I almost went into cosmetology, but changed my mind. But, what you can do is find a local cosmetology program or school where you live and call up there to make an appointment for a walk through. They tell you about the requirements, the price and walk you through the school building. They can answer all the questions you have.
You should try the Paul Mitchelle beauty school, it has a really good program and one of the best schools to graduate from. After you graduate, they recommend you to top notch hair salons, not the cheap kinds like "super cut".
Here's the website if your interested:
http://www.paulmitchelltheschool.com/pmsp/