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2023 Best Cosmetology Trade Schools
Finding the Best Cosmetology School for You
In 2021-2022, 124,611 degrees and certificates were awarded to cosmetology students, making the major the most popular in the country.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Cosmetology Trade Schools ranking. This report analyzed 1,002 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best programs for trade school students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Cosmetology Schools in the United States
The following schools top our list of the Best Cosmetology Colleges.
Top 25 Top Trade Schools in Cosmetology
Our 2023 rankings named Medspa Academies the best school in the United States for cosmetology students. Located in the large suburb of South Jordan, National Institute of Medical Aesthetics is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools list. Located in the large city of Chicago, University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Cosmetology Trade Schools list. Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of New York.
Full Cosmetology at Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training Report
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The excellent programs at San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the United States. Located in the large city of San Francisco, SFIEC is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
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Out of the 1,002 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the large suburb of Ashland, Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
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Gary Manuel Aveda Institute ranked #6 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools list. Located in the city of Seattle, GMAI is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
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New York Institute of Beauty did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #7 on the list. New York Institute of Beauty is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Islandia.
Full Cosmetology at New York Institute of Beauty Report
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With a ranking of #9, J D Academy of Salon and Spa did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students. J D Academy of Salon and Spa is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Danville.
Full Cosmetology at J D Academy of Salon and Spa Report
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Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett ranked #10 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools list. Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Everett.
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With a ranking of #11, Hastings Beauty School did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students. Hastings Beauty School is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the fringe town of Hastings.
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Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #12 on the list. DSI Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Reston.
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With a ranking of #13, The Hair Academy did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students. The Hair Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Bismarck.
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Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best cosmetology programs. Located in the large suburb of Woburn, Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
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With a ranking of #15, The Institute of Beauty and Wellness did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students. The Institute of Beauty and Wellness is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Milwaukee.
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Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #16 on the list. Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford.
Full Cosmetology at Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy Report
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O’Briens Aveda Institute came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Trade Schools ranking. O'Briens Aveda Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized suburb of Williston.
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With a ranking of #18, Academy for Salon Professionals did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students. Academy for Salon Professionals is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Northridge.
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Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Trade Schools ranking. Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics is a small private for-profit school located in the city of New York.
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With a ranking of #20, New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students. Located in the small city of white plains, New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
Full Cosmetology at New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa Report
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With a ranking of #21, The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students. TSPA - Fargo is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Fargo.
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Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Shoreline landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best cosmetology programs. Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Shoreline is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Shoreline.
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With a ranking of #23, Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students. Located in the city of Omaha, Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics
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Aveda Institute - Denver landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best cosmetology programs. Aveda Institute - Denver is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Denver.
Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Denver Report
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Universal Spa Training Academy ranked #25 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools list. Universal Spa Training Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Downers Grove.
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Remaining Award Winners
This section shows the rest of the schools awarded a Best Cosmetology Trade Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 1002 different United States cosmetology schools we analyzed.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great schools for Cosmetology students that almost earned our Best Cosmetology Trade Schools award.
Cosmetology by Region
View the Best Cosmetology Trade Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Other U.S. Territories |
| Great Lakes |
Cosmetology Related Rankings by Major
Cosmetology is one of 4 different types of trade school programs to choose from.
Cosmetology Concentrations
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist | 50,210 |
| Aesthetician/Esthetician & Skin Care Specialist | 40,040 |
| Nail Technician/Specialist & Manicurist | 13,960 |
| Barbering/Barber | 9,893 |
| Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist | 2,907 |
| Other Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts | 2,184 |
| Master Aesthetician/Esthetician | 1,729 |
| Hair Styling/Stylist & Hair Design | 1,238 |
| Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor | 1,230 |
| Make-Up Artist/Specialist | 440 |
| Electrolysis/Electrology & Electrolysis Technician | 354 |
| Salon/Beauty Salon Management/Manager | 336 |
| Permanent Cosmetics/Makeup & Tattooing | 90 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Cosmetology
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Culinary Arts | 22,075 |
| Funeral & Mortuary Science | 2,186 |
| Casino Operations and Services | 385 |
| Other Personal & Culinary Services | 95 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Tiffany Bumgardner.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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