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Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

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

92 Colleges

Finding the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate School for You

Cosmetology is the most popular major in the United States with 12,458 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

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 small student population.

Full Cosmetology at New York Institute of Beauty Report

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training is a great place for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the large city of New York, Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training

Out of the 92 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the large city of New York, Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics is a private for-profit college 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 fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of white plains.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Aesthetic Science Institute. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the large suburb of Latham, Aesthetic Science Institute is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Aesthetic Science Institute

Aveda Institute - New York landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the city of New York, Aveda Institute - New York is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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Long Island Nail Skin & Hair 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 #7 on the list. Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute is a fairly 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.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Christine Valmy International School of Esthetics & Cosmetology

Academy of Massage and Bodywork came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Academy of Massage and Bodywork is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Bear.

Full Cosmetology at Academy of Massage and Bodywork Report

#11

Arrojo Cosmetology School

New York, NY

Arrojo Cosmetology School came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. NA Enterprises LLC d is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of New York.

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With a ranking of #12, Bucks County School of Beauty Culture Inc did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the large suburb of Feasterville, Bucks County School of Beauty Culture Inc is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Bucks County School of Beauty Culture Inc

The Salon Professional Academy - Tonawanda did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #13 on the list. TSPA - Tonawanda is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Tonawanda.

Full Cosmetology at The Salon Professional Academy - Tonawanda Report

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 colleges 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 46,395
Aesthetician/Esthetician & Skin Care Specialist 31,569
Nail Technician/Specialist & Manicurist 11,623
Barbering/Barber 8,381
Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist 2,437
Other Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts 2,278
Master Aesthetician/Esthetician 1,620
Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor 1,382
Hair Styling/Stylist & Hair Design 1,029
Make-Up Artist/Specialist 566
Salon/Beauty Salon Management/Manager 291
Electrolysis/Electrology & Electrolysis Technician 253
Permanent Cosmetics/Makeup & Tattooing 71

Related Major Annual Graduates
Culinary Arts 19,784
Funeral & Mortuary Science 2,354
Casino Operations and Services 192
Other Personal & Culinary Services 81

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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