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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 analysis found The Chrysm Insitute of Esthetics to be the most popular school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a degree in Virginia. The Chrysm Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach.

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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 fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Vienna.

Full Cosmetology at The Esthetic Institute Report

Out of the 25 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Rudy & Kelly Academy - A Paul Mitchell Partner School landed the # 3 spot on the list. Rudy & Kelly Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Virginia Beach.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in Virginia list. Sylvain Melloul Int'l Hair Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg.

Full Cosmetology at Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy Report

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Paul Mitchell the School Mclean is a great place for cosmetology students. Paul Mitchell the School Mclean is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of McLean.

Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Mclean Report

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 small city of Reston, DSI Academy is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy

Paul Mitchell the School Woodbridge landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular cosmetology programs. Paul Mitchell the School Woodbridge is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Woodbridge.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Woodbridge

With a ranking of #8, Paul Mitchell the School Roanoke did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students. Located in the midsize city of Roanoke, Paul Mitchell the School Roanoke is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Roanoke

Virginia School of Hair Design landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular cosmetology programs. Located in the midsize city of Hampton, Virginia School of Hair Design is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Virginia School of Hair Design

#9

Avi Career Training

Great Falls, VA

Avi Career Training did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #9 on the list. Avi Career Training is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Great Falls.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Avi Career Training

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 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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