Once you know you wish to join one of our Cosmetic Arts programs, you will need to complete a series of steps across a couple different platforms to officially get enrolled. Our programs are highly competitive, so seats fill up quickly each application period. In order to get a spot, it is very important you are prepared and actively participating in the process. The following information hopes to prepare prospective students as much as possible for what to expect in their journey.

Complete College Application*

The first step is to complete your college application with the program you are wanting to begin as your active program of study.

*If you are currently enrolled in high school and seeking to take cosmetic art courses that will count toward your high school credits, please start with the Career & College Program admissions process.

During this stage, we always encourage students to apply for financial aid. You may be eligible for government aid and/or scholarships. If you have further questions regarding financial aid, you can contact help by emailing fin.aid@rccc.edu or calling 704-216-7222 (choose option 3). Any student who has not completed an application for financial aid may do so at fafsa.gov.

Note College Credentials

After your application is accepted by the college. Look for an email with some important information. Your RCCC Student ID number and RCCC Student Email address will be needed to complete the next step. You will use your college credentials to log into this, Cosmetology Applicant Tracker, system. Your username is the first portion of your student email address - everything before the "@student.rccc.edu". Your password will be provided, but it is encouraged you reset it using the following password reset tool, Microsoft Password Reset.

Submit Your Application

From within this system, you will complete the following as part of your application:

Select your desired program from those available for the semester.
Select your desired class schedule from those available for the semester.
Verify your identity.
Upload necessary documents and images.
Test your knowledge of the requirements and expectations of the Cosmetic Arts programs.
Confirm your receipt of necessary policies.
Confirm your seat, if registered, to retain your seat.

The C.A.T. system will provide you with guidance and feedback throughout the application process, letting you know exactly what the status of your application is at all times. For more detailed information on the outlined steps above, please refer to What is the application process?

We will register students based on the date of completion of all requirements in the Cosmetology Applicant Tracking system. Please note that your program application is only for the specific semester you are applying under. If you are not registered for classes for the semester you have applied for in C.A.T. and wish to try for the next semester, please check for the dates to return and apply for a future semester.

We do not hold a “waitlist” from the prior semester, so reapplication in C.A.T. is required!

Additional Resources

• Sign up for 1st look sessions for programs of interest. Dates and times vary.

• To make an appointment and get help completing an application, please email admissions@rccc.edu.

• Financial aid assistance may be available to help you. Contact financial at by emailing fin.aid@rccc.edu or calling 704-216-7222 (choose option 3). Any student who has not completed an application for financial aid may do so at fafsa.gov. We are currently awarding financial aid for 2022-2023, so students may check their award status and financial information on their WebAdvisor/Self-Service account.

• If you need help logging in to your student account, assistance is available on the IS Help Desk website.

• To view the full list of Student Services support options online, visit their support webpage.