Direct answer: At William Edge Institute in New Braunfels, the Esthetics program is 750 hours and tuition is $10,125, plus a supply kit of $1,600 (plus tax), a $100 application fee, and a $25 TDLR permit fee collected on your first day of school. State exam and license fees add roughly $181 more. Pell Grant aid of up to $6,163 is available to esthetics students who qualify, and we do not participate in student loan programs.
Tuition pays for your 750 hours of instruction: classroom theory, hands-on training, instructor supervision, and time on our student salon floor working with real guests. It does not cover your kit, your state fees, or the products you’ll eventually buy as a working professional.
The 750 hours are set by the State of Texas, not by us. Every licensed esthetics program in Texas is teaching to the same hour requirement, which is why the honest comparison between schools is not “how many hours” but what happens inside them.
| Item | Cost | When it’s due |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $100 | At application |
| Tuition | $10,125 | Per your financial plan |
| Supply kit | $1,600 + tax | At enrollment |
| TDLR permit | $25 | First day of school |
| Theory exam | $55 | After you complete hours |
| Practical exam | $76 | After you pass theory |
| License application | $50 | After you pass both exams |
Pell Grant aid for esthetics students who qualify goes up to $6,163 at William Edge Institute. That is a maximum, not a promise — your number depends on your FAFSA results. We accept Pell Grants, Texas Workforce Commission funding for those who qualify, and VA education benefits (Post-9/11 Chapter 33 and DEA Chapter 35).
What we don’t do is student loans. It’s deliberate. A brand-new licensed esthetician spends the first year building a clientele, and a loan payment landing in that window pushes good people out of the industry before they’ve had a fair shot. Grants, workforce funding, VA benefits, and an interest-free payment plan get you to the same place without the debt.
If you want the whole picture on funding, see How to Pay for Beauty School in Texas.
| Program | Hours | Tuition | Kit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology | 1,000 | $13,500 | $1,900 + tax |
| Esthetics | 750 | $10,125 | $1,600 + tax |
| Nail Tech (Manicure) | 600 | $6,200 | $1,200 + tax |
Esthetics sits in the middle: 250 fewer hours and about $3,375 less tuition than cosmetology, but a narrower scope of practice. If you’re torn, read Cosmetology vs Esthetics: Which Program Is Right for You?.
That depends on what you do with the license. Esthetics has one of the best rebooking rhythms in the beauty industry — a facial client on a four- to six-week cycle is predictable, repeatable income, and retail sales stack on top of service revenue. See How Much Do Estheticians Make in Texas? for real earning ranges.
Is esthetician school cheaper than cosmetology school? Yes — at William Edge Institute it’s $3,375 less in tuition and 250 fewer hours.
Does FAFSA cover esthetician school? It can. William Edge Institute’s federal school code is 015119; complete the FAFSA and we’ll walk your results with you.
Do I have to pay for the kit up front? The kit is due at enrollment. Ask admissions how it fits into your financial plan.
Are there hidden fees? No. The table above is the whole list. State exam and license fees are paid directly to TDLR and its testing vendor, not to the school.
Can I work while I’m in school? Many students do, though the program is 30 hours a week and there is no part-time option. See Can You Work While Attending Cosmetology School?.
Every student’s aid package is different, so the only number that matters is yours. Come in for a tour and we’ll walk through it line by line. Call 830-387-4094 or email admissions@wmedge.com.