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Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Texas

2023 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Texas

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

76 Colleges
$4,423 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 Texas. In total, 10,777 people earned a degree or certificate in the field from a school in Texas.

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.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Texas ranking. This report analyzed 76 schools in Texas 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 15% Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools

#1

Lee College

Baytown, TX

Our analysis found Lee College to be the best value school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a basic certificate in Texas. Lee College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Baytown.

Lee College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,882 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Lee College also is in the top 15% of our Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Texas ranking.

Full Cosmetology at Lee College Report

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#2

Howard College

Big Spring, TX

Out of the 76 schools in Texas that were part of this year’s ranking, Howard College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Howard County Junior College is a small public school located in the distant town of Big Spring.

Howard County Junior College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,580 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

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Out of the 76 schools in Texas that were part of this year’s ranking, San Jacinto Community College landed the # 3 spot on the list. San Jacinto College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Pasadena.

San Jacinto College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,240 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

Full Cosmetology at San Jacinto Community College Report

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The excellent basic certificate programs at Houston Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value cosmetology schools in Texas. Located in the large city of Houston, Houston Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Houston Community College are $4,344 per year.

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#5

College of the Mainland

Texas City, TX

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of the Mainland. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Texas list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Texas City, COM is a public college with a small student population.

COM undergraduate students pay an average of $2,973 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

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#6

Grayson College

Denison, TX

With a ranking of #6, Grayson College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Grayson College is a small public school located in the rural area of Denison.

Grayson College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,132 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

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#7

Del Mar College

Corpus Christi, TX

Del Mar College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate cosmetology programs. DMC is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Corpus Christi.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at DMC are $4,880 a year.

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#8

Lone Star College System

The Woodlands, TX

Lone Star College System landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the city of The Woodlands, North Harris Montgomery is a public college with a fairly large student population.

North Harris Montgomery undergraduate students pay an average of $5,136 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

Full Cosmetology at Lone Star College System Report

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#9

South Plains College

Levelland, TX

With a ranking of #9, South Plains College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. South Plains College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Levelland.

South Plains College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,473 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

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#10

Frank Phillips College

Borger, TX

Frank Phillips 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 #10 on the list. Located in the distant town of Borger, FPC is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at FPC are $4,612 a year.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Frank Phillips College

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#11

Kilgore College

Kilgore, TX

Kilgore College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Basic Certificate Schools in Texas list. Located in the fringe town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Kilgore College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,056 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

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Additional Noteworthy Schools

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

Rank College Location
12 Weatherford College Weatherford, TX
13 Baldwin Beauty School - North Austin Austin, TX
13 Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Ft Worth Fort Worth, TX
13 Fort Worth Beauty School Benbrook, TX
13 Southeast Texas Career Institute Silsbee, TX
13 Avenue Five Institute Austin, TX
13 Milan Institute of Cosmetology-San Antonio Military San Antonio, TX
13 Houston Training School-Main Campus Houston, TX
13 Salon & Spa Institute Brownsville, TX
13 Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Stafford Stafford, TX
13 UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-San Antonio 410 San Antonio, TX
13 Nuvani Institute Eagle Pass, TX
13 Central Texas Beauty College, Temple Temple, TX
13 The Salon Professional Academy - Lewisville Lewisville, TX
13 Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Denton Denton, TX
13 Cosmetology Career Center LLC Carrollton, TX
13 Texas College of Cosmetology-San Angelo San Angelo, TX
13 Texas College of Cosmetology-Lubbock Lubbock, TX
13 Southern Texas Careers Academy McAllen, TX
13 Champion Beauty College Houston, TX
13 Dallas Barber & Stylist College Dallas, TX
13 Vogue College of Cosmetology San Antonio, TX
13 Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-North Dallas Dallas, TX
13 UCAS University of Cosemtology Arts & Sciences-McAllen McAllen, TX
13 Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-San Antonio San Antonio, TX
13 Paul Mitchell the School Houston Houston, TX
13 Laredo CHI Academy Beauty School Laredo, TX
13 Milan Institute of Cosmetology-El Paso El Paso, TX
13 Vogue College of Cosmetology-McAllen McAllen, TX
13 Mission Beauty Institute Mission, TX
13 Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Dallas Grand Prairie, TX
13 Academy of Hair Design - Beaumont Beaumont, TX
13 Diamonds Cosmetology College Sherman, TX
13 Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Dallas Dallas, TX
13 Milan Institute-San Antonio Ingram San Antonio, TX
13 Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus Austin, TX
13 Vogue College of Cosmetology-San Antonio Fredericksburg San Antonio, TX
13 Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Irving Irving, TX
13 International Beauty College Garland, TX
13 Alamo City Barber College San Antonio, TX
13 Advanced Barber College and Hair Design Weslaco, TX
13 Texas College of Cosmetology-Abilene Abilene, TX
13 Paul Mitchell the School San Antonio San Antonio, TX
13 Trend Barber College Houston, TX
13 Victoria Beauty College Inc Victoria, TX
13 Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Hurst Hurst, TX
13 UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-Harlingen Harlingen, TX
13 Neecee’s Barber College Abilene, TX
13 Paul Mitchell the School Arlington Arlington, TX
13 UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences San Antonio, TX
13 Academy of Hair Design - Jasper Jasper, TX
13 Nuvani Institute San Antonio, TX
13 Academy of Hair Design - Lufkin Lufkin, TX
13 Exposito School of Hair Design Amarillo, TX
13 Aveda Institute - San Antonio San Antonio, TX
13 Tri-State Cosmetology Institute El Paso, TX
13 School Removed
13 Paul Mitchell the School Austin Austin, TX
13 Total Transformation Institute of Cosmetology San Marcos, TX
13 Wade Gordon Hairdressing Academy Amarillo, TX
13 DuVall’s School of Cosmetology Bedford, TX
13 Houston Training Schools-Gessner Houston, TX
13 Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Arlington Arlington, TX
13 Cosmetology Academy of Texarkana Texarkana, TX
13 UCAS Univeristy of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-La Joya La Joya, TX

Best Value Cosmetology Colleges in the Southwest Region

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

State Degrees Awarded
Arizona 2,673
Oklahoma 1,553
New Mexico 956

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 76 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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