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2023 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California
Finding the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate School for You
In 2021-2022, cosmetology students earned 10,294 degrees and certificates from a California school, making the subject the 2nd in the state.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
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 in California ranking. This report analyzed 79 schools in California 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 California
Check out the cosmetology basic certificate programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
Top 15% Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools
Our 2023 rankings named San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc the best school in California for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the large city of San Francisco, SFIEC is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means J D Academy of Salon and Spa is a great place for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. J D Academy of Salon and Spa is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Danville.
Full Cosmetology at J D Academy of Salon and Spa Report
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Academy for Salon Professionals is a great place 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.
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The excellent basic certificate programs at International College of Cosmetology helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in California. International College of Cosmetology is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Oakland.
Read full report on Cosmetology at International College of Cosmetology
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Paul Mitchell the School Sacramento is a great place for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, Paul Mitchell the School Sacramento is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
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Hoss Lee 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 #6 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Roseville, Hoss Lee Academy is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
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With a ranking of #7, Cinta Aveda Institute did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the large city of San Francisco, Cinta Aveda Institute is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
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Lytles Redwood Empire Beauty College Inc landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the large suburb of Santa Rosa, Lytle's Beauty College is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Lytles Redwood Empire Beauty College Inc
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The Salon Professional Academy - San Jose landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. TSPA - San Jose is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of San Jose.
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Hilltop Beauty School ranked #11 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California list. Located in the large suburb of Daly City, Hilltop Beauty School is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Hilltop Beauty School
Request InformationAdditional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy | Santa Fe Springs, CA |
| 13 | Cosmo Beauty Academy | Sacramento, CA |
| 14 | Blake Austin College | Vacaville, CA |
| 15 | Paul Mitchell the School Pasadena | Pasadena, CA |
Best Cosmetology Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Best Cosmetology Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Washington | 2,041 |
| Oregon | 1,020 |
| Nevada | 1,575 |
| Hawaii | 183 |
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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