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Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region

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2023 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region

49 Colleges

Finding the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate School for You

In 2020-2021, 107,895 degrees and certificates were awarded to cosmetology students, making the major the most popular in the country.

With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best 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 the Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 49 schools in the Plains States Region 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 the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Colleges.

Top 10 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools

Our 2023 rankings named The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo the best school in the Plains States Region for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. TSPA - Fargo is a small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Fargo.

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The excellent basic certificate programs at Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the Plains States Region . Located in the large city of Omaha, Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

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The excellent basic certificate programs at Minnesota School of Cosmetology-Woodbury Campus helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the Plains States Region . Minnesota School of Cosmetology-Woodbury Campus is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of WOODBURY.

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#4

PCI Academy-Plymouth

Plymouth, MN

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend PCI Academy-Plymouth. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the small city of Plymouth, PCI Academy-Plymouth is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at PCI Academy-Plymouth Report

#5

Aveda Institute - Minneapolis

Minneapolis, MN

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Aveda Institute - Minneapolis. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. Aveda Institute - Minneapolis is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis.

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#6

Aveda Institute - Des Moines

West Des Moines, IA

Aveda Institute - Des Moines came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the small city of West Des Moines, Aveda Institute - Des Moines is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Des Moines Report

#7

PCI Academy-Ames

Ames, IA

PCI Academy-Ames 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. PCI Academy-Ames is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Ames.

Full Cosmetology at PCI Academy-Ames Report

Xenon International Academy-Omaha came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the large city of Omaha, Xenon International School of hair Design is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Xenon International Academy-Omaha

#9

Stewart School

Sioux Falls, SD

With a ranking of #9, Stewart School did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the midsize city of Sioux Falls, Stewart School is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Stewart School

#10

Nova Academy of Cosmetology

Rochester, MN

Nova Academy of Cosmetology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Rochester, Nova Academy of Cosmetology is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Nova Academy of Cosmetology

Best Cosmetology Colleges by State

Explore the best cosmetology schools for a specific state in the Plains States region.

State Degrees Awarded
Kansas 1,184
Missouri 1,382
Minnesota 1,054
South Dakota 209
Iowa 685
North Dakota 203
Nebraska 441

Cosmetology is one of 4 different types of trade school programs to choose from.

Cosmetology Concentrations

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

Majors Similar to Cosmetology

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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