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Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in Virginia

2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in Virginia

25 Colleges
$19,301 Avg Salary
$9,969 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology 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.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in Virginia ranking. This report analyzed 25 schools in Virginia 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.

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

#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. The Chrysm Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach.

Read full report on Cosmetology at The Chrysm Insitute of Esthetics

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

Full Cosmetology at The Esthetic Institute Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rudy & Kelly Academy - A Paul Mitchell Partner School. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in Virginia list. Rudy & Kelly Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Virginia Beach.

Full Cosmetology at Rudy & Kelly Academy - A Paul Mitchell Partner School Report

The excellent programs at Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in Virginia. Sylvain Melloul Int'l Hair Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg.

Full Cosmetology at Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Paul Mitchell the School Mclean. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in Virginia list. Paul Mitchell the School Mclean is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of McLean.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Mclean

With a ranking of #6, Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students. Located in the city of Reston, DSI Academy is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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With a ranking of #7, Paul Mitchell the School Woodbridge did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students. Paul Mitchell the School Woodbridge is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Woodbridge.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Woodbridge

Paul Mitchell the School Roanoke came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in Virginia ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Roanoke, Paul Mitchell the School Roanoke is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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With a ranking of #9, Virginia School of Hair Design did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students. Located in the midsize city of Hampton, Virginia School of Hair Design is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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#9

Avi Career Training

Great Falls, VA

Avi Career Training came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in Virginia ranking. Avi Career Training is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Great Falls.

Read More…

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