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Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region

2023 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

130 Colleges
$9,473 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$17,041 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate School for You

In 2021-2022, 124,611 degrees and certificates were awarded to cosmetology students, making the major the most popular in the country.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 130 schools in the Far Western US Region to see which undergraduate 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.

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.

2023 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region

Check out the cosmetology undergraduate certificate programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.

Top 25 Best Far Western US Region Schools for Affordable Quality for an Award Taking 1 to 4 Years in Cosmetology

#1

Cerritos College

Norwalk, CA

Our 2023 rankings named Cerritos College the best value school in the Far Western US Region for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Cerritos College is a large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cerritos College are $10,324 per year.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Cerritos College

#2

Citrus College

Glendora, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Citrus College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Citrus College is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Glendora.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Citrus College are $9,310 per year.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Citrus College

#3

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, CA

Out of the 130 schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Golden West College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the large suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Golden West College are $9,854 per year.

Read More…

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a great value for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Los Angeles Trade Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $9,870 in tuition and fees each year.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Los Angeles Trade Technical College

#5

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA

Out of the 130 schools in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Riverside City College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a public school with a large student population.

Riverside City College undergraduate students pay an average of $10,000 in tuition and fees each year. On average, cosmetology graduates from Riverside City College take out $7,129 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read More…

#6

San Diego City College

San Diego, CA

San Diego City College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the large city of San Diego, San Diego City College is a public college with a large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at San Diego City College are $7,480 per year.

Read More…

#7

Cosmo Beauty Academy

Sacramento, CA

Cosmo Beauty Academy did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Sacramento, CBA is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Cosmo Beauty Academy Report

#7

Flair Beauty College

Valencia, CA

Flair Beauty College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the suburb of Valencia, Flair Beauty College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read More…

Professional Institute of Beauty landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Professional Institute of Beauty is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of El Monte.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Professional Institute of Beauty

With a ranking of #7, North Adrian’s College of Beauty Inc did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the city of Modesto, North Adrian's College of Beauty is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from North Adrian's College of Beauty carry an average student debtload of $10,693. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $71.

Full Cosmetology at North Adrian’s College of Beauty Inc Report

Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts & Sciences-Summerlin did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the large city of Las Vegas, Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts & Sciences-Summerlin is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts & Sciences-Summerlin carry an average student debtload of $8,064. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $69.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts & Sciences-Summerlin

#7

Milan Institute-Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA

Milan Institute-Bakersfield ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Milan Institute-Bakersfield is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Bakersfield.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Milan Institute-Bakersfield carry an average student debtload of $7,871. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $47, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#7

Advance Beauty College

Garden Grove, CA

Advance Beauty College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Garden Grove, Advance Beauty College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Advance Beauty College

International College of Beauty Arts & Sciences ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region list. International College of Beauty Arts & Sciences is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Los Angeles.

Read full report on Cosmetology at International College of Beauty Arts & Sciences

#7

Blake Austin College

Vacaville, CA

Blake Austin College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the small suburb of Vacaville, Blake Austin College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Cosmetology majors at Blake Austin College take out an average of $7,176 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Full Cosmetology at Blake Austin College Report

Academy of Hair Design - Las Vegas ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Academy of Hair Design - Las Vegas is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Las Vegas.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Academy of Hair Design - Las Vegas take out $8,409 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $89.

Full Cosmetology at Academy of Hair Design - Las Vegas Report

Victoria’s Academy of Cosmetology ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region list. Victoria's academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Kennewick.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Victoria’s Academy of Cosmetology

Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Santa Monica landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Santa Monica is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Santa Monica accumulate an average of around $12,669 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $89.

Read More…

With a ranking of #7, Paul Mitchell the School Pasadena did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the midsize city of Pasadena, Paul Mitchell the School Pasadena is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell the School Pasadena carry an average student debtload of $10,689. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $106, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#7

Phagans Beauty College

Corvallis, OR

Phagans Beauty College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the city of Corvallis, Phagans Beauty College is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read More…

#7

Career Academy of Beauty

Garden Grove, CA

Career Academy of Beauty did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the suburb of Garden Grove, Career Academy of Beauty is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Career Academy of Beauty accumulate an average of around $7,200 in student debt.

Full Cosmetology at Career Academy of Beauty Report

International School of Beauty Inc came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in the city of Palm Desert, International School of Beauty is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from International School of Beauty carry an average student debtload of $7,551.

Read More…

#7

Modern Beauty Academy

Oxnard, CA

Modern Beauty Academy landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Modern Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Oxnard.

Cosmetology majors at Modern Beauty Academy take out an average of $9,231 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Full Cosmetology at Modern Beauty Academy Report

International Beauty Education Center did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. International Beauty Education Center is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Airway Heights.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at International Beauty Education Center accumulate an average of around $8,093 in student debt.

Full Cosmetology at International Beauty Education Center Report

Best Cosmetology Colleges by State

Explore the best cosmetology schools for a specific state in the Far Western US region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 2,041
California 10,294
Oregon 1,020
Nevada 1,575
Hawaii 183

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 130 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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