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Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky

2023 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky

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Finding the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate School for You

Out of the majors we analyze each year, cosmetology was ranked 9th in Kentucky. In fact, 1,003 were awarded in the state in 2021-2022.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. 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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. Our analysis looked at 10 schools in Kentucky to see which basic certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Kentucky

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

Top 10 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools

Our analysis found PJ’s College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green to be the best school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a basic certificate in Kentucky. Located in the small city of Bowling Green, PJ's College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at PJ’s College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green Report

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#2

Ideal Beauty Academy

Louisville, KY

Out of the 10 schools in Kentucky that were part of this year’s ranking, Ideal Beauty Academy landed the # 2 spot on the list. Ideal Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Louisville.

Full Cosmetology at Ideal Beauty Academy Report

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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Summit Salon Academy - Lexington is a great place for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Summit Salon Academy Lexington is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Lexington.

Full Cosmetology at Summit Salon Academy - Lexington Report

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Out of the 10 schools in Kentucky that were part of this year’s ranking, PJ’s College of Cosmetology-Glasgow landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the town of Glasgow, PJ's College of Cosmetology-Glasgow is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at PJ’s College of Cosmetology-Glasgow Report

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#5

Empire Beauty School-Dixie

Louisville, KY

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Empire Beauty School-Dixie. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Empire Beauty School-Dixie is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Louisville.

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Barrett and Company School of Hair Design came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. Barrett and Company School of Hair Design is a private for-profit school located in the town of Nicholasville.

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Paul Mitchell the School Louisville landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the large suburb of Louisville, Paul Mitchell the School Louisville is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Louisville Report

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Empire Beauty School-Elizabethtown ranked #8 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Empire Beauty School-Elizabethtown is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Elizabethtown.

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Empire Beauty School-Chenoweth landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the large suburb of Louisville, Empire Beauty School-Chenoweth is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Chenoweth Report

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#10

Somerset Community College

Somerset, KY

Somerset Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking. SCC is a moderately-sized public school located in the remote town of Somerset.

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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
Georgia 4,283
Arkansas 1,191
North Carolina 2,549
Florida 10,801
Louisiana 3,726
West Virginia 377
Virginia 1,085
Alabama 821
Tennessee 2,270
Mississippi 872

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

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 10 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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