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2023 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate School for You
Cosmetology is the most popular major in the United States with 34,706 degrees and certificates handed out in 2021-2022.
Today's trade school students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. 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 in the Southeast Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 175 schools in the Southeast 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. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Top 25 Best Southeast Region Schools for Affordable Quality for an Award Taking Less Than 1 Year in Cosmetology
Our 2023 rankings named Athens Technical College the best value school in the Southeast Region for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Athens Technical College is a small public school located in the medium-sized city of Athens.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Athens Technical College are $5,462 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Athens Technical College also is in the top 15% of our Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.
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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a great value for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the small city of Rome.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Georgia Northwestern Technical College are $5,512 a year.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a small public school located in the small suburb of Valdosta.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College are $5,562 a year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College also is in the top 20% of our Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend West Georgia Technical College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waco.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at West Georgia Technical College are $5,522 a year.
In addition to its great value ranking, West Georgia Technical College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list.
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Out of the 175 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Oconee Fall Line Technical College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the rural area of Sandersville, OFTC is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at OFTC are $5,472 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, OFTC also is in the top 15% of our Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.
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With a ranking of #6, Central Georgia Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. CGTC is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Warner Robins.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CGTC are $5,482 per year.
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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 #7 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Savannah, Savannah Tech is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Savannah Tech are $5,442 per year.
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Ogeechee Technical College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate cosmetology programs. Ogeechee Technical College is a small public school located in the distant town of Statesboro.
Ogeechee Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,540 in tuition and fees each year.
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Southern Crescent Technical College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of Griffin.
Southern Crescent Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,526 in tuition and fees each year.
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Georgia Piedmont Technical College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. Georgia Piedmont Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Clarkston.
Georgia Piedmont Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,558 in tuition and fees each year.
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Augusta Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. Augusta Technical College is a small public school located in the midsize city of Augusta.
Augusta Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,662 in tuition and fees each year.
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Lanier Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. Lanier Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the rural area of Gainesville.
Lanier Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,666 in tuition and fees each year.
Lanier Technical College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list.
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Columbus Technical College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Columbus Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Columbus.
Columbus Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,442 in tuition and fees each year.
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Atlanta Technical College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. Atlanta Area Tech is a small public school located in the city of Atlanta.
Atlanta Area Tech undergraduate students pay an average of $5,564 in tuition and fees each year.
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Lurleen B Wallace Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the rural area of Andalusia, Lurleen B. Wallace Community College is a public school with a small student population.
Lurleen B. Wallace Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,670 in tuition and fees each year.
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Central Carolina Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate cosmetology programs. Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sanford.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Central Carolina Community College are $8,698 a year.
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North Georgia Technical College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. North Georgia Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Clarkesville.
North Georgia Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,472 in tuition and fees each year.
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Wake Technical Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Wake Technical Community College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Wake Technical Community College are $8,912 a year.
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Palm Beach State College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate cosmetology programs. Palm Beach State College is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Palm Beach State College are $10,910 per year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Palm Beach State College also did well on our Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southeast Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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With a ranking of #20, Southeastern Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the remote town of Vidalia, Southeastern Technical College is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Southeastern Technical College are $5,527 a year.
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Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the small city of Asheville, A-B Tech is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at A-B Tech are $8,976 per year.
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Pensacola State College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Pensacola State are $9,475 per year.
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Indian River 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 #23 on the list. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Indian River State College are $10,201 per year.
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University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of North Little Rock, UA Pulaski Tech is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UA Pulaski Tech are $7,050 per year.
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Cleveland 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 #25 on the list. Located in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cleveland Community College are $8,746 a year.
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Honorable Mentions
Here are some additional great value schools for Cosmetology students in the Southeast Region seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in the Southeast Region award.
Best Cosmetology Colleges by State
Explore the best cosmetology colleges for a specific state in the Southeast region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | 1,516 |
| Georgia | 4,283 |
| Arkansas | 1,191 |
| North Carolina | 2,549 |
| Florida | 10,801 |
| West Virginia | 377 |
| Louisiana | 3,726 |
| Virginia | 1,085 |
| Alabama | 821 |
| Kentucky | 1,003 |
| Tennessee | 2,270 |
| Mississippi | 872 |
Majors Related to Cosmetology
One of 4 majors within the trade school area of study, cosmetology has other similar majors worth exploring.
Cosmetology Focus Areas
Most Popular Majors Related to Cosmetology
| 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.
- 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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