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Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida

2023 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

51 Colleges
$2,814 Avg Tuition & Fees*

Finding the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate School for You

Out of the majors we analyze each year, cosmetology was the most popular one in Florida. In total, 10,801 people earned a degree or certificate in the field from a school in Florida.

It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.

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 Florida to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 51 schools in Florida 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.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. 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.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

2023 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida

The following schools top our list of the Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Colleges.

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

#1

Palm Beach State College

Lake Worth, FL

Our analysis found Palm Beach State College to be the best value school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a basic certificate in Florida. Palm Beach State College is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Lake Worth.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Palm Beach State College are $3,050 per year.

Full Cosmetology at Palm Beach State College Report

#2

Pensacola State College

Pensacola, FL

The excellent basic certificate programs at Pensacola State College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value cosmetology schools in Florida. Located in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Pensacola State are $2,365 per year.

Full Cosmetology at Pensacola State College Report

#3

Indian River State College

Fort Pierce, FL

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indian River State College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida list. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a public school with a large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Indian River State College are $2,764 a year.

Read More…

#4

Florida Gateway College

Lake City, FL

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Florida Gateway College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida list. FGC is a small public school located in the town of Lake City.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FGC are $3,100 per year.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Florida Gateway College

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Florida State College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida list. Located in the city of Melbourne, EFSC is a public college with a large student population.

EFSC undergraduate students pay an average of $2,791 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

Read More…

Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-West Palm Beach ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida list. Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-West Palm Beach is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of West Palm Beach.

Read More…

With a ranking of #6, Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Hollywood.

Full Cosmetology at Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers Report

#6

Latin Beauty Academy

greenacres, FL

Latin Beauty Academy came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida ranking. Located in the suburb of greenacres, Latin Beauty Academy is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Latin Beauty Academy Report

With a ranking of #6, Boca Beauty Academy - Parkland did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Boca Beauty Academy - Parkland is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Parkland.

Full Cosmetology at Boca Beauty Academy - Parkland Report

Aveda Institute - South Florida ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida list. Aveda Institute - South Florida is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Davie.

Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - South Florida Report

La Belle Beauty Academy came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida ranking. Located in the suburb of Miami, La Belle Beauty Academy is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at La Belle Beauty Academy Report

Florida Academy of Health & Beauty came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida ranking. Located in the large suburb of Oakland Park, Florida Academy of Health & Beauty is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read More…

#6

Parisian Spa Institute

Jacksonville, FL

Parisian Spa Institute ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida list. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Parisian Spa Institute is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read More…

#6

La Belle Beauty School

Hialeah, FL

With a ranking of #6, La Belle Beauty School did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the suburb of Hialeah, La Belle Beauty School is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read More…

#6

Universal Career School

Sweetwater, FL

Universal Career School ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida list. Universal Career School is a private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Sweetwater.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Universal Career School

#6

Sunstate Academy

Clearwater, FL

Sunstate Academy landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the city of Clearwater, Sunstate Academy is a private not-for-profit school with a student population.

Full Cosmetology at Sunstate Academy Report

North Florida Cosmetology Institute Inc ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida list. NFCI is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Tallahassee.

Read full report on Cosmetology at North Florida Cosmetology Institute Inc

The Salon Professional Academy - Melbourne landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate cosmetology programs. TSPA - Melbourne is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Melbourne.

Read full report on Cosmetology at The Salon Professional Academy - Melbourne

#6

Beauty Academy of South Florida

Hialeah Gardens, FL

Beauty Academy of South Florida came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida ranking. Beauty Academy of South Florida is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hialeah Gardens.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Beauty Academy of South Florida

#6

Academy of Cosmetology

Merritt Island, FL

Academy of Cosmetology ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida list. Located in the suburb of Merritt Island, Academy of Cosmetology is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read More…

Celebrity School of Beauty ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida list. Celebrity School of Beauty is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Miami.

Full Cosmetology at Celebrity School of Beauty Report

With a ranking of #6, Lake Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Eustis, Lake Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

Read More…

#6

Lively Technical College

Tallahassee, FL

Lively 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. Located in the medium-sized city of Tallahassee, Lively is a public college with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Lively Technical College

With a ranking of #6, Summit Salon Academy - Gainesville did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Gainesville, Summit Salon Academy Gainesville is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read More…

#6

International Academy

South Daytona, FL

International Academy ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Florida list. International Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of South Daytona.

Read More…

Best Value Cosmetology Colleges in the Southeast Region

Explore all the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Georgia 4,283
South Carolina 1,516
Arkansas 1,191
North Carolina 2,549
West Virginia 377
Louisiana 3,726
Virginia 1,085
Alabama 821
Kentucky 1,003
Tennessee 2,270
Mississippi 872

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 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

Majors Similar 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 51 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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