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Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools

2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools

157 Colleges
$16,507 Avg Salary
$12,253 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology Associate Degree 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 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 small city of Lakewood.

Women make up 96% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

Cosmetology majors at CPTC take out an average of $12,614 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Clover Park Technical College

#2

Douglas Education Center

Monessen, PA

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Douglas Education Center is a great place for cosmetology students working on their associate degree. Located in the small suburb of Monessen, Douglas Education Center is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

About 83% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 17% are male.

After completing their Associate Degree, cosmetology graduates from Douglas Education Center carry an average student debt load of $13,976. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $503, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Houston Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools list. Located in the large city of Houston, Houston Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Cosmetology majors at Houston Community College take out an average of $21,156 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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#4

Citrus College

Glendora, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Citrus College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools list. Citrus College is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Glendora.

Of the 35 students majoring in cosmetology at Citrus College, 6% are male and 94% are female.

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The in-demand associate degree programs at Central New Mexico Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular cosmetology schools in the United States. CNM is a fairly large public school located in the city of Albuquerque.

On average, cosmetology graduates from CNM take out $8,183 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.

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#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 suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 10 students majoring in cosmetology at Golden West College, 20% are male and 80% are female.

Full Cosmetology at Golden West College Report

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 small city of Gadsden.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Gadsden State Community College

Shelton 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 #8 on the list. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, Shelton State Community College is a public college with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Shelton State Community College Report

#8

Palo Alto College

San Antonio, TX

Palo Alto 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 #8 on the list. Located in the large city of San Antonio, Palo Alto College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

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With a ranking of #8, Northwest-Shoals Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their associate degree. NW-SCC is a small public school located in the city of Muscle Shoals.

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#11

Bellingham Technical College

Bellingham, WA

With a ranking of #11, Bellingham Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their associate degree. Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute is a small public school located in the city of Bellingham.

Of the 8 students majoring in cosmetology at Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute, 25% are male and 75% are female.

Full Cosmetology at Bellingham Technical College Report

#12

Cerritos College

Norwalk, CA

Cerritos College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree cosmetology programs. Cerritos College is a large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk.

Full Cosmetology at Cerritos College Report

#13

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS

Johnson County Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools ranking. JCCC is a large public school located in the city of Overland Park.

Full Cosmetology at Johnson County Community College Report

With a ranking of #13, Fayetteville Technical Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their associate degree. FTCC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Fayetteville.

While working on their Associate Degree, cosmetology majors at FTCC accumulate an average of around $20,615 in student debt.

Full Cosmetology at Fayetteville Technical Community College Report

#13

Honolulu Community College

Honolulu, HI

Honolulu Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree cosmetology programs. Located in the large city of Honolulu, Honolulu CC is a public college with a small student population.

About 90% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 10% are male.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Honolulu Community College

Central Piedmont Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree cosmetology programs. 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.

Full Cosmetology at Central Piedmont Community College Report

#17

College of DuPage

Glen Ellyn, IL

College of DuPage 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 #17 on the list. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, COD is a public college with a fairly 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 very large public school located in the large suburb of Pasadena.

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

Read full report on Cosmetology at San Jacinto Community College

#18

Utah State University

Logan, UT

Utah State University ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Associate Degree Trade Schools list. Located in the city of Logan, USU is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Utah State University

Remington College - Cleveland Campus 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 large suburb of Cleveland, Remington College - Cleveland Campus is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

About 96% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 4% are male.

While working on their Associate Degree, cosmetology majors at Remington College - Cleveland Campus accumulate an average of around $21,111 in student debt.

Full Cosmetology at Remington College - Cleveland Campus Report

With a ranking of #18, Spokane Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their associate degree. Located in the midsize city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Spokane Community College

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 school with a fairly large student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Wake Technical 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 large city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a public school with a fairly large student population.

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

Read full report on Cosmetology at Riverside City College

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
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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 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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