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Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region

160 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.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for trade school students. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house.

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 the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 160 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones were the most popular basic certificate programs 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 colleges and universities below are the most popular for cosmetology majors pursuing a basic certificate.

#1

Douglas J Aveda Institute

East Lansing, MI

Our analysis found Douglas J Aveda Institute to be the most popular school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a basic certificate in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the small city of East Lansing, Douglas J Aveda Institute 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.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Douglas J Aveda Institute

#2

G Skin & Beauty Institute

Schaumburg, IL

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means G Skin & Beauty Institute is a great place for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. G Skin and Beauty Institute is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Schaumburg.

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

Read More…

Out of the 160 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, G Skin & Beauty Institute landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Oakbrook, Naperville Skin Institute is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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

Read More…

Out of the 160 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, The Institute of Beauty and Wellness landed the # 4 spot on the list. The Institute of Beauty and Wellness is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Milwaukee.

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

Read More…

Out of the 160 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan College of Beauty-Troy landed the # 5 spot on the list. Michigan College of Beauty-Troy is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of Troy.

Full Cosmetology at Michigan College of Beauty-Troy Report

Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Indianapolis came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the large suburb of Indianapolis, Tricoci INE is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

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

Read More…

#6

Trenz Beauty Academy

Calumet City, IL

Trenz Beauty Academy landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the suburb of Calumet City, Trenz Beauty Academy is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

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

Full Cosmetology at Trenz Beauty Academy Report

Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture Inc-Alliance came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the town of Alliance, Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Inc-Alliance is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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

Full Cosmetology at Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture Inc-Alliance Report

#9

L'esprit Academy

Canton, MI

L’esprit Academy ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. L'esprit Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Canton.

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

Read More…

Dorsey School of Beauty - Taylor 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 #10 on the list. Located in the small city of Taylor, Dorsey School of Beauty - Taylor is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Of the 130 students majoring in cosmetology at Dorsey School of Beauty - Taylor, 1% are male and 99% are female.

Read More…

Aveda Fredric’s Institute - Cincinnati ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Aveda Fredric's Institute - Cincinnati is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of West Chester.

Full Cosmetology at Aveda Fredric’s Institute - Cincinnati Report

Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Highland came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Highland, Tricoci HLD is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Highland

With a ranking of #13, Aveda Fredric’s Institute - Indianapolis did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the small city of Carmel, Aveda Fredric's Institute - Indianapolis 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.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Aveda Fredric’s Institute - Indianapolis

#14

Aveda Institute - Columbus

Columbus, OH

Aveda Institute - Columbus landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate cosmetology programs. Aveda Institute - Columbus is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Columbus.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Columbus

#15

Universal Spa Training Academy

Downers Grove, IL

Universal Spa Training Academy landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate cosmetology programs. Universal Spa Training Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Downers Grove.

Read More…

Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Bridgeview landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate cosmetology programs. Tricoci BRV is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Bridgeview.

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

Full Cosmetology at Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Bridgeview Report

#17

The Spa School

Columbus, OH

The Spa School came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. The Spa School is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Columbus.

About 97% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 3% are male.

Read More…

Estelle Skin Care and Spa Institute landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate cosmetology programs. Estelle Skin Care and Spa Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of Skokie.

Of the 129 students majoring in cosmetology at Estelle Skin Care and Spa Institute, 1% are male and 99% are female.

Full Cosmetology at Estelle Skin Care and Spa Institute Report

With a ranking of #19, John Amico School of Hair Design did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. John Amico School of Hair Design is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Oak Forest.

Full Cosmetology at John Amico School of Hair Design Report

#20

Inner State Beauty School

Lyndhurst, OH

Inner State Beauty School 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 #20 on the list. Inner State Beauty School is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lyndhurst.

Read More…

#21

Elevate Salon Institute

Royal Oak, MI

Elevate Salon Institute 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 #21 on the list. Elevate Salon Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Royal Oak.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Elevate Salon Institute

David Pressley School of Cosmetology came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. David Pressley School of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Royal Oak.

Read More…

With a ranking of #23, Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NW did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the large city of Chicago, Tricoci CNW 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…

Toledo Academy of Beauty Culture-East 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 #24 on the list. Located in the suburb of OREGON, Toledo Academy of Beauty Culture-East is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

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

Read full report on Cosmetology at Toledo Academy of Beauty Culture-East

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 the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
25 Brown Aveda Institute - Strongsville Strongsville, OH
26 School Removed
27 The Salon Professional Academy - Evansville Evansville, IN
28 Gerbers Akron Beauty School Akron, OH
29 Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology, North Dayton Dayton, OH
30 Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Rockford Rockford, IL
31 Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology, South Dayton Dayton, OH
31 Brown Aveda Institute - Mentor Mentor, OH

Best Cosmetology Colleges by State

Explore the best cosmetology schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 2,766
Indiana 1,897
Wisconsin 1,320
Ohio 3,404
Illinois 3,922

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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