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Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

2023 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

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Finding the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate School for You

Cosmetology is the most popular major in the United States with 14,178 degrees and certificates handed out in 2021-2022.

Today's trade school students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

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 the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This report analyzed 92 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region 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 Middle Atlantic Region

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 New York Institute of Beauty the best school in the Middle Atlantic Region for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the suburb of Islandia, New York Institute of Beauty is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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The excellent basic certificate programs at Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the Middle Atlantic Region . Located in the large city of New York, Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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The excellent basic certificate programs at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the Middle Atlantic Region . Located in the large city of New York, Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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The excellent basic certificate programs at New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the Middle Atlantic Region . New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of white plains.

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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Aesthetic Science Institute is a great place for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the large suburb of Latham, Aesthetic Science Institute is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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Aveda Institute - New York ranked #6 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the city of New York, Aveda Institute - New York is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

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Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Levittown.

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Christine Valmy International School for Esthetics, Skin Care & Makeup came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the city of New York, Christine Valmy International School is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

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With a ranking of #9, Christine Valmy International School of Esthetics & Cosmetology did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Christine Valmy International School is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Pine Brook.

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With a ranking of #10, Academy of Massage and Bodywork did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Academy of Massage and Bodywork is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Bear.

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#11

Arrojo Cosmetology School

New York, NY

Arrojo Cosmetology School landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. NA Enterprises LLC d is a small private for-profit school located in the city of New York.

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Bucks County School of Beauty Culture Inc ranked #12 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the suburb of Feasterville, Bucks County School of Beauty Culture Inc is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

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The Salon Professional Academy - Tonawanda landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. TSPA - Tonawanda is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Tonawanda.

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Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Cosmetology students in the Middle Atlantic Region that almost earned our Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region award.

Rank College Location
14 Shear Ego International School of Hair Design Rochester, NY
15 Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork Lancaster, PA
16 Barber & Beauty Institute of New York Hempstead, NY
17 Innovate Salon Academy - Ewing Ewing, NJ
18 South Hills Beauty Academy Inc Pittsburgh, PA

Best Cosmetology Colleges by State

Explore the best cosmetology schools for a specific state in the Middle Atlantic region.

State Degrees Awarded
New York 5,055
Pennsylvania 3,378
New Jersey 2,419
Maryland 1,103
Delaware 343
District of Columbia 160

One of 4 majors within the trade school area of study, cosmetology has other similar majors worth exploring.

Cosmetology Focus Areas

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

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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