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2023 Best Cosmetology Trade Schools

1,002 Colleges
$17,007 Avg Salary
$10,898 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology School for You

In 2020-2021, 107,895 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

#1

Medspa Academies

South Jordan, UT

Our analysis found Medspa Academies to be the best school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Located in the large suburb of South Jordan, National Institute of Medical Aesthetics is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Medspa Academies Report

Out of the 1,002 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology landed the # 2 spot on the 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 join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools list. Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of New York.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools list. Located in the city of San Francisco, SFIEC is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc

The excellent programs at Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Henrico, Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics Report

Gary Manuel Aveda Institute ranked #6 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools list. Located in the large city of Seattle, GMAI is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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With a ranking of #7, New York Institute of Beauty did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students. New York Institute of Beauty is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Islandia.

Full Cosmetology at New York Institute of Beauty Report

Paroba College of Cosmetology ranked #8 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools list. Located in the midsize city of Everett, Paroba College of Cosmetology is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paroba College of Cosmetology

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.

Read full report on Cosmetology at J D Academy of Salon and Spa

Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #10 on the list. Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Everett.

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#11

Hastings Beauty School

Hastings, MN

Hastings Beauty School did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #11 on the list. Hastings Beauty School is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the town of Hastings.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Hastings Beauty School

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 small private for-profit school located in the small city of Reston.

Full Cosmetology at Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy Report

#13

The Hair Academy

Bismarck, ND

The Hair Academy did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #13 on the list. 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 came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Trade Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Woburn, Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics

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.

Full Cosmetology at The Institute of Beauty and Wellness Report

Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy ranked #16 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools list. Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford.

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#17

O'Briens Aveda Institute

Williston, VT

O’Briens Aveda Institute ranked #17 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools list. O'Briens Aveda Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Williston.

Full Cosmetology at O’Briens Aveda Institute Report

Academy for Salon Professionals did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #18 on the list. Academy for Salon Professionals is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Northridge.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Academy for Salon Professionals

Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics ranked #19 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools list. Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of New York.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics

New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa ranked #20 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools list. Located in the small city of white plains, New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa Report

The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #21 on the list. TSPA - Fargo is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Fargo.

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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 large city of Omaha, Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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Aveda Institute - Denver ranked #24 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools list. Aveda Institute - Denver is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Denver.

Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Denver Report

#25

Universal Spa Training Academy

Downers Grove, IL

With a ranking of #25, Universal Spa Training Academy did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students. Universal Spa Training Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Downers Grove.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Universal Spa Training Academy

Rest of the Top 50 Best Cosmetology Trade Schools

#34

Avenue Five Institute

Austin, TX
#36

Image Maker Beauty Institute

Hendersonville, TN
#39

Arrojo Cosmetology School

New York, NY
#40

Aveda Institute - Des Moines

West Des Moines, IA
#41

Aveda Institute - Minneapolis

Minneapolis, MN
#42

PCI Academy-Plymouth

Plymouth, MN
#46

Avi Career Training

Great Falls, VA
#48

Nova Academy of Cosmetology

Rochester, MN
#50

Penrose Academy

Scottsdale, AZ

Remaining Award Winners

This section shows the remainder of the colleges 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.

Rank College Location
51 Spa Tech Institute-Westbrook Westbrook, ME
52 Studio Academy of Beauty Chandler, AZ
53 Stewart School Sioux Falls, SD
54 International Institute of Cosmetology Wethersfield, CT
55 Advanced College of Cosmetology Waupun, WI
56 International Academy of Style Reno, NV
57 Mitsu Sato Hair Academy Overland Park, KS
58 Aveda Fredric’s Institute - Cincinnati West Chester, OH
59 G Skin & Beauty Institute West Dundee, IL
60 Paul Mitchell the School Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
61 Aveda Institute - Chicago Chicago, IL
62 Paul Mitchell the School Raleigh Raleigh, NC
63 Hoss Lee Academy Roseville, CA
64 Aveda Institute Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV
65 The Salon Professional Academy - Appleton Appleton, WI
66 Aveda Institute - New York New York, NY
67 Paul Mitchell the School Austin Austin, TX
68 Paul Mitchell the School Columbus Columbus, OH
69 Paul Mitchell the School Overland Park Overland Park, KS
70 E Q School of Hair Design Council Bluffs, IA
71 Lytles Redwood Empire Beauty College Inc Santa Rosa, CA
72 Xenon International Academy-Omaha Omaha, NE
73 New England Hair Academy Malden, MA
74 Tint School of Makeup & Cosmetology-Seattle Seattle, WA
75 Continental Academie of Hair Design, Hudson Hudson, NH
76 Gene Juarez Academy-Mountlake Terrace Mountlake Terrace, WA
77 Spa Tech Institute-Ipswich Ipswich, MA
78 Fosbre Academy of Hair Design Olympia, WA
79 Skin Institute Saint Louis, MO
80 Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute Levittown, NY
81 PCI Academy-Ames Ames, IA
81 The Salon Professional Academy - St Charles St. Charles, MO
83 Wisconsin Academy a Paul Mitchell Partner Group-PMTS Lincoln Lincoln, NE
84 Summit Salon Academy - Tacoma Tacoma, WA
85 The Chrysm Insitute of Esthetics Virginia Beach, VA
86 Cinta Aveda Institute San Francisco, CA
87 Aveda Institute Portland - Vancouver Campus Vancouver, WA
88 Aveda Institute - Portland Portland, OR
89 Capri College, Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids, IA
90 Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Irving Irving, TX
91 Clover Park Technical College Lakewood, WA
92 Christine Valmy International School for Esthetics, Skin Care & Makeup New York, NY
93 Hilltop Beauty School Daly City, CA
94 Aveda Institute - Tucson Tucson, AZ
95 Mandalyn Academy American Fork, UT
96 Skin Science Institute Salt Lake City, UT
97 Black Hills Beauty College Rapid City, SD
98 Academy of Massage and Bodywork Bear, DE
99 Paul Mitchell the School Denver Lakewood, CO
100 Paul Mitchell the School Grand Rapids Kentwood, MI
101 Gould’s Academy Memphis, TN
102 Josef’s School of Hair, Skin & Body-Fargo Fargo, ND
103 The Barber School Midvale, UT
104 Estelle Skin Care and Spa Institute Skokie, IL
105 Gene Juarez Academy-Federal Way Federal Way, WA
106 G Skin & Beauty Institute Oakbrook, IL
107 Aveda Institute - Phoenix Tempe, AZ
108 The Salon Professional Academy - San Jose San Jose, CA
109 Capilo School of Hair Design Augusta, ME
110 Elevate Salon Institute - Westminster Westminster, CO
111 Z Hair Academy Overland Park, KS
112 Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design-Provo Provo, UT
113 Aveda Institute - Boise Boise, ID
114 Eric Fisher Academy Wichita, KS
115 Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
115 Collectiv Academy Midvale, UT
117 Cameo College of Essential Beauty Murray, UT
118 Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Plano Plano, TX
119 Florida Academy Fort Myers, FL
120 Aveda Institute - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
121 Jupiter Beauty Academy Boston, MA
122 Bella Capelli Academy Monroeville, PA
123 Paul Mitchell the School Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
124 Cosmetology & Spa Academy Crystal Lake, IL
125 Pure Aesthetics Tucson, AZ
126 Gould’S-Academy Bartlett, TN
127 Christine Valmy International School of Esthetics & Cosmetology Pine Brook, NJ
128 Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design-West Jordan West Jordan, UT
129 Paul Mitchell the School Milwaukee Pawaukee, WI
130 Josef’s School of Hair, Skin & Body, Grand Forks Grand Forks, ND
131 Paul Mitchell the School Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO
132 Elevate Salon Institute - Durham Durham, NC
133 Niles School of Cosmetology Niles, IL
134 Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Libertyville Libertyville, IL
135 Aveda Institute - Columbus Columbus, OH
136 Summit Salon Academy - Tampa Tampa, FL
137 Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Elgin Elgin, IL
138 Elaine Sterling Institute Sandy Springs, GA
139 Paul Mitchell the School Mclean McLean, VA
140 Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
141 The Salon Professional Academy - Nashville Nashville, TN
142 The Beauty Institute West Palm Beach, FL
143 Empire Beauty School-Hooksett Hooksett, NH
144 Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI
145 Paul Mitchell the School Missouri Columbia Columbia, MO
146 Ricci’s Academy of Cosmetology Newtown, CT
147 The Salon Professional Academy - Shorewood Shorewood, IL
148 EINE Inc Tewksbury, MA
149 Michaels School of Hair Design and Esthetics - A Paul Mitchell Partner School Bedford, NH
150 The Salon Professional Academy - Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for Cosmetology students that almost earned our Best Cosmetology Trade Schools award.

Rank College Location
151 The Salon Professional Academy - Lewisville Lewisville, TX
152 Bucks County School of Beauty Culture Inc Feasterville, PA
153 Innovate Salon Academy South Plainfield, NJ
154 Paul Mitchell the School Woodbridge Woodbridge, VA
155 The Salon Professional Academy - Tonawanda Tonawanda, NY
156 Salon Institute-Toledo Campus Toledo, OH
157 Paul Mitchell the School Normal Normal, IL
158 The Salon Professional Academy - Evansville Evansville, IN
159 Merrell University of Beauty Arts and Science Jefferson City, MO
160 Barber & Beauty Institute of New York Hempstead, NY
161 Cozmo Beauty School Bonita Springs, FL
162 Empire Beauty School-Boston Boston, MA
163 La James International College-Davenport Davenport, IA
164 Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy Santa Fe Springs, CA
165 L’esprit Academy Livonia, MI
166 Twin City Beauty College Saint Joseph, MI
167 Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Cranston Cranston, RI
168 La James International College-Cedar Falls Cedar Falls, IA
169 Paul Mitchell the School Roanoke Roanoke, VA
170 American Institute of Beauty Largo, FL
171 Aveda Institute - Tallahassee Tallahassee, FL
172 Paul Mitchell the School Esani Roswell, GA
173 Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts & Sciences-Summerlin Las Vegas, NV
174 Virginia School of Hair Design Hampton, VA
175 Innovate Salon Academy - Ewing Ewing, NJ
175 Paul Mitchell the School Spokane Spokane Valley, WA
177 Capri College, Dubuque Dubuque, IA
178 Douglas J Aveda Institute East Lansing, MI
179 Empire Beauty School-Michigan Grand Rapids, MI
180 Saint Paul College Saint Paul, MN
181 Rudae’s School of Beauty Culture-Ft Wayne Fort Wayne, IN
182 Victoria’s Academy of Cosmetology Kennewick, WA
183 Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork Lancaster, PA
184 Paul Mitchell the School Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH
185 Phagans School of Hair Design Happy Valley, OR
186 Paul Mitchell the School Webster Webster, TX
187 Shear Ego International School of Hair Design Rochester, NY
188 Paul Mitchell the School Salt Lake City Holladay, UT
189 Paul Mitchell the School Honolulu Honolulu, HI
190 Empire Beauty School-Green Bay Ashwaubenon, WI
191 Paul Mitchell the School Wichita Wichita, KS
192 Mitchell’s Academy - Raleigh Raleigh, NC
193 Monmouth County Vocational School District Freehold, NJ
194 Boca Beauty Academy Boca Raton, FL
195 Hair Professionals Career College Sycamore, IL
196 Empire Beauty School-Laconia Laconia, NH
197 South Hills Beauty Academy Inc Pittsburgh, PA
198 Capri Cosmetology Learning Centers Nanuet, NY
199 Imagine-Paul Mitchell Partner School North Little Rock, AR
200 DuVall’s School of Cosmetology Bedford, TX

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
Great Lakes

Cosmetology is one of 4 different types of trade school programs to choose from.

Cosmetology Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist 46,395
Aesthetician/Esthetician & Skin Care Specialist 31,569
Nail Technician/Specialist & Manicurist 11,623
Barbering/Barber 8,381
Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist 2,437
Other Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts 2,278
Master Aesthetician/Esthetician 1,620
Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor 1,382
Hair Styling/Stylist & Hair Design 1,029
Make-Up Artist/Specialist 566
Salon/Beauty Salon Management/Manager 291
Electrolysis/Electrology & Electrolysis Technician 253
Permanent Cosmetics/Makeup & Tattooing 71

Related Major Annual Graduates
Culinary Arts 19,784
Funeral & Mortuary Science 2,354
Casino Operations and Services 192
Other Personal & Culinary Services 81

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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