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Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado

2023 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

12 Colleges
$5,085 Avg Tuition & Fees*

Finding the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate School for You

Out of the majors we analyze each year, cosmetology was ranked 4th in Colorado. In fact, 1,843 were awarded in the state in 2021-2022.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.

The Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 12 schools in Colorado 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.

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.

Top 10 Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools

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

Pickens Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,930 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

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The excellent basic certificate programs at Trinidad State Junior College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value cosmetology schools in Colorado. Located in the remote town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a public college with a small student population.

Trinidad State Junior College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,240 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

Trinidad State Junior College not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #2 on our Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Colorado list.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Aveda Institute - Denver. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado list. Aveda Institute - Denver is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Denver.

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The excellent basic certificate programs at Emily Griffith Technical College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value cosmetology schools in Colorado. Emily Griffith is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Denver.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Paul Mitchell the School Denver. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado list. Paul Mitchell the School Denver is a small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Lakewood.

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Out of the 12 schools in Colorado that were part of this year’s ranking, Technical College of the Rockies landed the # 3 spot on the list. Technical College of the Rockies is a fairly small public school located in the rural area of Delta.

Full Cosmetology at Technical College of the Rockies Report

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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Paul Mitchell the School Colorado Springs is a great value for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, Paul Mitchell the School Colorado Springs is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

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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 #3 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado list. Located in the suburb of Loveland, Cheeks Beauty Academy 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 Elevate Salon Institute - Westminster. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado list. Elevate Salon Institute - Westminster is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Westminster.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Xenon International Academy-Denver. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Colorado list. Xenon International School of Hair Design is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Aurora.

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Best Value Cosmetology Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region

Explore all the Best Value Cosmetology Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
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 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 12 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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