2025
| School | City | Exam takers | Passed | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butte Community College | Oroville | 12 | 12 | 100% |
| Simply Divine Academy | Yuba City | 16 | 15 | 94% |
| Career Academy of Beauty | Garden Grove | 12 | 11 | 92% |
| San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology | San Francisco | 12 | 11 | 92% |
| West Valley Occupational Center | Woodland Hills | 19 | 17 | 90% |
| West Coast Barber College | Oceanside | 44 | 37 | 84% |
| Bellus Academy - Poway | Poway | 27 | 22 | 82% |
| Cinta Aveda Institute | San Francisco | 20 | 16 | 80% |
| Milan Institute of Cosmetology-Vacaville | Vacaville | 18 | 14 | 78% |
| Ivy League Barber Academy | Lake Elsinore | 13 | 10 | 77% |
| California College of Barbering and Cosmetology | Stockton | 56 | 43 | 77% |
| Borner's Barber College Pasadena | Pasadena | 12 | 9 | 75% |
| Shasta School of Cosmetology | Redding | 20 | 15 | 75% |
| Precise Barber College | Los Angeles | 15 | 11 | 73% |
| Advance Beauty Techs Academy | Corona | 18 | 13 | 72% |
| Master Academy Norwalk | Norwalk | 43 | 31 | 72% |
| Ivy League Barber Academy | San Marcos | 32 | 23 | 72% |
| Mixed Institute of Cosmetology & Barber | Sacramento | 59 | 42 | 71% |
| Eminence Barber Academy | Upland | 36 | 25 | 69% |
| Paul Mitchell The School Pasadena | Pasadena | 29 | 20 | 69% |
| Federico Beauty Institute | Sacramento | 46 | 31 | 67% |
| California Hair Design Academy | La Mesa | 18 | 12 | 67% |
| Central Valley Barber College | Riverbank | 117 | 78 | 67% |
| Milan Institute-Palm Desert | Palm Desert | 21 | 14 | 67% |
| Santa Ana Beauty Academy | Santa Ana | 14 | 9 | 64% |
| Jasmine Beauty School | San Diego | 14 | 9 | 64% |
| East to West Barber Academy | Visalia | 44 | 28 | 64% |
| Salon Success Academy | Upland | 32 | 20 | 63% |
| Skyline Community College, Cosmetology Department | San Bruno | 61 | 38 | 62% |
| Master Academy | Long Beach | 66 | 41 | 62% |
| Newberry School Of Beauty | Granada Hills | 50 | 31 | 62% |
| Los Angeles College of Aesthetics | Los Angeles | 13 | 8 | 62% |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical-College | Los Angeles | 48 | 29 | 60% |
| Saddleback Beauty Academy | Laguna Hills | 10 | 6 | 60% |
| Inspire Academy of Barbering and Cosmetology | Stockton | 15 | 9 | 60% |
| Pomona Unified School District, Cosmetology | Pomona | 17 | 10 | 59% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Temecula | Temecula | 53 | 31 | 59% |
| Santa Ana Beauty College | Santa Ana | 19 | 11 | 58% |
| Milan Institute-Merced | Merced | 47 | 27 | 57% |
| Urban Barber College | Concord | 135 | 77 | 57% |
| Western Barber Institute | Reseda | 161 | 91 | 56% |
| CONBELLO ACADEMY | Pittsburg | 16 | 9 | 56% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Modesto | Modesto | 20 | 11 | 55% |
| International School of Beauty Inc | Palm Desert | 51 | 28 | 55% |
| Letty's Barbering and Cosmetology College | Los Angeles | 46 | 25 | 54% |
| Paul Mitchell The School Costa Mesa | Costa Mesa | 63 | 34 | 54% |
| Milan Institute-Clovis | Clovis | 65 | 35 | 54% |
| Milan Institute-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | 52 | 28 | 54% |
| Southern California college of Barber and Beauty | Escondido | 41 | 22 | 54% |
| Institute of Technology - Clovis | Clovis | 28 | 15 | 54% |
| MJ Barber & Beauty Academy | Hemet | 15 | 8 | 53% |
| Simply Divine Academy | Monrovia | 19 | 10 | 53% |
| Hinton Barber and Beauty College | Vallejo | 44 | 23 | 52% |
| Straight Perm Beauty School.com | Los Angeles | 23 | 12 | 52% |
| Paul Mitchell The School Sherman Oaks | Sherman Oaks | 46 | 24 | 52% |
| Lu Ross Academy, Barber School | Ventura | 94 | 49 | 52% |
| Paul Mitchell The School San Diego | San Diego | 27 | 14 | 52% |
| Rosston School of Hair Design | Ontario | 90 | 46 | 51% |
| Bellus Academy-Chula Vista | Chula Vista | 51 | 26 | 51% |
| Milan Institute | Visalia | 51 | 26 | 51% |
| Cosmetica Beauty and Barbering Academy | Downey | 55 | 28 | 51% |
| Salon Success Academy | Riverside | 71 | 36 | 51% |
| San Bernardino Beauty College | San Bernardino | 18 | 9 | 50% |
| Abram Friedman Occupational Center | Los Angeles | 52 | 26 | 50% |
| Santa Rosa Barber College | Santa Rosa | 38 | 19 | 50% |
| D'Lacreme School of Cosmetology and Barbering | Fairfield | 16 | 8 | 50% |
| Jade Beauty & Barber College | San Jose | 14 | 7 | 50% |
| CRU Institute of Cosmetology & Barbering | Garden Grove | 117 | 58 | 50% |
| Academy | San Francisco | 39 | 19 | 49% |
| Hacienda La Puente Adult Education | La Puente | 35 | 17 | 49% |
| Brothers & Sisters Barbercosmo Academy | Oakland | 31 | 15 | 48% |
| American Beauty College | Palmdale | 60 | 29 | 48% |
| Sierra College of Beauty | Merced | 46 | 22 | 48% |
| Urban Barber College | San Jose | 63 | 30 | 48% |
| Paul Mitchell The School Sacramento | Sacramento | 87 | 41 | 47% |
| Campus | Sacramento | 62 | 29 | 47% |
| Baldwin Park Unified School District Adult and Community Education | Baldwin Park | 50 | 23 | 46% |
| Riggins Urban Barber and Beauty College | San Diego | 37 | 17 | 46% |
| Learning Institute of Southern California | El Centro | 24 | 11 | 46% |
| Richard N. Slawson Southeast Occupational Center | Bell | 11 | 5 | 46% |
| Saba Beauty School | Lake Forest | 20 | 9 | 45% |
| Moler Barber College | Hayward | 56 | 25 | 45% |
| Riggins Urban Barber and Beauty College | San Diego | 18 | 8 | 44% |
| Associated Barber College | San Diego | 70 | 31 | 44% |
| Eminence Barber Academy | Riverside | 116 | 50 | 43% |
| Waynes College of Beauty | Salinas | 21 | 9 | 43% |
| California Beauty Academy | Orange | 21 | 9 | 43% |
| Coba Academy | Anaheim | 42 | 18 | 43% |
| Pristine Barber Academy | Santa Maria | 41 | 17 | 42% |
| Paul Mitchell The School Fresno | Fresno | 63 | 26 | 41% |
| Cosmoton Academy | Lompoc | 17 | 7 | 41% |
| Stay Fresh Barber Academy | Escondido | 17 | 7 | 41% |
| American Beauty College | West Covina | 51 | 21 | 41% |
| Barber Academy | San Jose | 73 | 30 | 41% |
| Simi Institute of Cosmetology | Simi Valley | 27 | 11 | 41% |
| International Academy of Cosmetology | South Gate | 70 | 28 | 40% |
| Bridges Beauty College | Victorville | 20 | 8 | 40% |
| AAA Beauty College | San Diego | 35 | 14 | 40% |
| Pro Barber College, Inc. | Torrance | 107 | 42 | 39% |
| Barber Academy | Gilroy | 69 | 27 | 39% |
| Moler Barber and Cosmetology College | San Pablo | 47 | 18 | 38% |
| ZMS The Academy | Los Angeles | 144 | 55 | 38% |
| Coachella Valley Beauty College | La Quinta | 21 | 8 | 38% |
| Kz Academy | Milpitas | 86 | 32 | 37% |
| Get Faded Barber and Beauty College | Bakersfield | 49 | 18 | 37% |
| Cosmotek College | San Jose | 57 | 20 | 35% |
| Pro Barber College, Inc. | Westminster | 100 | 35 | 35% |
| Riggins Urban Barber and Beauty College | San Diego | 15 | 5 | 33% |
| South Bay Barber Institute | Gilroy | 42 | 14 | 33% |
| Lancaster Beauty School | Lancaster | 30 | 10 | 33% |
| Fernandez Barber College | Fresno | 150 | 48 | 32% |
| Urban Barber College - Modesto | Modesto | 26 | 8 | 31% |
| Moler Barber College | Oakland | 46 | 14 | 30% |
| Cinta Aveda Institute San Jose | San Jose | 10 | 3 | 30% |
| Modern Beauty Academy | Oxnard | 86 | 25 | 29% |
| John Wesley International Barber & Beauty College | Long Beach | 38 | 11 | 29% |
| California Barber and Beauty College | San Diego | 70 | 20 | 29% |
| Academy of Esthetics and Cosmetology | San Fernando | 21 | 6 | 29% |
| American Beauty Academy | Panorama City | 108 | 30 | 28% |
| Canyon Ridge High School | Hesperia | 33 | 9 | 27% |
| Bakersfield Barber College, Inc. | Bakersfield | 121 | 32 | 26% |
| Federico College, Inc. | Fresno | 35 | 9 | 26% |
| Borner's Barber College LA | Los Angeles | 28 | 7 | 25% |
| Coachella Valley Beauty College-Hemet | Hemet | 16 | 4 | 25% |
| Cosmotek College | Hayward | 16 | 4 | 25% |
| Professional Schools of Beauty, Fashion and Arts, Inc. | Reseda | 10 | 2 | 20% |
| Advance Beauty College | Garden Grove | 19 | 3 | 16% |
| Urban Oasis Academy of Beauty | San Jose | 41 | 6 | 15% |
Schools with fewer than 10 exam takers (too few to compare)
| School | City | Exam takers | Passed | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo Beauty College | San Luis Obispo | 9 | 9 | 100% |
| California Beauty College | San Diego | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Lawrence & Company College of Cosmetology | Selma | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| National Cosmetology Beauty School | Oakland | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Bellus Academy - El Cajon | El Cajon | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| JA School of Hairdressing | Corona | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| Cosmo Beauty College | Garden Grove | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Barboza Barber Academy | Fresno | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Monarch Beauty Academy | Valencia | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Santa Monica Community College | Santa Monica | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| Asel Beauty College | Tustin | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Asel Beauty College | Garden Grove | 3 | 3 | 100% |
| Master Barbering Academy | Long Beach | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| Fredrick and Charles Beauty College | Eureka | 9 | 9 | 100% |
| Victor Valley College | Victorville | 2 | 2 | 100% |
| MJ Barber & Beauty Academy | La Quinta | 9 | 9 | 100% |
| Academy of Beauty | Culver City | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Institute of Beauty Culture | Santa Maria | 8 | 7 | 88% |
| Lawrence & Company College of Cosmetology | Hanford | 5 | 4 | 80% |
| American Beauty Institute | San Diego | 5 | 4 | 80% |
| Paul Mitchell The School East Bay | Pleasant Hill | 9 | 7 | 78% |
| ALVA Beauty Collective | Lemon Grove | 4 | 3 | 75% |
| Elite Cosmetology School | Palm Desert | 7 | 5 | 71% |
| American Beauty Academy | Brawley | 3 | 2 | 67% |
| Cutting Edge Barber Academy | Modesto | 5 | 3 | 60% |
| San Diego City College, Cosmetology Department | San Diego | 5 | 3 | 60% |
| Divina Cosmetology & Barbering Academy | Vacaville | 9 | 5 | 56% |
| Bamboo Advance Beauty College | San Leandro | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Bridges Beauty College | Rancho Cucamonga | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Elite Barber College | Morgan Hill | 4 | 2 | 50% |
| Georgikot Academy USA | Woodland Hills | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| International Academy of Cosmetology and Barbering | Alhambra | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| International College of Beauty Arts and Sciences | Los Angeles | 6 | 3 | 50% |
| Jama's Beauty & Barber College | West Hills | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Constilo Academy | Pittsburg | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Oakland Barber Academy | Oakland | 7 | 3 | 43% |
| Real Barbers College | Anaheim | 5 | 2 | 40% |
| Victory Career College | Carson | 3 | 1 | 33% |
| Bay Area Hair Institute | South San Francisco | 3 | 1 | 33% |
| Katie Skills Center | Oakland | 3 | 1 | 33% |
| American Barber College | Los Angeles | 3 | 1 | 33% |
| LC Beauty College | Upland | 3 | 1 | 33% |
| Adrian's Beauty College of Tracy | Tracy | 3 | 1 | 33% |
| Moler Cosmetology College | Santa Clara | 6 | 2 | 33% |
| My Beauty & Barber College | Sacramento | 4 | 1 | 25% |
| D'Lacreme School of Cosmetology and Barbering | Fairfield | 8 | 2 | 25% |
| ABC School of Barbering | Downey | 9 | 2 | 22% |
| Western Barber Institute | Van Nuys | 6 | 1 | 17% |
| RTC College | Jurupa Valley | 6 | 1 | 17% |
| Moler Barber College | Fresno | 6 | 1 | 17% |
| Asian American International | Westminster | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Topline Beauty College | Santa Ana | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Academy of Barbering Arts | Panorama City | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Western Beauty Institute | Panorama City | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| 1st Academy of Beauty | Rosemead | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Stockton Barber College | Stockton | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Southern California Regional Occupational Center | Torrance | 7 | 0 | 0% |
| International School of Beauty | Indio | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| L.A. Barber College | Los Angeles | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| San Jose Barber College | San Jose | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Linda Beauty School | San Diego | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Marinello School of Beauty | Los Angeles | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Marinello School of Beauty | San Diego | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Marinello School of Beauty | West Covina | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Royal Hair Institute | Los Angeles | 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Moler Barber College | Sacramento | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| North Adrian's College of Beauty | Modesto | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Paul Mitchell the School-North Tahoe | Truckee | 2 | 0 | 0% |
About this data
These are results on the written (theory) exam only; the board no longer publishes practical exam results by school. The board's reports don't say whether retakes are included, so a student who sat the exam twice may count twice.
Many beauty schools also train barbers, so they appear here too. Some schools appear more than once because the board lists separate school records. School names come from the board's reports, which cut long names short; we completed them where the name was clear.
A pass rate reflects the students a school admits as well as how it teaches, and rates for small schools swing a lot from year to year. Use it as one question to ask a school, not a verdict.
Tell us if something here is out of date.
Use this data
You're welcome to quote these figures in articles, posts and reports. Please credit Barber School Finder with a link to this page.
Barber School Finder, "California Barber Exam Pass Rates by School (2025)," https://barberschoolfinder.com/california-barber-exam-pass-rates (updated October 2026).
Data as of October 26, 2026. See how we collect and verify listings.