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Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Virginia

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2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Virginia

12 Colleges

Finding the Best Cosmetology Basic Certificate School for You

Cosmetology is one of the most popular subjects to study in Virginia. With 1,085 degrees and certificates handed out in 2021-2022, it ranked 6th out of all the majors we track in the state.

Today's trade school students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. 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 Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Virginia to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 12 schools in Virginia 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.

#1

The Chrysm Insitute of Esthetics

Virginia Beach, VA

Our 2023 rankings named The Chrysm Insitute of Esthetics the most popular school in Virginia for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. The Chrysm Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Virginia Beach.

Of the 157 students majoring in cosmetology at The Chrysm Institute, 1% are male and 99% are female.

Full Cosmetology at The Chrysm Insitute of Esthetics Report

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means The Esthetic Institute is a great place for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. The Esthetic Institute is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Vienna.

Read full report on Cosmetology at The Esthetic Institute

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Virginia list. Located in the city of Reston, DSI Academy is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy Report

#4

Avi Career Training

Great Falls, VA

Out of the 12 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Avi Career Training landed the # 4 spot on the list. Avi Career Training is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Great Falls.

Full Cosmetology at Avi Career Training Report

The in-demand basic certificate programs at Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular cosmetology schools in Virginia. Sylvain Melloul Int'l Hair Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg.

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

Full Cosmetology at Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy Report

Lotus School of Integrated Professions ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Virginia list. Lotus School of Integrated Professions is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Richmond.

Of the 40 students majoring in cosmetology at Lotus School of Integrated Professions, 3% are male and 98% are female.

Read More…

With a ranking of #7, Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Ashland.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics

Bristol School of Hair Design ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Virginia list. Located in the suburb of Bristol, Bristol School of Hair Design is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Bristol School of Hair Design

#8

Eastern Virginia Career College

Fredericksburg, VA

Eastern Virginia Career College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in Virginia ranking. Eastern Virginia Career College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Fredericksburg.

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

Full Cosmetology at Eastern Virginia Career College Report

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Best Cosmetology Colleges in the Southeast Region

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

State Degrees Awarded
Georgia 4,283
South Carolina 1,516
Arkansas 1,191
North Carolina 2,549
Florida 10,801
West Virginia 377
Louisiana 3,726
Alabama 821
Kentucky 1,003
Tennessee 2,270
Mississippi 872

One of 4 majors within the trade school area of study, cosmetology has other similar majors worth exploring.

Cosmetology Focus Areas

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 12 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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