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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
$16,270 Avg Salary
$10,335 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology 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.

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 analysis found Avenue Five Institute to be the best school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a degree in the Southwest Region . Located in the large city of Austin, Avenue Five Institute is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

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Out of the 140 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Austin, Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus Report

#3

Penrose Academy

Scottsdale, AZ

The excellent programs at Penrose Academy helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the Southwest Region . 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

The excellent programs at Studio Academy of Beauty helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the Southwest Region . Studio Academy of Beauty is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Chandler.

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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Paul Mitchell the School Austin is a great place for cosmetology students. Located in the city of Austin, Paul Mitchell the School Austin is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Austin

Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Irving did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #6 on the list. 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.

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

Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Tucson Report

Aveda Institute - Phoenix ranked #8 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Aveda Institute - Phoenix is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Tempe.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Phoenix

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 college with a small student population.

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

#10

Pure Aesthetics

Tucson, AZ

Pure Aesthetics ranked #10 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the large city of Tucson, Pure Aesthetics is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Pure Aesthetics

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

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Paul Mitchell the School Webster landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best cosmetology programs. Located in the suburb of Webster, Paul Mitchell the School Webster is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Webster Report

DuVall’s School of Cosmetology came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. DuVall's School of Cosmetology is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Bedford.

Full Cosmetology at DuVall’s School of Cosmetology Report

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 small private for-profit school located in the large city of Lubbock.

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Empire Beauty School-Avondale did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the suburb of Avondale, Empire Beauty School-Avondale is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Avondale

Paul Mitchell the School Tulsa did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in the city of Tulsa, Paul Mitchell the School Tulsa is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Tulsa

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.

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Diamonds Cosmetology College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Diamonds Cosmetology College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Sherman.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Diamonds Cosmetology College

Exposito School of Hair Design ranked #20 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Exposito School of Hair Design is a small private for-profit school located in the midsize 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 fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of San Antonio.

Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - San Antonio Report

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 schools for a specific state in the Southwest region.

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

More Cosmetology Rankings in the Southwest Region

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 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 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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