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Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools

2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools

1,127 Colleges

Finding the Best Cosmetology Basic 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.

The Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking is one of many tools that Trade College Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 1,127 schools in the United States to see which basic certificate 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.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Colleges.

Our 2023 rankings named Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute, Covington the most popular school in the United States for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute, Covington is a small private for-profit school located in the small suburb of Covington.

Of the 989 students majoring in cosmetology at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute, Covington, 1% are male and 99% are female.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute, Covington

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Christine Valmy International School for Esthetics, Skin Care & Makeup is a great place for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Christine Valmy International School is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of New York.

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

Read More…

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts & Sciences-Summerlin. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the large city of Las Vegas, Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts & Sciences-Summerlin is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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

Read More…

#4

Douglas J Aveda Institute

East Lansing, MI

Out of the 1,127 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Douglas J Aveda Institute landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the small city of East Lansing, Douglas J Aveda Institute is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Women make up 98% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

Full Cosmetology at Douglas J Aveda Institute Report

#5

Advance Beauty College

Garden Grove, CA

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Advance Beauty College is a great place for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the suburb of Garden Grove, Advance Beauty College is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Women make up 92% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

Read More…

National University College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Bayamon, National University College is a private for-profit college with a very large student population.

Women make up 98% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

Read More…

#7

Studio Academy of Beauty

Chandler, AZ

Studio Academy of Beauty landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the large city of Chandler, Studio Academy of Beauty is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

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

Read More…

Asian-American International Beauty College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #8 on the list. Asian-American International Beauty College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Westminster.

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

Full Cosmetology at Asian-American International Beauty College Report

#9

Boca Beauty Academy

Boca Raton, FL

Boca Beauty Academy came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Boca Raton, Boca Beauty Academy is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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

Read full report on Cosmetology at Boca Beauty Academy

#10

G Skin & Beauty Institute

Schaumburg, IL

With a ranking of #10, G Skin & Beauty Institute did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. G Skin and Beauty Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Schaumburg.

Of the 336 students majoring in cosmetology at G Skin and Beauty Institute, 1% are male and 99% are female.

Read full report on Cosmetology at G Skin & Beauty Institute

South Hills Beauty Academy Inc ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. South Hills Beauty Academy Inc is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Pittsburgh.

About 99% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 1% are male.

Read full report on Cosmetology at South Hills Beauty Academy Inc

La Belle Beauty Academy did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for cosmetology students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #12 on the list. La Belle Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Miami.

Read More…

Celebrity School of Beauty ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Miami, Celebrity School of Beauty is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Of the 361 students majoring in cosmetology at Celebrity School of Beauty, 1% are male and 99% are female.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Celebrity School of Beauty

Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Everett.

Women make up 98% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

Full Cosmetology at Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett Report

Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the large suburb of Levittown, Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Women make up 98% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute

Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Stafford ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the suburb of Stafford, Ogle School is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Women make up 97% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

Read More…

#17

Jupiter Beauty Academy

Boston, MA

Jupiter Beauty Academy came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Jupiter Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Boston.

Women make up 93% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

Full Cosmetology at Jupiter Beauty Academy Report

Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate cosmetology programs. Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of New York.

About 98% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 2% are male.

Full Cosmetology at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics Report

#19

Aveda Institute - Tallahassee

Tallahassee, FL

Aveda Institute - Tallahassee landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate cosmetology programs. Aveda Institute - Tallahassee is a small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Tallahassee.

Of the 278 students majoring in cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Tallahassee, 1% are male and 99% are female.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Tallahassee

#20

La Belle Beauty School

Hialeah, FL

La Belle Beauty School landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate cosmetology programs. La Belle Beauty School is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Hialeah.

Read More…

Aveda Institute - South Florida ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the suburb of Davie, Aveda Institute - South Florida is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Of the 435 students majoring in cosmetology at Aveda Institute - South Florida, 2% are male and 98% are female.

Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - South Florida Report

Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-Casselberry ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Casselberry, Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-Casselberry is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

About 98% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 2% are male.

Full Cosmetology at Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-Casselberry Report

Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Hollywood, Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Of the 237 students majoring in cosmetology at Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers, 3% are male and 97% are female.

Read More…

Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-San Antonio landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the city of San Antonio, Ogle School is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Women make up 100% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

Read More…

#25

G Skin & Beauty Institute

Oakbrook, IL

With a ranking of #25, G Skin & Beauty Institute did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the large suburb of Oakbrook, Naperville Skin Institute is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Of the 271 students majoring in cosmetology at Naperville Skin Institute, 3% are male and 97% are female.

Full Cosmetology at G Skin & Beauty Institute Report

#30

Penrose Academy

Scottsdale, AZ
#32

Parisian Spa Institute

Jacksonville, FL
#36

Davis Technical College

Kaysville, UT
#38

Milan Institute-Clovis

Clovis, CA
#40

Aveda Institute Las Vegas

Las Vegas, NV
#44

Central Oklahoma College

Oklahoma City, OK
#45

Coastline Beauty College

Fountain Valley, CA
#46

Cortiva Institute-Baltimore

Linthicum, MD
#48

Trenz Beauty Academy

Calumet City, IL
#48

Ann Webb Skin Institute

Austin, TX

Remaining Award Winners

This list represents the rest of the colleges awarded a Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 1127 different United States cosmetology schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
51 The Chrysm Insitute of Esthetics Virginia Beach, VA
51 My Le’s Beauty College Sacramento, CA
53 Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture Inc-Alliance Alliance, OH
54 Turning Point Beauty College Casa Grande, AZ
55 Aveda Institute - Minneapolis Minneapolis, MN
56 Savannah Technical College Savannah, GA
57 Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL
57 Milan Institute of Cosmetology-El Paso El Paso, TX
59 Total Image Beauty Academy Union City, NJ
59 Avalon School of Cosmetology - Mesa Mesa, AZ
61 Cameo College of Essential Beauty Murray, UT
62 Bellus Academy - Poway Poway, CA
62 M-DCPS The English Center Miami, FL
62 The Esthetic Institute Vienna, VA
65 L’esprit Academy Canton, MI
66 Boca Beauty Academy - Parkland Parkland, FL
66 Sheridan Technical College Hollywood, FL
68 Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Ft Worth Fort Worth, TX
69 Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta, GA
69 Aesthetic Science Institute Latham, NY
71 Federico Beauty Institute Sacramento, CA
72 Top Nails & Hair Beauty School Taylorsville, UT
73 Avenue Five Institute Austin, TX
74 Grabber School of Hair Design St. Louis, MO
75 Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Dallas Dallas, TX
75 Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-North Dallas Dallas, TX
75 Oliver Finley Academy of Cosmetology Boise, ID
78 Capri Cosmetology Learning Centers Nanuet, NY
78 Jean Madeline Aveda Institute Philadelphia, PA
80 Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics Woburn, MA
81 Georgia Piedmont Technical College Clarkston, GA
82 Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GA
83 Latin Beauty Academy greenacres, FL
83 Dorsey School of Beauty - Taylor Taylor, MI
85 Clary Sage College Tulsa, OK
86 Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Arlington Arlington, TX
86 Career Academy of Beauty Garden Grove, CA
86 Shear Ego International School of Hair Design Rochester, NY
89 Aveda Fredric’s Institute - Cincinnati West Chester, OH
90 Paul Mitchell the School Modesto Modesto, CA
91 PJ’s College of Cosmetology-Bowling Green Bowling Green, KY
91 Rizzieri Aveda School for Beauty and Wellness Voorhees, NJ
93 Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
94 Parisian Beauty School Hackensack, NJ
94 New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa white plains, NY
94 Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Highland Highland, IN
94 Skin Science Institute Sandy, UT
98 Kaizen Beauty Academy Pembroke Pines, FL
98 Berkowits School of Electrolysis Forest Hills, NY
100 Aveda Fredric’s Institute - Indianapolis Carmel, IN
100 West Georgia Technical College Waco, GA
100 Salon Success Academy - Upland Upland, CA
103 Aveda Institute - Columbus Columbus, OH
104 Continental School of Beauty Culture, Mattydale Mattydale, NY
105 My Le’s Beauty College Gretna, LA
106 Bellus Academy - National City Chula Vista, CA
107 Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Dallas Grand Prairie, TX
107 Universal Spa Training Academy Downers Grove, IL
109 Olympian Academy of Cosmetology Alamogordo, NM
110 Cosmo Beauty Academy Sacramento, CA
111 Georgia Career Institute Conyers, GA
111 Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Bridgeview Bridgeview, IL
113 Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
114 Florida Academy Fort Myers, FL
115 Aveda Institute - Maryland Bel Air, MD
115 The Spa School Columbus, OH
117 Praxis Institute Miami, FL
117 Academy of Hair Design - Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV
117 Estelle Skin Care and Spa Institute Skokie, IL
117 Crave Beauty Academy Wichita, KS
121 Spa Tech Institute-Plymouth Plymouth, MA
121 Xenon International Academy-Denver Aurora, CO
123 Aveda Institute - San Antonio San Antonio, TX
124 Bene’s Career Academy New Port Richey, FL
125 Salon Success Academy - Corona Corona, CA
126 Tennessee School of Beauty of Knoxville Inc Knoxville, TN
126 Capilo School of Hair Design Augusta, ME
126 John Amico School of Hair Design Oak Forest, IL
126 Health and Style Institute Greensboro, NC
130 Aveda Institute - New York New York, NY
131 Metro Beauty Academy Allentown, PA
131 Spa Tech Institute-Westboro Westborough, MA
133 Paul Mitchell the School Boise Boise, ID
134 Spa Tech Institute-Westbrook Westbrook, ME
135 Inner State Beauty School Lyndhurst, OH
135 Milan Institute of Cosmetology-Reno Reno, NV
135 Aveda Institute - Denver Denver, CO
138 California College of Barbering and Cosmetology Stockton, CA
139 Salon Success Academy - Redlands Redlands, CA
139 International College of Cosmetology Oakland, CA
141 Saint Paul College Saint Paul, MN
141 Cinta Aveda Institute San Francisco, CA
143 Paul Mitchell the School Costa Mesa Costa Mesa, CA
143 Elevate Salon Institute Royal Oak, MI
143 Aveda Institute - Tucson Tucson, AZ
146 Paul Mitchell the School Springfield Springfield, MO
146 Aveda Institute - Phoenix Tempe, AZ
148 Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork Lancaster, PA
149 Milan Institute-San Antonio Ingram San Antonio, TX
149 Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GA
149 Coastal Pines Technical College Waycross, GA
152 Jenks Beauty College Jenks, OK
152 International Salon and Spa Academy Colorado Springs, CO
152 The Salon Professional Academy - Tonawanda Tonawanda, NY
152 Brittany Beauty Academy Levittown, NY
152 Beauty Academy of South Florida Hialeah Gardens, FL
152 Ogden-Weber Technical College Ogden, UT
158 Lanier Technical College Gainesville, GA
158 Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville, GA
158 Vogue College of Cosmetology-McAllen McAllen, TX
161 Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Goose Creek Goose Creek, SC
161 House of Heavilin Beauty College-Blue Springs Blue Springs, MO
161 Blue Cliff College - Lafayette Lafayette, LA
161 Hollywood Institute - Margate Margate, FL
161 Pat Goins Benton Road Beauty School Shreveport, LA
166 Florida Barber Academy Plantation, FL
166 GateWay Community College Phoenix, AZ
166 Brittany Beauty Academy Brooklyn, NY
166 Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GA

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Cosmetology students that almost earned our Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools award.

Rank College Location
170 Alhambra Beauty College Alhambra, CA
170 Career Academy of Hair Design Springdale, AR
172 Palace Beauty College Los Angeles, CA
172 Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy - Lakeland Lakeland, FL
172 Manatee Technical College Bradenton, FL
172 Salon Boutique Academy Addison, TX
176 David Pressley School of Cosmetology Royal Oak, MI
177 Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NW Chicago, IL
177 Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute, Lafayette Lafayette, LA
179 Summit Salon Academy - Tampa Tampa, FL
180 Toledo Academy of Beauty Culture-East OREGON, OH
180 Brittany Beauty Academy Bronx, NY
182 Clovis Community College Clovis, NM
182 Athens Technical College Athens, GA
182 J D Academy of Salon and Spa Danville, CA
182 Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy - Tampa Tampa, FL
186 Bellus Academy - El Cajon El Cajon, CA
186 Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus Austin, TX
186 Studio Beauty School Spokane Valley, WA
189 Northeast Texas Community College Mount Pleasant, TX
190 Academy for Salon Professionals Northridge, CA
190 Pro Beauty Academy Edison, NJ
192 Paul Mitchell the School North Haven North Haven, CT
192 Cape Fear Community College Wilmington, NC
192 Gould’s Academy Memphis, TN
192 Paul Mitchell the School Pasadena Pasadena, CA
192 Stacey James Institute Parker, CO
197 Brown Aveda Institute - Strongsville Strongsville, OH
197 Paul Mitchell the School Murfreesboro Murfreesboro, TN
199 School Removed
199 International Academy of Style Reno, NV
199 Academy Di Capelli - School of Cosmetology Wallingford, CT
202 American Beauty Schools Miami, FL
202 School Removed
202 The Salon Professional Academy - Evansville Evansville, IN
205 University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College North Little Rock, AR
205 Tri-State Cosmetology Institute El Paso, TX
205 Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy Reston, VA
205 Gerbers Akron Beauty School Akron, OH
205 Academy of Hair Technology Greenville, SC
205 Tucson College of Beauty Tucson, AZ
211 San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc San Francisco, CA
211 Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology, North Dayton Dayton, OH
211 Lu Ross Academy Ventura, CA
211 Aveda Institute Portland - Vancouver Campus Vancouver, WA
211 Austin’s Beauty College Inc Clarksville, TN
211 The Salon Professional Academy - San Jose San Jose, CA
217 The Salon Professional Academy - Washington DC Washington, DC
217 DuVall’s School of Cosmetology Bedford, TX
217 Milan Institute-Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA
217 Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics Omaha, NE
217 ,
222 Mountainland Technical College Lehi, UT
222 Blue Cliff College - Alexandria Alexandria, LA
222 Academy of Cosmetology Merritt Island, FL
222 Pure Aesthetics Tucson, AZ

Cosmetology by Region

View the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate 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 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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