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Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in California

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2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in California

134 Colleges
$16,595 Avg Salary
$7,723 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology 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.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 134 schools in California to see which ones were the most popular 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 following schools top our list of the Most Popular Cosmetology Colleges.

#1

Advance Beauty College

Garden Grove, CA

Our 2023 rankings named Advance Beauty College the most popular school in California for cosmetology students. Located in the suburb of Garden Grove, Advance Beauty College is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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Out of the 134 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Asian-American International Beauty College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Asian-American International Beauty College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Westminster.

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The excellent programs at Bellus Academy - Poway helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in California. Bellus Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of Poway.

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The excellent programs at Paul Mitchell the School Sacramento helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in California. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, Paul Mitchell the School Sacramento is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Sacramento

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Milan Institute-Clovis. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in California list. Located in the large suburb of Clovis, Milan Institute-Clovis is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Milan Institute-Clovis

#6

Federico Beauty Institute

Sacramento, CA

With a ranking of #6, Federico Beauty Institute did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, Federico Beauty Institute is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Federico Beauty Institute Report

Bellus Academy - National City landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular cosmetology programs. Located in the large city of Chula Vista, Bellus Academy is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Bellus Academy - National City

Paul Mitchell the School Costa Mesa came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in California ranking. Paul Mitchell the School Costa Mesa is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Costa Mesa.

Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Costa Mesa Report

Paul Mitchell the School Modesto ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in California list. Located in the midsize city of Modesto, Paul Mitchell the School Modesto is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Modesto Report

#10

Coastline Beauty College

Fountain Valley, CA

Coastline Beauty College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in California ranking. Coastline Beauty College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Fountain Valley.

Full Cosmetology at Coastline Beauty College Report

#11

My Le's Beauty College

Sacramento, CA

My Le’s Beauty College ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in California list. My Le's Beauty College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Sacramento.

Read full report on Cosmetology at My Le’s Beauty College

Paul Mitchell the School Temecula ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in California list. Paul Mitchell the School Temecula is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Temecula.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Temecula

#13

Bellus Academy - El Cajon

El Cajon, CA

With a ranking of #13, Bellus Academy - El Cajon did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students. Bellus Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of El Cajon.

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#14

Cinta Aveda Institute

San Francisco, CA

Cinta Aveda Institute came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in California ranking. Located in the large city of San Francisco, Cinta Aveda Institute is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Cinta Aveda Institute

#15

Career Academy of Beauty

Garden Grove, CA

Career Academy of Beauty did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Garden Grove, Career Academy of Beauty is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Career Academy of Beauty

Salon Success Academy - Upland came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in California ranking. Salon Success Academy - Upland is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Upland.

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Salon Success Academy - Corona ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in California list. Located in the medium-sized city of Corona, Salon Success Academy - Corona is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Salon Success Academy - Corona

California College of Barbering and Cosmetology came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in California ranking. Located in the large city of Stockton, CAL CBC is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

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#19

Citrus College

Glendora, CA

Citrus College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular cosmetology programs. Citrus College is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Glendora.

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#20

Lu Ross Academy

Ventura, CA

With a ranking of #20, Lu Ross Academy did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students. Lu Ross Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Ventura.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Lu Ross Academy

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 Trade Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
21 Salon Success Academy - Redlands Redlands, CA
22 Cosmo Beauty Academy Sacramento, CA
23 Milan Institute-Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA
24 Paul Mitchell the School Pasadena Pasadena, CA
25 School Removed
26 International College of Cosmetology Oakland, CA

Best Cosmetology Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular Cosmetology Colleges 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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