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Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California

2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California

106 Colleges

Finding the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate School for You

In 2021-2022, cosmetology students earned 10,294 degrees and certificates from a California school, making the subject the 2nd in the state.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 106 schools in California 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.

Check out the cosmetology basic certificate programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in California.

#1

Advance Beauty College

Garden Grove, CA

Our 2023 rankings named Advance Beauty College the most popular school in California 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 small student population.

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

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The in-demand basic certificate programs at Asian-American International Beauty College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular cosmetology schools in California. Asian-American International Beauty College is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Westminster.

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

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Out of the 106 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Paul Mitchell the School Sacramento landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, Paul Mitchell the School Sacramento is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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

Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Sacramento Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Milan Institute-Clovis. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Clovis, Milan Institute-Clovis is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Milan Institute-Clovis Report

#5

Coastline Beauty College

Fountain Valley, CA

Out of the 106 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Coastline Beauty College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Coastline Beauty College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Fountain Valley.

Women make up 90% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

Full Cosmetology at Coastline Beauty College Report

#6

My Le's Beauty College

Sacramento, CA

My Le’s Beauty College ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California list. My Le's Beauty College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Sacramento.

Of the 198 students majoring in cosmetology at My Le's Beauty College, 24% are male and 76% are female.

Full Cosmetology at My Le’s Beauty College Report

Bellus Academy - Poway came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California ranking. Bellus Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of Poway.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Bellus Academy - Poway

#8

Federico Beauty Institute

Sacramento, CA

Federico Beauty Institute came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California ranking. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, Federico Beauty Institute is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

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

Full Cosmetology at Federico Beauty Institute Report

#9

Career Academy of Beauty

Garden Grove, CA

Career Academy of Beauty landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the large suburb of Garden Grove, Career Academy of Beauty is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Career Academy of Beauty Report

Paul Mitchell the School Modesto ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California list. Located in the city of Modesto, Paul Mitchell the School Modesto is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

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

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Modesto

Salon Success Academy - Upland came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California ranking. Salon Success Academy - Upland is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Upland.

Of the 160 students majoring in cosmetology at Salon Success Academy - Upland, 1% are male and 99% are female.

Full Cosmetology at Salon Success Academy - Upland Report

#12

Bellus Academy - National City

Chula Vista, CA

With a ranking of #12, Bellus Academy - National City did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the city of Chula Vista, Bellus Academy is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

About 93% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 7% are male.

Read More…

#13

Cosmo Beauty Academy

Sacramento, CA

Cosmo Beauty Academy landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the large suburb of Sacramento, CBA is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read More…

Salon Success Academy - Corona came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Corona, Salon Success Academy - Corona is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Of the 151 students majoring in cosmetology at Salon Success Academy - Corona, 1% are male and 99% are female.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Salon Success Academy - Corona

California College of Barbering and Cosmetology 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 #15 on the list. Located in the large city of Stockton, CAL CBC is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

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

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 Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
16 International College of Cosmetology Oakland, CA
16 Salon Success Academy - Redlands Redlands, CA
18 Cinta Aveda Institute San Francisco, CA
19 Paul Mitchell the School Costa Mesa Costa Mesa, CA
20 Alhambra Beauty College Alhambra, CA
21 Palace Beauty College Los Angeles, CA

Best Cosmetology Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 2,041
Oregon 1,020
Nevada 1,575
Hawaii 183

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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