2023 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools
Finding the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate 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 Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. This report analyzed 720 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best basic certificate programs for trade school students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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2023 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the United States
Check out the cosmetology basic certificate programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
Top 25 Top Trade Schools for an Award Taking Less Than 1 Year in Cosmetology
Our analysis found University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology to be the best school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a basic certificate in the United States. Located in the large city of Chicago, University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Read full report on Cosmetology at University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology
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 #2 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the large city of San Francisco, SFIEC is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
Read full report on Cosmetology at San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Gary Manuel Aveda Institute. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the city of Seattle, GMAI is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend New York Institute of Beauty. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. New York Institute of Beauty is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Islandia.
Read full report on Cosmetology at New York Institute of Beauty
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of New York.
Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics ranked #6 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Ashland, Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Full Cosmetology at Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics Report
J D Academy of Salon and Spa did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. J D Academy of Salon and Spa is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Danville.
Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Everett.
With a ranking of #9, The Institute of Beauty and Wellness did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. The Institute of Beauty and Wellness is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Milwaukee.
Read full report on Cosmetology at The Institute of Beauty and Wellness
Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. DSI Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Reston.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy
Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the suburb of Woburn, Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Academy for Salon Professionals came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Academy for Salon Professionals is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Northridge.
With a ranking of #13, Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy
O’Briens Aveda Institute landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. O'Briens Aveda Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized suburb of Williston.
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics is a small private for-profit school located in the city of New York.
Full Cosmetology at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics Report
The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. TSPA - Fargo is a small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Fargo.
Read full report on Cosmetology at The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo
New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Located in the city of white plains, New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
With a ranking of #19, Aesthetic Science Institute did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Aesthetic Science Institute is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Latham.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Aesthetic Science Institute
Avenue Five Institute ranked #20 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Avenue Five Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Austin.
Universal Spa Training Academy did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #21 on the list. Universal Spa Training Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Downers Grove.
Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in the city of Omaha, Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
Full Cosmetology at Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics Report
Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #23 on the list. Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Austin.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus
Spa Tech Institute-Westboro did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #24 on the list. Spa Tech Institute-Westboro is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Westborough.
With a ranking of #25, Aveda Fredric’s Institute - Indianapolis did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the city of Carmel, Aveda Fredric's Institute - Indianapolis is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Aveda Fredric’s Institute - Indianapolis
Rest of the Top 50 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools
Remaining Award Winners
This section shows the rest of the colleges awarded a Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 720 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 Basic Certificate Trade Schools award.
Cosmetology by Region
View the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate 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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