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Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

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2023 Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

118 Colleges
$12,521 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$17,981 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Cosmetology School for You

Cosmetology is the most popular major in the United States with 12,458 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.

Today's trade school students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This report analyzed 118 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region to see which ones offered the best value 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.

2023 Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

The colleges and universities below are the best value schools for cosmetology majors pursuing a .

Top 25 Best Middle Atlantic Region Schools for Affordable Quality in Cosmetology

#1

Laurel Business Institute

Uniontown, PA
$10,970 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Laurel Business Institute to be the best value school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a degree in the Middle Atlantic Region . Located in the suburb of Uniontown, LBI is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LBI are $10,970 per year.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Laurel Business Institute

$12,075 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Penn Commercial Business/Technical School. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the suburb of Washington, Penn Commercial is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Penn Commercial undergraduate students pay an average of $12,075 in tuition and fees each year.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Penn Commercial Business/Technical School

#3

Douglas Education Center

Monessen, PA
$17,950 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Douglas Education Center. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Douglas Education Center is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Monessen.

Douglas Education Center undergraduate students pay an average of $17,950 in tuition and fees each year.

Read More…

#4

Laurel Technical Institute

MEADVILLE, PA
$10,582 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 118 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Laurel Technical Institute landed the # 4 spot on the list. LTI - Meadville is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the rural area of MEADVILLE.

LTI - Meadville undergraduate students pay an average of $10,582 in tuition and fees each year.

Full Cosmetology at Laurel Technical Institute Report

$11,028 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Laurel Technical Institute is a great value for cosmetology students. Located in the rural area of Sharon, LTI Sharon is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at LTI Sharon are $11,028 a year.

Read More…

#6

Montgomery Beauty School

Silver Spring, MD

Montgomery Beauty School landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. Montgomery Beauty School is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Silver Spring.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Montgomery Beauty School

Empire Beauty School-Rochester landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. Empire Beauty School-Rochester is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Rochester.

Read More…

Empire Beauty School-Reading did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the suburb of Reading, Empire Beauty School-Reading is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Reading Report

Empire Beauty School-Brooklyn ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the large city of Brooklyn, Empire Beauty School-Brooklyn is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Brooklyn

The Beauty Institute-Ambler came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the large suburb of Ambler, The Beauty Institute is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at The Beauty Institute-Ambler Report

#6

Midway Paris Beauty School

Ridgewood, NY

With a ranking of #6, Midway Paris Beauty School did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students. Located in the large city of Ridgewood, Midway Paris Beauty School is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Midway Paris Beauty School

Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Lancaster.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork

With a ranking of #6, Empire Beauty School-Lebanon did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students. Empire Beauty School-Lebanon is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lebanon.

Read More…

#6

Barber School of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

With a ranking of #6, Barber School of Pittsburgh did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Barber School of Pittsburgh is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Barber School of Pittsburgh Report

Empire Beauty School-Lehigh Valley ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the suburb of Whitehall, Empire Beauty School-Lehigh Valley is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read More…

Empire Beauty School-Peekskill landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. Empire Beauty School-Peekskill is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Peekskill.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Peekskill

Monmouth County Vocational School District landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. MCVSD is a small public school located in the suburb of Freehold.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Monmouth County Vocational School District

Maryland Beauty Academy of Essex came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Maryland Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Baltimore.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Maryland Beauty Academy of Essex

Christine Valmy International School of Esthetics & Cosmetology came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Christine Valmy International School is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Pine Brook.

Read More…

Innovate Salon Academy - Ewing came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Ewing, Innovate Salon Academy - Ewing is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Innovate Salon Academy - Ewing Report

#6

Bennett Career Institute

Washington, DC

Bennett Career Institute ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in the city of Washington, Bennett Career Institute is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Bennett Career Institute Report

Academy of Massage and Bodywork came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Academy of Massage and Bodywork is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Bear.

Read More…

The Salon Professional Academy - Altoona came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. TSPA - Altoona is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Altoona.

Full Cosmetology at The Salon Professional Academy - Altoona Report

#6

Erie 1 BOCES

West Seneca, NY

Erie 1 BOCES ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Erie 1 BOCES is a fairly small public school located in the large suburb of West Seneca.

Full Cosmetology at Erie 1 BOCES Report

With a ranking of #6, Empire Beauty School-Monroeville did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students. Empire Beauty School-Monroeville is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Monroeville.

Full Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Monroeville Report

Best Cosmetology Colleges by State

Explore the best cosmetology schools for a specific state in the Middle Atlantic region.

State Degrees Awarded
New York 5,055
Pennsylvania 3,378
New Jersey 2,419
Maryland 1,103
Delaware 343
District of Columbia 160

More Cosmetology Rankings in the Middle Atlantic Region

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 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 118 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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