2021 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate School for You
In 2018-2019, 103,674 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. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 631 schools in the United States to see which basic certificate programs offered the best value experiences for cosmetology students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Featured schools near , edit
2021 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the United States
The colleges and universities below are the best value schools for cosmetology majors pursuing a basic certificate.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality for an Award Taking Less Than 1 Year in Cosmetology
Our analysis found Clovis Community College to be the best value school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a basic certificate in the United States. Located in the remote town of Clovis, Clovis Community College is a public college with a small student population.
Clovis Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $2,984 in tuition and fees each year.
Request Information
The excellent basic certificate programs at Saint Paul College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value cosmetology schools in the United States. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Saint Paul College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,736 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Cosmetology at Saint Paul College Report
Request Information
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend McLennan Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2021 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools list. Located in the midsize city of Waco, MCC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at MCC are $3,990 a year.
Request Information
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Johnson County Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2021 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools list. JCCC is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Overland Park.
JCCC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,690 in tuition and fees each year.
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Gateway Technical College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools list. Gateway Technical College is a large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Kenosha.
Gateway Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,575 in tuition and fees each year.
Request Information
Savannah Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. Savannah Tech is a small public school located in the city of Savannah.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Savannah Tech are $5,422 per year.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Savannah Technical College
Request Information
Chippewa Valley Technical College 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. CVTC is a moderately-sized public school located in the small city of Eau Claire.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at CVTC are $6,481 a year.
CVTC also claimed a spot on our Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Chippewa Valley Technical College
Request Information
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools list. Located in the small suburb of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College are $5,552 a year.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Request Information
San Jacinto Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best value basic certificate cosmetology programs. San Jacinto College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Pasadena.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at San Jacinto College are $5,040 per year.
Request Information
Central Georgia Technical College landed the #10 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best value basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the city of Warner Robins, CGTC is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CGTC are $5,442 per year.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Central Georgia Technical College
Request Information
West Georgia Technical College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
West Georgia Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,452 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Cosmetology at West Georgia Technical College
Request Information
Atlanta Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the large city of Atlanta, Atlanta Area Tech is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Atlanta Area Tech are $5,484 a year.
Request Information
Del Mar College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Corpus Christi, DMC is a public school with a large student population.
DMC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,441 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Cosmetology at Del Mar College Report
Request Information
Augusta Technical College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the city of Augusta, Augusta Technical College is a public school with a small student population.
Augusta Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,632 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Cosmetology at Augusta Technical College Report
Request Information
Fox Valley Technical College landed the #15 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best value basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the midsize suburb of Appleton, FVTC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at FVTC are $6,688 a year.
FVTC also claimed a spot on our Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Request Information
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the rural area of Shell Lake, WITC is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WITC are $6,885 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, WITC also did well on our Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Cosmetology at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College Report
Request Information
Kansas City Kansas Community College landed the #17 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best value basic certificate cosmetology programs. Kansas City Kansas Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the medium-sized city of Kansas City.
Kansas City Kansas Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,510 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Kansas City Kansas Community College
Request Information
Lone Star College System did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the city of The Woodlands, North Harris Montgomery is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Harris Montgomery are $5,564 a year.
Request Information
Columbus Technical College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools list. Located in the medium-sized city of Columbus, Columbus Technical College is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Columbus Technical College are $5,442 a year.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Columbus Technical College
Request Information
Southern Crescent Technical College landed the #20 spot in the 2021 rankings for the best value basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the large suburb of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Southern Crescent Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,526 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Cosmetology at Southern Crescent Technical College Report
Request Information
North Georgia Technical College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the rural area of Clarkesville, North Georgia Technical College is a public college with a small student population.
North Georgia Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,402 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Cosmetology at North Georgia Technical College
Request Information
Palm Beach State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a public school with a very large student population.
Palm Beach State College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,732 in tuition and fees each year.
Request Information
Ogeechee Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in the town of Statesboro, Ogeechee Technical College is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ogeechee Technical College are $5,540 a year.
Request Information
El Paso Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #24 on the list. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the large city of El Paso.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at El Paso Community College are $4,858 a year.
Read full report on Cosmetology at El Paso Community College
Request Information
With a ranking of #25, Houston Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Houston Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,268 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Houston Community College
Request InformationRest of the Top 50 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools
Remaining Award Winners
This list represents the rest of the schools awarded a Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 631 different United States cosmetology schools we analyzed.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great value schools for Cosmetology students seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|
Cosmetology by Region
View the Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Cosmetology Rankings
Cosmetology Related Majors for Cosmetology
One of 3 majors within the trade school area of study, cosmetology has other similar majors worth exploring.
Cosmetology Concentrations
Most Popular Majors Related to Cosmetology
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Culinary Arts | 26,643 |
| Funeral & Mortuary Science | 1,965 |
| Other Personal & Culinary Services | 320 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- 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.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.