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2023 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
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. 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 150 schools in the Great Lakes 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.
Top 25 Best Great Lakes Region Schools for Affordable Quality for an Award Taking 1 to 4 Years in Cosmetology
Our 2023 rankings named Chippewa Valley Technical College the best value school in the Great Lakes Region for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. CVTC is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Eau Claire.
CVTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,793 in tuition and fees each year. Cosmetology majors at CVTC take out an average of $10,815 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, CVTC is ranked #5 for overall quality for cosmetology in the Great Lakes Region .
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Waukesha County Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. WCTC is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Pewaukee.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCTC are $6,722 per year. While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at WCTC accumulate an average of around $8,974 in student debt.
In addition to its great value ranking, WCTC is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Madison Area Technical College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Madison College is a large public school located in the large city of Madison.
Madison College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,812 in tuition and fees each year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Madison College also did well on our Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Cosmetology at Madison Area Technical College Report
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The excellent undergraduate certificate programs at Mid-State Technical College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value cosmetology schools in the Great Lakes Region . Mid-State is a small public school located in the rural area of Wisconsin Rapids.
Mid-State undergraduate students pay an average of $6,850 in tuition and fees each year. Cosmetology majors at Mid-State take out an average of $6,206 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
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Out of the 150 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the rural area of Shell Lake, WITC is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WITC are $6,624 per year. The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at WITC take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $5,009.
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Gateway Technical 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 #6 on the list. Located in the suburb of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Gateway Technical College are $6,917 a year. The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Gateway Technical College take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $7,917.
Full Cosmetology at Gateway Technical College Report
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Fox Valley Technical College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the suburb of Appleton, FVTC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
FVTC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,977 in tuition and fees each year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, FVTC also is in the top 15% of our Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
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Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large city of Milwaukee, MATC is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MATC are $7,018 per year. On average, cosmetology graduates from MATC take out $10,514 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
Full Cosmetology at Milwaukee Area Technical College Report
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With a ranking of #9, Lake Land College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the town of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Lake Land College are $13,905 a year. Cosmetology majors at Lake Land College take out an average of $4,266 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
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Northern Michigan University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the remote town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Northern Michigan University are $18,570 a year.
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With a ranking of #11, City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Harry S Truman College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Chicago.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Harry S Truman College are $14,430 per year.
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Dorsey College, Roseville ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Dorsey College, Roseville is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Roseville.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Dorsey College, Roseville are $31,680 a year.
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Summit Salon Academy - Anderson landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Summit Salon Academy Anderson is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Anderson.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Summit Salon Academy Anderson take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $9,940.
Full Cosmetology at Summit Salon Academy - Anderson Report
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Paul Mitchell the School Lombard came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Lombard, Paul Mitchell the School Lombard is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
On average, cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell the School Lombard take out $12,684 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 $117.
Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Lombard Report
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With a ranking of #13, Ohio State School of Cosmetology-Canal Winchester did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the large suburb of CANAL WINCHESTER, Ohio State School of Cosmetology-Canal Winchester is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
Cosmetology majors at Ohio State School of Cosmetology-Canal Winchester take out an average of $9,733 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
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With a ranking of #13, Paul Mitchell the School Toledo did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Paul Mitchell the School Toledo is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Sylvania.
On average, cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell the School Toledo take out $13,150 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $103, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Toledo Report
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Paul Mitchell the School Bradley came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Tinley Park, Paul Mitchell the School Bradley is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School Bradley take out an average of $9,867 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $137.
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With a ranking of #13, The Salon Professional Academy - Evansville did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. TSPA - Evansville is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Evansville.
Cosmetology majors at TSPA - Evansville take out an average of $10,262 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $87, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Cosmetology at The Salon Professional Academy - Evansville
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With a ranking of #13, Moler Hollywood Beauty Academy did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the large city of Cincinnati, Moler Hollywood Beauty Academy is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Moler Hollywood Beauty Academy carry an average student debtload of $6,571.
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Allstate Hairstyling & Barber College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Allstate Barber College is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Cleveland.
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Empire Beauty School-Milwaukee ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Empire Beauty School-Milwaukee is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Milwaukee accumulate an average of around $11,894 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $91.
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Summit Salon Academy - Kokomo did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in the small city of Kokomo, Summit Salon Academy Kokomo is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Summit Salon Academy Kokomo accumulate an average of around $8,910 in student debt.
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Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture Inc-Brunswick came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Inc-Brunswick is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Brunswick.
On average, cosmetology graduates from Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Inc-Brunswick take out $8,529 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
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Brown Aveda Institute - Strongsville ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Brown Aveda Institute - Strongsville is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Strongsville.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Brown Aveda Institute - Strongsville take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $8,871. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $89.
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With a ranking of #13, Nuvo College of Cosmetology did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the suburb of Norton Shores, Nuvo College of Cosmetology is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Cosmetology majors at Nuvo College of Cosmetology take out an average of $5,679 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
Full Cosmetology at Nuvo College of Cosmetology Report
Request InformationBest Cosmetology Colleges by State
Explore the best cosmetology schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 2,766 |
| Indiana | 1,897 |
| Wisconsin | 1,320 |
| Ohio | 3,404 |
| Illinois | 3,922 |
Cosmetology Related Majors for Cosmetology
Cosmetology is one of 4 different types of trade school programs to choose from.
Cosmetology Concentrations
Most Popular Related Majors
| 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 150 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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