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Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools

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2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools

157 Colleges
$16,507 Avg Salary
$15,151 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology Associate Degree School for You

In 2020-2021, 107,895 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 Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 157 schools in the United States to see which associate degree programs were the most popular for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Cosmetology program at each school on the list.

Check out the cosmetology associate degree programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.

Our analysis found Clover Park Technical College to be the most popular school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a associate degree in the United States. CPTC is a small public school located in the city of Lakewood.

Women make up 99% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at CPTC take out while working on their Associate Degree is $16,538.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Clover Park Technical College

#2

Douglas Education Center

Monessen, PA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Douglas Education Center. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools list. Located in the small suburb of Monessen, Douglas Education Center is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

About 82% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 18% are male.

Cosmetology majors at Douglas Education Center take out an average of $17,938 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $424, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Cosmetology at Douglas Education Center Report

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Houston Community College is a great place for cosmetology students working on their associate degree. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a public college with a very large student population.

Of the 53 students majoring in cosmetology at Houston Community College, 4% are male and 96% are female.

Cosmetology majors at Houston Community College take out an average of $27,801 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Cosmetology at Houston Community College Report

#4

Citrus College

Glendora, CA

Out of the 157 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Citrus College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Citrus College is a moderately-sized public school located in the large suburb of Glendora.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central New Mexico Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools list. CNM is a fairly large public school located in the city of Albuquerque.

Of the 28 students majoring in cosmetology at CNM, 4% are male and 96% are female.

Cosmetology majors at CNM take out an average of $15,146 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Full Cosmetology at Central New Mexico Community College Report

#6

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, CA

With a ranking of #6, Golden West College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their associate degree. Located in the large suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

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Gadsden State Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for cosmetology students to get a associate degree. It came in at #7 on the list. GSCC is a small public school located in the city of Gadsden.

Full Cosmetology at Gadsden State Community College Report

Shelton State Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Tuscaloosa, Shelton State Community College is a public college with a small student population.

Of the 25 students majoring in cosmetology at Shelton State Community College, 4% are male and 96% are female.

Read More…

#8

Palo Alto College

San Antonio, TX

Palo Alto College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree cosmetology programs. Located in the large city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a public college with a large student population.

Full Cosmetology at Palo Alto College Report

Northwest-Shoals Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools list. NW-SCC is a small public school located in the city of Muscle Shoals.

Of the 25 students majoring in cosmetology at NW-SCC, 8% are male and 92% are female.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Northwest-Shoals Community College

#11

Bellingham Technical College

Bellingham, WA

Bellingham Technical College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking. Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute is a small public school located in the city of Bellingham.

Full Cosmetology at Bellingham Technical College Report

#12

Cerritos College

Norwalk, CA

Cerritos College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for cosmetology students to get a associate degree. It came in at #12 on the list. Cerritos College is a large public school located in the large suburb of Norwalk.

About 95% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 5% are male.

Read More…

#13

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS

Johnson County Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools list. JCCC is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Overland Park.

Full Cosmetology at Johnson County Community College Report

Fayetteville Technical Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools list. FTCC is a moderately-sized public school located in the midsize city of Fayetteville.

Cosmetology majors at FTCC take out an average of $22,510 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Fayetteville Technical Community College

#13

Honolulu Community College

Honolulu, HI

Honolulu Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Honolulu, Honolulu CC is a public school with a small student population.

Of the 20 students majoring in cosmetology at Honolulu CC, 5% are male and 95% are female.

Read More…

Central Piedmont Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for cosmetology students to get a associate degree. It came in at #16 on the list. Central Piedmont Community College is a large public school located in the city of Charlotte.

Women make up 94% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Central Piedmont Community College

#17

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, IL

With a ranking of #17, College of DuPage did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their associate degree. Located in the large suburb of Glen Ellyn, COD is a public college with a very large student population.

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San Jacinto Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools list. San Jacinto College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Pasadena.

Read full report on Cosmetology at San Jacinto Community College

#18

Utah State University

Logan, UT

Utah State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for cosmetology students to get a associate degree. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the small city of Logan, USU is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Utah State University

With a ranking of #18, Remington College - Cleveland Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their associate degree. Located in the suburb of Cleveland, Remington College - Cleveland Campus is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Remington College - Cleveland Campus

Spokane Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools list. Located in the midsize city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Spokane Community College

#22

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA

Riverside City College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree cosmetology programs. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Read More…

Wake Technical Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a public college with a very large student population.

Read More…

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools award.

Rank College Location
24 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston, MS
24 Walla Walla Community College Walla Walla, WA
24 Eastern Wyoming College Torrington, WY
24 Fullerton College Fullerton, CA
24 Central Carolina Community College Sanford, NC
29 Northland Pioneer College Holbrook, AZ
29 Northeast Alabama Community College Rainsville, AL
31 Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles, CA
31 Mt. Hood Community College Gresham, OR
31 Remington College - North Houston Campus Houston, TX

Cosmetology by Region

View the Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

Cosmetology is one of 4 different types of trade school programs to choose from.

Cosmetology Concentrations

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 28 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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