Find Trade Colleges
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.
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 2023 rankings named University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology the best school in the United States for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the city of Chicago, University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
Read full report on Cosmetology at University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology
Request Information
Out of the 720 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the city of San Francisco, SFIEC is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Full Cosmetology at San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc Report
Request Information
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Gary Manuel Aveda Institute is a great place for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the large city of Seattle, GMAI is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Gary Manuel Aveda Institute
Request Information
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means New York Institute of Beauty is a great place for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. 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
Request Information
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 #5 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training is a small private for-profit school located in the city of New York.
Request Information
Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the large suburb of Ashland, Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics
Request Information
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 fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Danville.
Request Information
With a ranking of #8, Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Everett.
Full Cosmetology at Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett Report
Request Information
The Institute of Beauty and Wellness landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. The Institute of Beauty and Wellness is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee.
Full Cosmetology at The Institute of Beauty and Wellness Report
Request Information
Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. DSI Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Reston.
Full Cosmetology at Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy Report
Request Information
Catherine Hinds Institute of 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 #11 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Woburn, Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Request Information
With a ranking of #12, Academy for Salon Professionals did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Academy for Salon Professionals is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Northridge.
Full Cosmetology at Academy for Salon Professionals Report
Request Information
Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Medford.
Request Information
O’Briens Aveda Institute ranked #14 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. O'Briens Aveda Institute is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized suburb of Williston.
Request Information
Atelier Esthetique Institute of 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 #16 on the list. Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of New York.
Full Cosmetology at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics Report
Request Information
With a ranking of #17, The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. TSPA - Fargo is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Fargo.
Full Cosmetology at The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo Report
Request Information
New York School of Esthetics & Day 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 #18 on the list. Located in the small city of white plains, New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
Full Cosmetology at New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa Report
Request Information
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 small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Latham.
Request Information
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.
Full Cosmetology at Avenue Five Institute Report
Request Information
Universal Spa Training Academy ranked #21 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Universal Spa Training Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Downers Grove.
Request Information
With a ranking of #22, Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the city of Omaha, Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Request Information
Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Austin.
Full Cosmetology at Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus Report
Request Information
Spa Tech Institute-Westboro landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. Spa Tech Institute-Westboro is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Westborough.
Full Cosmetology at Spa Tech Institute-Westboro Report
Request Information
Aveda Fredric’s Institute - Indianapolis ranked #25 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the city of Carmel, Aveda Fredric's Institute - Indianapolis is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
Full Cosmetology at Aveda Fredric’s Institute - Indianapolis Report
Request InformationRest of the Top 50 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools
Remaining Award Winners
This section shows the remainder of the colleges awarded a Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college 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.
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.