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Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Wisconsin

2023 Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Wisconsin

26 Colleges
$20,328 Avg Salary
$9,516 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology School for You

In 2021-2022, cosmetology students earned 1,320 degrees and certificates from a Wisconsin school, making the subject the 4th in the state.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. 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.

The Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Wisconsin ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 26 schools in Wisconsin to see which ones offered the best programs for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Cosmetology Schools in Wisconsin

Check out the cosmetology programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 10 Best Cosmetology Schools

Our analysis found The Institute of Beauty and Wellness to be the best school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a degree in Wisconsin. The Institute of Beauty and Wellness is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Aveda Institute - Madison. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Wisconsin list. Aveda Institute - Madison is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Madison.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend The Salon Professional Academy - Onalaska. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Wisconsin list. TSPA - Onalaska is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Onalaska.

Full Cosmetology at The Salon Professional Academy - Onalaska Report

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The excellent programs at Advanced College of Cosmetology helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in Wisconsin. Advanced College of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Waupun.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend The Salon Professional Academy - Appleton. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Wisconsin list. TSPA - Appleton is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized suburb of Appleton.

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Paul Mitchell the School Milwaukee ranked #6 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Wisconsin list. Located in the suburb of Wauwatosa, Paul Mitchell the School Milwaukee is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

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Chippewa Valley Technical College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Wisconsin ranking. CVTC is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Eau Claire.

Full Cosmetology at Chippewa Valley Technical College Report

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Empire Beauty School-Green Bay did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #8 on the list. Empire Beauty School-Green Bay is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Ashwaubenon.

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Paul Mitchell the School Madison did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the city of Madison, Paul Mitchell the School Madison is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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With a ranking of #10, Waukesha County Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students. WCTC is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee.

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Best Cosmetology Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Best Cosmetology Schools in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 2,766
Indiana 1,897
Ohio 3,404
Illinois 3,922

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 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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