A List of California Community Colleges With Esthetician Schools

Last updated on February 26th, 2026 at 11:42 am

Want to be an esthetician but nervous about the cost of esthetician school? I don’t blame you. Some esthetician programs come with a price tag of $10,000 or more. A more expensive school doesn’t equal a better education; in fact, I was a Paul Mitchell School esthetics instructor for a while, and I saw no difference between that program and the community college (CC) program I attended. 

So before you commit to paying thousands of dollars for the first program you come across, take the time to explore whether there’s a community college or local trade school nearby offering an esthetics program.

Want to learn more about becoming an esthetician? Check out this blog post.

Why a Community College Esthetics Program?

Community college programs are affordable, and you can even tap into grants, scholarships, and other benefits CC college students receive to help you cover the costs. A CC esthetician school costs a set amount per unit, plus any enrollment fees and additional fees like health or transportation fees. If you are an out-of-state resident, your fees will be a bit higher.

I’m lucky enough to live within a 45-minute drive of Santa Barbara, CA. Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) hosts an esthetician program that is very affordable. Currently, for in-state students, the SBCC esthetics program cost is $2,262, excluding the state board test fee of $115.

When I attended the SBCC esthetician program, I qualified for grants and fee waivers that covered most of my program expenses, including my complete student kit with skincare products. I paid the rest out of pocket.

I understand how lucky I am to have access to such an excellent resource, and I know that not many students have that luxury. But during your search, I encourage you to explore all your options before you pick an esthetician program.

A List of Community Colleges in California Offering Esthetics Programs

Do you live in California? Curious if there’s a community college near you with an esthetics program? I’ve got you covered!

Here’s a compilation of California community colleges offering esthetician programs. It’s complete with contact details and links to program websites where you can delve into what they offer and the associated costs. 

Southern California CC Esthetician Schools

Santa Barbara City College

525 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

805-683-4191

https://www.sbcc.edu/cosmetology/

Santa Monica College

1900 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405

310-434-4000

https://www.smc.edu/academics/areas-of-interest/arts-media-and-entertainment/cosmetology/skin-care.php

Los Angeles Trade-Technical College

400 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90015

213-763-5560

https://www.lattc.edu/academics/aos/skin-therapy

Cerritos College

11110 Alondra Boulevard, Norwalk, CA 90650

562-860-2451

https://www.cerritos.edu/cosmetology/esthetician-program.htm

Citrus College

1000 West Foothill Boulevard, Glendora, CA 91741

626-914-8710

https://catalog.citruscollege.edu/disciplines/esthetician/

Golden West College

15744 Goldenwest Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92647

714-895-8792 

esthetician@gwc.cccd.edu

https://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/cosmo/index.html

Fullerton College

321 East Chapman Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92832

714-992-7000

https://pathways.fullcoll.edu/program/esthetician

Saddleback College

28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, CA 92692

949-582-4500

https://www.saddleback.edu/programs-degrees/all-programs/cosmetology

Riverside City College

4800 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92506

951-222-8000

https://www.rcc.edu/pathways/advanced-technical-trades/esthetician-concepts.html

Victor Valley College

18422 Bear Valley Road, Victorville, CA 92392

760-245-4271

https://www.vvc.edu/cosmetology

San Diego City College

1313 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101

619-388-3400

https://www.sdcity.edu/academics/schools-programs/business-it-cosmo/cosmo/esthetician-program.aspx

Santiago Canyon College

8045 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange, CA 92869

714-628-4900 

https://sccollege.edu/academics/areasofstudy/cosmetology/SitePages/Home.aspx

Northern California CC Esthetician Schools

San José City College

2100 Moorpark Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128

408-298-2181 ext. 3812

https://sjcc.edu/dept/esthetics.aspx

Esthetics@sjcc.edu

Skyline College

3300 College Drive, San Bruno, CA 94066

650-738-4100

https://skylinecollege.edu/cosmetology/esthetics.php

Best of Luck in Your Search for Esthetician Schools

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A post shared by Adriana: Skincare Educator & Esthetician (@skincare_by_adriana)

The demand for skin care specialists is growing and will continue to do so for several years. Do you love the idea of performing skin care services like facial treatments, or waxing, lashes, makeup application, and more? Then, becoming a licensed esthetician is definitely for you. 

If you’re committed to learning and are dedicated to your craft, find a school, complete your training hours, pass your State Boards, stay up-to-date on licensing requirements, and dedicate yourself to continuing education. Do all of this, and you will no doubt have a successful career.