Capri College was founded in 1966 in Dubuque, Iowa. Nearly 60 years later, we are still a family-owned beauty school with a strong commitment to excellence in education. Students come to us for a quality education in different aspects of the beauty industry, including cosmetology, esthetics, massage therapy, nail technology, and cosmetology instructor training. As a private, family-owned school, we have the freedom to evolve our curriculum with the ever-changing demands of the industry, choosing the products and equipment that give students professional experience. We believe beauty school students learn best when they are practicing the skills they are learning, which is why we include hands-on experience. Students provide services to real clients in our student salon and spa areas under the direct supervision of licensed instructors.
We Are Committed to Student Success.
Capri College is located at 395 Main Street, Dubuque, which is at the center of the city’s historic downtown. Our beauty school is located in a restored historic three-story brick building. The Main Street entrance opens into a guest service reception area and a 3,500-square-foot student salon and spa. The first floor also includes a retail center for hair, skin, and nail products, a spa area for manicures and pedicures, and private skincare rooms for esthetic services.
The 4,200-square-foot second floor consists of three practical classrooms, a student lounge, a student resource center with a computer lab, and some offices.
A large one-story structure adjacent to the cosmetology building accommodates the esthetics and massage therapy classrooms and private treatment rooms for quiet and personal spa services. This 7,000-square-foot building is connected to the main building internally and also has separate outside private access for esthetics students and massage therapy clients, and students.
Students, staff, and customers can park in a large, well-lit, weather-protected public parking ramp located directly across the street from the college.
A 1,550-hour comprehensive program for students who want to learn about hair, skincare, makeup, nails, and more.
A 600-hour program focusing on helping others through a variety of skincare services.
A 600-hour program teaching various massages and how they help people relax and heal.
A 1,000-hour program for licensed cosmetologists who want to advance their career as a beauty educator.
Dubuque is the seventh-largest city in Iowa. We enjoy its small-town warmth and friendliness, the area’s natural beauty, and the city’s historical, Victorian charm. Situated on the Mississippi River, Dubuque was the first town to be established in Iowa. There are many historical sites to explore.
Year-round entertainment comes in the form of golfing, biking, snowshoeing, river cruising, and window-shopping. Dubuque offers a variety of attractions, from quiet country inns to luxurious spas.
Capri in Waterloo is absolutely amazing.I went to school there and they did amazing job I learned so much. I graduated and I still get my hair done there because there prices and the teachers and students do such amazing job every time.
I attended Capri last year and graduated through the cosmetology program and my college experience was great!!🩷 All the instructors there are very kind and helpful while still letting you have full range of your creativity! S.O to my instructor Surp for pushing me to finish my hours !!🥹
I was a student at Capri and graduated last year. My instructors were all so supportive and kind and always there for us not just with school stuff but personal too. (The amount of times I cried in Surps office cuz I was having a bad day and she never ever made me feel bad for it and would let me sit there and talk to her until I felt better) Capri is not just about beauty, it’s about building lasting friendships and learning about yourself! 🫶🏻The beauty industry is literally billions of dollars and we can ALL be successful and Capri helped show us that!!!
Capri in Waterloo is absolutely amazing.I went to school there and they did amazing job I learned so much. I graduated and I still get my hair done there because there prices and the teachers and students do such amazing job every time.
I graduated from Capri almost 2 years from the cosmetology program and Capri definitely set me up for success with all the knowledge my instructors had and passed down to me! If you are interested in going to cosmetology school I highly recommend Capri College in Waterloo 😊
Our programs require a high school diploma or GED. The cosmetology instructor program requires a valid cosmetology, esthetics, or nail technology license.
Yes, students practice their skills in the student salon and spa areas, providing services to real clients under the direct supervision of licensed instructors. Clients from the community schedule all kinds of services that we offer at affordable prices.
As a family-owned school, we are not tied to specific brands, which allows us to choose professional products and tools that meet the industry’s changing demands. Our qualified, caring instructors are dedicated to student success, working closely with them in small classes and supervising them closely in the student salon and spa areas. We strive to make our students ready for a beauty career by teaching business skills and training them in real-world skills.
Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to see if you qualify for grants or loans. You may also want to check out various scholarships that apply to beauty school students. Call us at 1-800-728-7222 to discuss your options with a Financial Aid advisor.
We ask that you schedule a tour of our school as part of your enrollment process. This is a great opportunity to see the campus, get a feel for the creative atmosphere in our classrooms and student salon and spa areas, and meet instructors. We will also interview you as part of the enrollment process, getting to know more about you and helping you better understand our programs.
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