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Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

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2023 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

37 Colleges
$13,596 Avg Tuition & Fees*

Finding the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate 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 lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience.

The Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 37 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region to see which ones offered the best value basic certificate programs for cosmetology students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. 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.

Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

Check out the cosmetology basic certificate programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.

Top 25 Best Rocky Mountains Region Schools for Affordable Quality for an Award Taking Less Than 1 Year in Cosmetology

Our analysis found Pickens Technical College to be the best value school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a basic certificate in the Rocky Mountains Region . Pickens Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Aurora.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Pickens Technical College are $8,830 per year.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Pickens Technical College

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Trinidad State Junior College is a great value for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a public school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Trinidad State Junior College are $6,631 per year.

Trinidad State Junior College also claimed a spot on our Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Trinidad State Junior College

#3

Idaho State University

Pocatello, ID

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Idaho State University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. ISU is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Pocatello.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ISU are $25,326 per year.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Idaho State University

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Paul Mitchell the School Ogden is a great value for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the small city of Ogden, Paul Mitchell the School Ogden is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Paul Mitchell the School Rexburg. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Paul Mitchell the School Rexburg is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Rexburg

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Technical College of the Rockies is a great value for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Technical College of the Rockies is a fairly small public school located in the rural area of Delta.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Technical College of the Rockies

#4

Mandalyn Academy

American Fork, UT

The excellent basic certificate programs at Mandalyn Academy helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value cosmetology schools in the Rocky Mountains Region . Mandalyn Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of American Fork.

Full Cosmetology at Mandalyn Academy Report

#4

Montana Academy of Salons

Great Falls, MT

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Montana Academy of Salons. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Montana Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Great Falls.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Montana Academy of Salons

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Aveda Institute - Denver is a great value for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Aveda Institute - Denver is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Denver.

Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Denver Report

Out of the 37 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Paul Mitchell the School Salt Lake City landed the # 4 spot on the list. Paul Mitchell the School Salt Lake City is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Holladay.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Salt Lake City

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Acaydia School of Aesthetics is a great value for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the medium-sized city of Provo, Acaydia School of Aesthetics is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Acaydia School of Aesthetics

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Oliver Finley Academy of Cosmetology is a great value for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Oliver Finley Academy of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Boise.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Oliver Finley Academy of Cosmetology

The excellent basic certificate programs at Ogden-Weber Technical College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value cosmetology schools in the Rocky Mountains Region . Located in the city of Ogden, Ogden-Weber Tech College is a public college with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Ogden-Weber Technical College Report

#4

Renaissance Academie

Provo, UT

Out of the 37 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Renaissance Academie landed the # 4 spot on the list. Renaissance Academie is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Provo.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Renaissance Academie

#4

Skin Science Institute

Salt Lake City, UT

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Skin Science Institute. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Skin Science Institute is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cameo College of Essential Beauty. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in the large suburb of Murray, Cameo College of Essential Beauty is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Cameo College of Essential Beauty Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Elevate Salon Institute - Westminster. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Elevate Salon Institute - Westminster is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Westminster.

Full Cosmetology at Elevate Salon Institute - Westminster Report

The excellent basic certificate programs at Aveda Institute - Provo helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value cosmetology schools in the Rocky Mountains Region . Located in the midsize city of Provo, Aveda Institute - Provo is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Provo Report

#4

International Salon and Spa Academy

Colorado Springs, CO

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend International Salon and Spa Academy. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. International Salon and Spa Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Colorado Springs.

Read full report on Cosmetology at International Salon and Spa Academy

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Cheeks Beauty Academy-Forty Collins. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in the suburb of Loveland, Cheeks Beauty Academy is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read More…

Out of the 37 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Emily Griffith Technical College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Emily Griffith is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Denver.

Full Cosmetology at Emily Griffith Technical College Report

The excellent basic certificate programs at The Salon Professional Academy helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value cosmetology schools in the Rocky Mountains Region . Located in the midsize suburb of Nampa, TSPA - Nampa is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read More…

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Aveda Institute - Boise is a great value for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Aveda Institute - Boise is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Boise.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Boise

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Paul Mitchell the School Boise. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in the midsize city of Boise, Paul Mitchell the School Boise is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read More…

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Paul Mitchell the School Logan. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Paul Mitchell the School Logan is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Logan.

Read More…

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great value schools for Cosmetology students in the Rocky Mountains Region seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region award.

Rank College Location

Best Cosmetology Colleges by State

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

State Degrees Awarded
Colorado 1,843
Utah 2,876
Idaho 1,174
Montana 184
Wyoming 65

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 37 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.

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