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.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc is a great place for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the city of San Francisco, SFIEC is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
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 large city of Seattle, GMAI is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New York Institute of Beauty. It ranked #4 on our 2023 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.
The excellent basic certificate programs at Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the United States. Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of New York.
Full Cosmetology at Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training Report
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 fairly small student population.
J D Academy of Salon and Spa landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. 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 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.
The Institute of Beauty and Wellness ranked #9 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. The Institute of Beauty and Wellness is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Milwaukee.
Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail 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 #10 on the list. 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
Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics ranked #11 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the suburb of Woburn, Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Academy for Salon Professionals ranked #12 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Academy for Salon Professionals is a small private for-profit school located in the large 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 small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford.
O’Briens Aveda Institute did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #14 on the list. O'Briens Aveda Institute is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Williston.
Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of New York.
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 fairly small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Fargo.
Full Cosmetology at The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo Report
With a ranking of #18, New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. 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
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 large suburb of Latham.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Aesthetic Science Institute
Avenue Five Institute came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Avenue Five Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Austin.
With a ranking of #21, Universal Spa Training Academy did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Universal Spa Training Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Downers Grove.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Universal Spa Training Academy
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 fairly small student population.
Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. 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
Spa Tech Institute-Westboro came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Spa Tech Institute-Westboro is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Westborough.
Aveda Fredric’s Institute - Indianapolis landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the small 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
Rest of the Top 50 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools
Remaining Award Winners
This list represents the rest of the schools 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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