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Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region

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2023 Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region

140 Colleges
$16,191 Avg Salary
$9,058 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology School for You

In 2021-2022, 124,611 degrees and certificates were awarded to cosmetology students, making the major the most popular in the country.

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. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 140 schools in the Southwest Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Cosmetology Schools in the Southwest Region

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

Top 15% Best Cosmetology Schools

#1

Avenue Five Institute

Austin, TX

Our 2023 rankings named Avenue Five Institute the best school in the Southwest Region for cosmetology students. Located in the large city of Austin, Avenue Five Institute is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Avenue Five Institute Report

The excellent programs at Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the Southwest Region . Located in the large city of Austin, Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus

#3

Penrose Academy

Scottsdale, AZ

Out of the 140 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Penrose Academy landed the # 3 spot on the list. Penrose Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Scottsdale.

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#4

Studio Academy of Beauty

Chandler, AZ

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Studio Academy of Beauty. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Studio Academy of Beauty is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Chandler.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Studio Academy of Beauty

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Paul Mitchell the School Austin. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the large city of Austin, Paul Mitchell the School Austin is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Austin

Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Irving landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best cosmetology programs. Located in the large city of Irving, Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Irving is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Irving Report

Aveda Institute - Tucson landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best cosmetology programs. Aveda Institute - Tucson is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Tucson.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Tucson

With a ranking of #8, Aveda Institute - Phoenix did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students. Aveda Institute - Phoenix is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Tempe.

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Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Plano landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best cosmetology programs. Located in the city of Plano, Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Plano is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Plano

#10

Pure Aesthetics

Tucson, AZ

Pure Aesthetics did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the city of Tucson, Pure Aesthetics is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Pure Aesthetics Report

The Salon Professional Academy - Lewisville did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #11 on the list. TSPA - Lewisville is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Lewisville.

Full Cosmetology at The Salon Professional Academy - Lewisville Report

With a ranking of #12, Paul Mitchell the School Webster did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students. Located in the large suburb of Webster, Paul Mitchell the School Webster is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Webster

With a ranking of #13, DuVall’s School of Cosmetology did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students. DuVall's School of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Bedford.

Read full report on Cosmetology at DuVall’s School of Cosmetology

Texas College of Cosmetology-Lubbock came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Texas College of Cosmetology-Lubbock is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Lubbock.

Full Cosmetology at Texas College of Cosmetology-Lubbock Report

Empire Beauty School-Avondale landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best cosmetology programs. Located in the suburb of Avondale, Empire Beauty School-Avondale is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Avondale Report

Paul Mitchell the School Tulsa came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the city of Tulsa, Paul Mitchell the School Tulsa is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Tulsa Report

Paul Mitchell the School Arlington came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the city of Arlington, Paul Mitchell the School Arlington is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Arlington

Charles and Sues School of Hair Design landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best cosmetology programs. Located in the small city of Bryan, Charles and Sues School of Hair Design is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read More…

Diamonds Cosmetology College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #19 on the list. Diamonds Cosmetology College is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of Sherman.

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Exposito School of Hair Design came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Exposito School of Hair Design is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Amarillo.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Exposito School of Hair Design

#21

Aveda Institute - San Antonio

San Antonio, TX

With a ranking of #21, Aveda Institute - San Antonio did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students. Aveda Institute - San Antonio is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio.

Read More…

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region award.

Rank College Location
22 Baldwin Beauty School - South Austin Austin, TX
23 Metro Technology Centers Oklahoma City, OK
24 Total Transformation Institute of Cosmetology San Marcos, TX
25 Paul Mitchell the School Phoenix Phoenix, AZ
26 International Beauty College Garland, TX
27 Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Albuquerque Albuquerque, NM
28 TONI&GUY Hairdressing Academy Scottsdale, AZ

Best Cosmetology Colleges by State

Explore the best cosmetology colleges for a specific state in the Southwest region.

State Degrees Awarded
Arizona 2,673
Texas 10,777
Oklahoma 1,553
New Mexico 956

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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