2023 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region
Finding the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate School for You
Cosmetology is the most popular major in the United States with 34,706 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'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.
The Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 175 schools in the Southeast Region to see which ones offered the best basic certificate programs for trade school students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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2023 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region
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 Southeast Region Trade Schools for an Award Taking Less Than 1 Year in Cosmetology
Our analysis found Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics to be the best school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a basic certificate in the Southeast Region . Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Ashland.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy is a great place for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the small city of Reston, DSI Academy is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy
Out of the 175 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Avi Career Training landed the # 3 spot on the list. Avi Career Training is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Great Falls.
Out of the 175 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Gould’s Academy landed the # 4 spot on the list. Gould's Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Memphis.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend The Chrysm Insitute of Esthetics. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. The Chrysm Institute is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach.
Read full report on Cosmetology at The Chrysm Insitute of Esthetics
Florida Academy came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the small city of Fort Myers, Florida Academy is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
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Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill ranked #8 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Elevate Salon Institute - Durham did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the large city of Durham, Elevate Salon Institute - Durham is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
Summit Salon Academy - Tampa came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Summit Salon Academy Tampa is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Tampa.
American Institute of Beauty 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. American Institute of Beauty is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Largo.
With a ranking of #12, Boca Beauty Academy did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Boca Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Boca Raton.
Aveda Institute - Tallahassee 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. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Aveda Institute - Tallahassee is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
My Le’s Beauty College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. My Le's Beauty College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Gretna.
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute, Covington did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the small suburb of Covington, Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute, Covington is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Aveda Institute - South Florida 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. Aveda Institute - South Florida is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Davie.
Arkansas Beauty School - Little Rock landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the city of Little Rock, Arkansas Beauty School - Little Rock is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
With a ranking of #18, Empire Beauty School-E Memphis did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the large city of Memphis, Empire Beauty School-E Memphis is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
With a ranking of #19, Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose Creek did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the suburb of Goose Creek, Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Full Cosmetology at Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose Creek Report
Elaine Sterling 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 #20 on the list. Located in the city of Atlanta, Elaine Sterling Institute is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Boca Beauty Academy - Parkland did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #21 on the list. Boca Beauty Academy - Parkland is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Parkland.
With a ranking of #22, Paul Mitchell the School Murfreesboro did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the medium-sized city of Murfreesboro, Paul Mitchell the School Murfreesboro is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Murfreesboro
Parisian Spa Institute landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Parisian Spa Institute is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Palm Beach Academy of Health & Beauty came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Palm Beach Academy of Health & Beauty is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lake Park.
PJ’s College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green ranked #25 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Bowling Green.
Read full report on Cosmetology at PJ’s College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green
Rest of the Top Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region
Honorable Mentions
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 the Southeast Region award.
Rank | College | Location |
---|---|---|
27 | Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Spartanburg | Spartanburg, SC |
28 | Career Academy of Hair Design | Springdale, AR |
29 | Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Columbia | Columbia, SC |
30 | Franklin Academy | Cleveland, TN |
31 | Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-Casselberry | Casselberry, FL |
32 | Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy - Lakeland | Lakeland, FL |
33 | Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers | Hollywood, FL |
34 | Hollywood Institute - Margate | Margate, FL |
35 | Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy - Tampa | Tampa, FL |
Best Cosmetology Colleges by State
Explore the best cosmetology colleges for a specific state in the Southeast region.
State | Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Georgia | 4,283 |
South Carolina | 1,516 |
Arkansas | 1,191 |
North Carolina | 2,549 |
Florida | 10,801 |
West Virginia | 377 |
Louisiana | 3,726 |
Virginia | 1,085 |
Alabama | 821 |
Kentucky | 1,003 |
Tennessee | 2,270 |
Mississippi | 872 |
Rankings in Majors Related to Cosmetology
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 |
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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