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Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Kentucky

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2023 Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Kentucky

14 Colleges
$16,898 Avg Salary
$12,381 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology School for You

In 2020-2021, cosmetology students earned 1,003 degrees and certificates from a Kentucky school, making the subject the 9th in the state.

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.

The Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Kentucky ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 14 schools in Kentucky to see which ones offered the best programs for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Cosmetology Schools in Kentucky

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 Paul Mitchell the School Louisville to be the best school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a degree in Kentucky. Located in the suburb of Louisville, Paul Mitchell the School Louisville is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Louisville

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Empire Beauty School-Florence. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Empire Beauty School-Florence is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Florence.

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#3

Empire Beauty School-Dixie

Louisville, KY

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Empire Beauty School-Dixie. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Empire Beauty School-Dixie is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Louisville.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Dixie

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend PJ’s College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Kentucky list. 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.

Read full report on Cosmetology at PJ’s College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Paul Mitchell the School Lexington is a great place for cosmetology students. Paul Mitchell the School Lexington is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Lexington.

Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Lexington Report

#6

Ideal Beauty Academy

Louisville, KY

Ideal Beauty Academy landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best cosmetology programs. Ideal Beauty Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Louisville.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Ideal Beauty Academy

PJ’s College of Cosmetology-Glasgow ranked #7 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Located in the town of Glasgow, PJ's College of Cosmetology-Glasgow is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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

American College of Barbering ranked #8 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Kentucky list. American College of Barbering is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Louisville.

Full Cosmetology at American College of Barbering Report

Empire Beauty School-Elizabethtown ranked #9 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in Kentucky list. Empire Beauty School-Elizabethtown is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of Elizabethtown.

Full Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Elizabethtown Report

Summit Salon Academy - Lexington did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #10 on the list. Summit Salon Academy Lexington is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Lexington.

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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 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

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 14 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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