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Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region

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2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region

237 Colleges
$16,191 Avg Salary
$9,058 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology 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.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 237 schools in the Southwest Region 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 the Southwest Region .

#1

Studio Academy of Beauty

Chandler, AZ

Our 2023 rankings named Studio Academy of Beauty the most popular school in the Southwest Region for cosmetology students. Studio Academy of Beauty is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Chandler.

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

Full Cosmetology at Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Stafford Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Olympian Academy of Cosmetology. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the remote town of Alamogordo, Olympian Academy of Cosmetology is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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The excellent programs at Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-San Antonio helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the Southwest Region . Ogle School is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of San Antonio.

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Out of the 237 schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Ft Worth landed the # 5 spot on the list. Ogle School is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth.

Full Cosmetology at Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Ft Worth Report

Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Dallas landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular cosmetology programs. Ogle School is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Dallas.

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#7

Penrose Academy

Scottsdale, AZ

Penrose Academy landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular cosmetology programs. Penrose Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Scottsdale.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Penrose Academy

Avalon School of Cosmetology - Phoenix ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Avalon School of Cosmetology - Phoenix is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Phoenix.

Full Cosmetology at Avalon School of Cosmetology - Phoenix Report

With a ranking of #9, Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Arlington did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students. Located in the large suburb of Arlington, Ogle School is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Arlington Report

Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-North Dallas landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular cosmetology programs. Ogle School is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Dallas.

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

Milan Institute of Cosmetology-El Paso landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular cosmetology programs. Located in the large city of El Paso, Milan Institute of Cosmetology-El Paso is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Milan Institute of Cosmetology-El Paso Report

#12

Clary Sage College

Tulsa, OK

Clary Sage College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular cosmetology programs. Clary Sage College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tulsa.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Clary Sage College

#13

Central Oklahoma College

Oklahoma City, OK

Central Oklahoma College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #13 on the list. Central Oklahoma College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Oklahoma City.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Central Oklahoma College

#14

Aveda Institute - San Antonio

San Antonio, TX

Aveda Institute - San Antonio landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular cosmetology programs. Aveda Institute - San Antonio is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of San Antonio.

Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - San Antonio Report

Avalon School of Cosmetology - Mesa landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular cosmetology programs. Located in the large city of Mesa, Avalon School of Cosmetology - Mesa is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Avalon School of Cosmetology - Mesa Report

#16

Avenue Five Institute

Austin, TX

With a ranking of #16, Avenue Five Institute did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students. Located in the city of Austin, Avenue Five Institute is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Avenue Five Institute Report

San Jacinto Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in the suburb of Pasadena, San Jacinto College is a public college with a very large student population.

Full Cosmetology at San Jacinto Community College Report

With a ranking of #18, Southwest Institute of Healing Arts did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students. Located in the midsize city of Tempe, SWIHA is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts Report

#19

Turning Point Beauty College

Casa Grande, AZ

Turning Point Beauty College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #19 on the list. Turning Point Beauty College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the rural area of Casa Grande.

Full Cosmetology at Turning Point Beauty College Report

With a ranking of #19, Ogle School Hair Skin Nails-Hurst did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students. Ogle School is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Hurst.

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With a ranking of #21, Paul Mitchell the School Arlington did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students. Located in the large city of Arlington, Paul Mitchell the School Arlington is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Arlington

Paul Mitchell the School Houston landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular cosmetology programs. Located in the city of Houston, Paul Mitchell the School Houston is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Houston

#23

Ann Webb Skin Institute

Austin, TX

With a ranking of #23, Ann Webb Skin Institute did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students. Ann Webb Skin Institute is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Austin.

Full Cosmetology at Ann Webb Skin Institute Report

Aveda Institute - Tucson came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Trade Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Aveda Institute - Tucson is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Tucson.

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#25

Cosmetology Career Center LLC

Carrollton, TX

Cosmetology Career Center LLC landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular cosmetology programs. Located in the suburb of Carrollton, Paul Mitchell the School Dallas is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Cosmetology Career Center LLC Report

#28

Houston Barber School

Houston, TX
#31

ABC Beauty Academy

Richardson, TX

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 Trade Schools in the Southwest Region award.

Rank College Location
36 Glitz School of Cosmetology Las Cruces, NM
37 Jenks Beauty College Jenks, OK
37 Salon Boutique Academy Addison, TX
39 Aveda Institute - Phoenix Tempe, AZ
40 Tri-State Cosmetology Institute El Paso, TX
41 Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Plano Plano, TX
41 GateWay Community College Phoenix, AZ
43 Trinity Valley Community College Athens, TX
44 Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus Austin, TX
44 Texas College of Cosmetology-Lubbock Lubbock, TX
46 Texas Barber College Houston, TX
47 The Salon Professional Academy - Lewisville Lewisville, TX

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 26 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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