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Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Georgia

2023 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Georgia

27 Colleges

Finding the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate School for You

Cosmetology is the most popular major in Georgia with 4,283 degrees and certificates handed out in 2021-2022.

There are so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Georgia to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 27 schools in Georgia 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 Georgia

The colleges and universities below are the best for cosmetology majors pursuing a basic certificate.

Top 10 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools

Our 2023 rankings named Elaine Sterling Institute the best school in Georgia for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the city of Atlanta, Elaine Sterling Institute 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 Empire Beauty School-Kennesaw is a great place for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the large suburb of Kennesaw, Empire Beauty School-Kennesaw is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Kennesaw Report

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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Athens Technical College is a great place for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Athens Technical College is a small public school located in the midsize city of Athens.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Georgia Northwestern Technical College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Georgia list. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rome.

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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a great place for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Valdosta.

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Georgia Career Institute landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the large suburb of Conyers, Georgia Career Institute is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

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West Georgia Technical College 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. West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waco.

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Oconee Fall Line Technical College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Georgia list. Located in the rural area of Sandersville, OFTC is a public school with a small student population.

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#9

Lanier Technical College

Gainesville, GA

Lanier Technical College 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. Lanier Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the rural area of Gainesville.

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#10

Central Georgia Technical College

Warner Robins, GA

Central Georgia Technical College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Georgia list. CGTC is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Warner Robins.

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Best Cosmetology Colleges in the Southeast Region

Explore all the Best Cosmetology Colleges in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
South Carolina 1,516
Arkansas 1,191
North Carolina 2,549
Florida 10,801
Virginia 1,085
Louisiana 3,726
West Virginia 377
Alabama 821
Kentucky 1,003
Tennessee 2,270
Mississippi 872

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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