Find Trade Colleges

Study Area & Zipcode

Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region

Find Schools Near

2023 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

69 Colleges
$6,173 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.

With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. 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.

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 Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 69 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones offered the best value undergraduate certificate programs for cosmetology students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. 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.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region

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

Top 25 Best Plains States Region Schools for Affordable Quality for an Award Taking 1 to 4 Years in Cosmetology

#1

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS

Our 2023 rankings named Johnson County Community College the best value school in the Plains States Region for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. JCCC is a large public school located in the midsize city of Overland Park.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at JCCC are $5,472 per year. The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at JCCC take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $7,515.

Read More…

#2

Saint Paul College

Saint Paul, MN

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Paul College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the large city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Saint Paul College are $6,318 per year. While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Saint Paul College accumulate an average of around $9,702 in student debt.

Saint Paul College also claimed a spot on our Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.

Read More…

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lake Area Technical Institute. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. LATI is a small public school located in the town of Watertown.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at LATI are $6,718 a year.

LATI excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in the Plains States Region list.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Lake Area Technical Institute

#4

Ridgewater College

Willmar, MN

Out of the 69 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ridgewater College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the remote town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ridgewater College are $6,114 a year.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Ridgewater College

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Kansas City Kansas Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Kansas City Kansas Community College is a small public school located in the midsize city of Kansas City.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Kansas City Kansas Community College are $6,244 a year. On average, cosmetology graduates from Kansas City Kansas Community College take out $5,046 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read More…

With a ranking of #6, Xenon International Academy-Omaha did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the large city of Omaha, Xenon International School of hair Design is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Cosmetology majors at Xenon International School of hair Design take out an average of $10,041 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $81, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Xenon International Academy-Omaha

#6

Aveda Institute - Minneapolis

Minneapolis, MN

Aveda Institute - Minneapolis landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Aveda Institute - Minneapolis is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Minneapolis.

Cosmetology majors at Aveda Institute - Minneapolis take out an average of $7,507 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 $131.

Read More…

With a ranking of #6, House of Heavilin Beauty College-Raymore did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. House of Heavilin Beauty College-Raymore is a small private for-profit school located in the rural area of Raymore.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from House of Heavilin Beauty College-Raymore carry an average student debtload of $11,287.

Full Cosmetology at House of Heavilin Beauty College-Raymore Report

Hays Academy of Hair Design 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. Hays Academy of Hair Design is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the remote town of Hays.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Hays Academy of Hair Design take out $10,032 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Full Cosmetology at Hays Academy of Hair Design Report

#6

Z Hair Academy

Overland Park, KS

Z Hair Academy came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Z Hair Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Overland Park.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Z Hair Academy take out $12,568 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 $90.

Full Cosmetology at Z Hair Academy Report

Missouri College of Cosmetology North landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Missouri College of Cosmetology North is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Springfield.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Missouri College of Cosmetology North take out $7,837 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Missouri College of Cosmetology North

Paul Mitchell the School Overland Park landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the midsize city of Overland Park, Paul Mitchell the School Overland Park is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $109, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Overland Park Report

#6

Eric Fisher Academy

Wichita, KS

Eric Fisher 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 #6 on the list. Located in the city of Wichita, Eric Fisher Academy is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Cosmetology majors at Eric Fisher Academy take out an average of $9,440 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 $103.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Eric Fisher Academy

With a ranking of #6, La James International College-Davenport 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 Davenport, La James International College-Davenport is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at La James International College-Davenport accumulate an average of around $9,117 in student debt.

Full Cosmetology at La James International College-Davenport Report

#6

Neosho Beauty College

Neosho, MO

Neosho Beauty College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the town of Neosho, Neosho Beauty College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read More…

#6

Capri College, Dubuque

Dubuque, IA

Capri College, Dubuque landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Capri College, Dubuque is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Dubuque.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Capri College, Dubuque carry an average student debtload of $9,226. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $74, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

Paul Mitchell the School Wichita 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 large city of Wichita, Paul Mitchell the School Wichita is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Wichita Report

#6

Stewart School

Sioux Falls, SD

Stewart School came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Sioux Falls, Stewart School is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Cosmetology majors at Stewart School take out an average of $6,982 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Full Cosmetology at Stewart School Report

With a ranking of #6, Paul Mitchell the School St Louis did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Paul Mitchell the School St Louis is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of St. Louis.

For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $139.

Read More…

#6

City Pointe Beauty Academy

Webb City, MO

City Pointe 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 #6 on the list. City Pointe Beauty Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Webb City.

Full Cosmetology at City Pointe Beauty Academy Report

#6

The Hair Academy

Bismarck, ND

The Hair Academy landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. The Hair Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of Bismarck.

Full Cosmetology at The Hair Academy Report

Empire Beauty School-Spring Lake Park ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Empire Beauty School-Spring Lake Park is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Spring Lake Park.

The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Spring Lake Park take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $12,856. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $79.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Spring Lake Park

#6

Skin Institute

Saint Louis, MO

With a ranking of #6, Skin Institute did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Skin Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Saint Louis.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Skin Institute take out $6,965 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read More…

With a ranking of #6, The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. TSPA - Fargo is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Fargo.

Cosmetology majors at TSPA - Fargo take out an average of $13,299 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read More…

Best Cosmetology Colleges by State

Explore the best cosmetology schools for a specific state in the Plains States region.

State Degrees Awarded
Kansas 1,184
Missouri 1,382
Minnesota 1,054
South Dakota 209
Iowa 685
North Dakota 203
Nebraska 441

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

Majors Similar 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 69 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.

Featured Schools

Find Trade Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited trade schools across the U.S.