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2023 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools
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.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 960 schools in the United States 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.
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. 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.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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2023 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the United States
The following schools top our list of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Colleges.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality for an Award Taking 1 to 4 Years in Cosmetology
Our analysis found Chippewa Valley Technical College to be the best value school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a undergraduate certificate in the United States. CVTC is a moderately-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. On average, cosmetology graduates from CVTC take out $10,815 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
CVTC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools list.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Chippewa Valley Technical College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Waukesha County Technical College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. WCTC is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WCTC are $6,722 a year. Cosmetology majors at WCTC take out an average of $8,974 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
WCTC excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools list.
The excellent undergraduate certificate programs at Madison Area Technical College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value cosmetology schools in the United States. Madison College is a large public school located in the city of Madison.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Madison College are $6,812 per year.
Madison College also claimed a spot on our Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Madison Area Technical College
Out of the 960 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Johnson County Community College landed the # 4 spot on the list. JCCC is a large public school located in the midsize city of Overland Park.
JCCC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,472 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at JCCC accumulate an average of around $7,515 in student debt.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Saint Paul College is a great value for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Saint Paul College are $6,318 per year. On average, cosmetology graduates from Saint Paul College take out $9,702 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
In addition to its great value ranking, Saint Paul College is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools list.
Wharton County Junior 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. Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wharton.
Wharton County Junior College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,052 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Wharton County Junior College accumulate an average of around $6,801 in student debt.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Wharton County Junior College
Clarendon 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 rural area of Clarendon, Clarendon College is a public college with a small student population.
Clarendon College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,400 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Clarendon College accumulate an average of around $11,106 in student debt.
Mid-State 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 #8 on the list. 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. On average, cosmetology graduates from Mid-State take out $6,206 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Mid-State also is in the top 20% of our Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools ranking.
Gwinnett Technical College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. GTC is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of Lawrenceville.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at GTC are $5,686 a year. The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at GTC take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $12,265.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Gwinnett Technical College
South Plains College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. South Plains College is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Levelland.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at South Plains College are $4,857 per year. Cosmetology majors at South Plains College take out an average of $12,593 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
With a ranking of #11, Athens Technical College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the medium-sized city of Athens, Athens Technical College is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Athens Technical College are $5,462 a year.
Lake Area Technical Institute came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. LATI is a small public school located in the remote town of Watertown.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at LATI are $6,718 a year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, LATI also is in the top 10% of our Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools ranking.
With a ranking of #13, Ridgewater College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ridgewater College are $6,114 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Ridgewater College also is in the top 20% of our Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools ranking.
Kansas City Kansas Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Kansas City Kansas Community College is a small public school located in the medium-sized city of Kansas City.
Kansas City Kansas Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,244 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Kansas City Kansas Community College carry an average student debtload of $5,046.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the rural area of Shell Lake, WITC is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at WITC are $6,624 a year. After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from WITC carry an average student debtload of $5,009.
In addition to its great value ranking, WITC is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools list.
Arkansas State University - Newport ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. ASUN is a small public school located in the rural area of Newport.
ASUN undergraduate students pay an average of $4,416 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from ASUN carry an average student debtload of $6,475.
Full Cosmetology at Arkansas State University - Newport Report
San Jacinto Community 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 #17 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 $5,040 in tuition and fees each year. On average, cosmetology graduates from San Jacinto College take out $9,945 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
Read full report on Cosmetology at San Jacinto Community College
Howard 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 #18 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 $6,030 in tuition and fees each year. Cosmetology majors at Howard County Junior College take out an average of $4,932 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the small suburb of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a public school with a small student population.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,562 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
West Georgia 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 #20 on the list. Located in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
West Georgia Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,522 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from West Georgia Technical College carry an average student debtload of $8,885.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Georgia Northwestern Technical College are $5,512 a year.
Full Cosmetology at Georgia Northwestern Technical College Report
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 #22 on the list. Located in the suburb of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Gateway Technical College are $6,917 a year. After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Gateway Technical College carry an average student debtload of $7,917.
In addition to its great value ranking, Gateway Technical College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools list.
With a ranking of #23, Houston Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Houston Community College are $5,460 a year. On average, cosmetology graduates from Houston Community College take out $11,559 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
Pickens Technical College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Pickens Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Aurora.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Pickens Technical College are $8,830 a year.
With a ranking of #25, College of the Mainland did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the suburb of Texas City, COM is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at COM are $3,873 a year. While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at COM accumulate an average of around $6,175 in student debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools
Remaining Award Winners
This section shows the rest of the colleges awarded a Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 960 different United States cosmetology schools we analyzed.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
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Cosmetology by Region
View the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
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| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Other U.S. Territories |
| Great Lakes |
Cosmetology Related Majors for Cosmetology
Cosmetology is one of 4 different types of trade school programs to choose from.
Cosmetology Concentrations
Most Popular Majors Related 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 25 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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