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Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region

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2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region

173 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 so many trade school programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This report analyzed 173 schools in the Southwest 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

Studio Academy of Beauty

Chandler, AZ

Our analysis found Studio Academy of Beauty to be the most popular school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a basic certificate in the Southwest Region . Studio Academy of Beauty is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Chandler.

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

Full Cosmetology at Studio Academy of Beauty Report

The in-demand basic certificate programs at Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Stafford helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular cosmetology schools in the Southwest Region . Ogle School is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Stafford.

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

Read More…

The in-demand basic certificate programs at Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-San Antonio helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular cosmetology schools in the Southwest Region . Ogle School is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio.

About 100% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 0% are male.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-San Antonio

#4

Penrose Academy

Scottsdale, AZ

Out of the 173 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Penrose Academy landed the # 4 spot on the list. Penrose Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Scottsdale.

Of the 206 students majoring in cosmetology at Penrose Academy, 1% are male and 99% are female.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Penrose Academy

The in-demand basic certificate programs at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular cosmetology schools in the Southwest Region . Located in the midsize city of Tempe, SWIHA is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

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

Full Cosmetology at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts Report

Avalon School of Cosmetology - Phoenix came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Avalon School of Cosmetology - Phoenix is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Phoenix.

Of the 269 students majoring in cosmetology at Avalon School of Cosmetology - Phoenix, 3% are male and 97% are female.

Read More…

#7

Central Oklahoma College

Oklahoma City, OK

Central Oklahoma 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 #7 on the list. Central Oklahoma College is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Oklahoma City.

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

Full Cosmetology at Central Oklahoma College Report

Ann Webb Skin Institute ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Ann Webb Skin Institute is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Austin.

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

Read More…

#9

Turning Point Beauty College

Casa Grande, AZ

Turning Point Beauty College ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Turning Point Beauty College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the rural area of Casa Grande.

Of the 123 students majoring in cosmetology at Turning Point Beauty College, 35% are male and 65% are female.

Read More…

With a ranking of #10, Milan Institute of Cosmetology-El Paso did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the large city of El Paso, Milan Institute of Cosmetology-El Paso is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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

Full Cosmetology at Milan Institute of Cosmetology-El Paso Report

Avalon School of Cosmetology - Mesa 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 #11 on the list. Located in the large city of Mesa, Avalon School of Cosmetology - Mesa 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…

Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Ft Worth came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Ogle School is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth.

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

Read full report on Cosmetology at Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Ft Worth

#13

Avenue Five Institute

Austin, TX

Avenue Five Institute came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the large city of Austin, Avenue Five Institute is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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

Full Cosmetology at Avenue Five Institute Report

Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-North Dallas landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate cosmetology programs. Ogle School is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Dallas.

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

Full Cosmetology at Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-North Dallas Report

Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Dallas came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Ogle School is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Dallas.

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

Read More…

#16

Clary Sage College

Tulsa, OK

With a ranking of #16, Clary Sage College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Clary Sage College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tulsa.

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

Read More…

Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Arlington 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 #17 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Arlington, Ogle School is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Of the 140 students majoring in cosmetology at Ogle School, 1% are male and 99% are female.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Arlington

Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Dallas 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 #18 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Grand Prairie, Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Dallas is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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

Read full report on Cosmetology at Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Dallas

With a ranking of #19, Olympian Academy of Cosmetology did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their basic certificate. Located in the remote town of Alamogordo, Olympian Academy of Cosmetology 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…

#20

Aveda Institute - San Antonio

San Antonio, TX

Aveda Institute - San Antonio came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Aveda Institute - San Antonio is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of San Antonio.

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

Read More…

Aveda Institute - Tucson 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. Aveda Institute - Tucson is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Tucson.

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

Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Tucson Report

Aveda Institute - Phoenix 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 #22 on the list. Aveda Institute - Phoenix is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Tempe.

Of the 128 students majoring in cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Phoenix, 1% are male and 99% are female.

Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Phoenix Report

Milan Institute-San Antonio Ingram landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular basic certificate cosmetology programs. Milan Institute-San Antonio Ingram is a small private for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio.

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

Read full report on Cosmetology at Milan Institute-San Antonio Ingram

#24

Jenks Beauty College

Jenks, OK

Jenks Beauty College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in the large suburb of Jenks, Jenks Beauty College is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Of the 119 students majoring in cosmetology at Jenks Beauty College, 3% are male and 97% are female.

Read More…

Vogue College of Cosmetology-McAllen ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Basic Certificate Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Vogue College of Cosmetology-McAllen is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of McAllen.

Full Cosmetology at Vogue College of Cosmetology-McAllen Report

Honorable Mentions

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 Southwest Region award.

Rank College Location
26 GateWay Community College Phoenix, AZ
27 Salon Boutique Academy Addison, TX
28 Clovis Community College Clovis, NM
29 Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus Austin, TX
30 Northeast Texas Community College Mount Pleasant, TX
31 Tri-State Cosmetology Institute El Paso, TX
31 Tucson College of Beauty Tucson, AZ
33 DuVall’s School of Cosmetology Bedford, TX
34 Pure Aesthetics Tucson, AZ

Best Cosmetology Colleges by State

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

State Degrees Awarded
Arizona 2,673
Texas 10,777
Oklahoma 1,553
New Mexico 956

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 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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