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Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in Pennsylvania

2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in Pennsylvania

60 Colleges
$17,041 Avg Salary
$8,995 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate School for You

Out of the majors we analyze each year, cosmetology was the most popular one in Pennsylvania. In total, 3,378 people earned a degree or certificate in the field from a school in Pennsylvania.

It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Trade College Search has created its Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. This report analyzed 60 schools in Pennsylvania to see which ones were the most popular undergraduate 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 undergraduate certificate.

#1

Bella Capelli Academy

Monroeville, PA

Our analysis found Bella Capelli Academy to be the most popular school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a undergraduate certificate in Pennsylvania. Located in the suburb of Monroeville, Bella Capelli Academy a Paul Mitchell partner school is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Of the 207 students majoring in cosmetology at Bella Capelli Academy a Paul Mitchell partner school, 3% are male and 97% are female.

For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $114.

Read More…

#2

Jean Madeline Aveda Institute

Philadelphia, PA

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Jean Madeline Aveda Institute is a great place for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Jean Madeline Education Center of Cosmetology is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia.

Women make up 94% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Jean Madeline Education Center of Cosmetology accumulate an average of around $10,495 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $136.

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The in-demand undergraduate certificate programs at The Beauty Institute-Ambler helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular cosmetology schools in Pennsylvania. Located in the suburb of Ambler, The Beauty Institute is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Of the 27 students majoring in cosmetology at The Beauty Institute, 7% are male and 93% are female.

On average, cosmetology graduates from The Beauty Institute take out $9,868 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $84, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Cosmetology at The Beauty Institute-Ambler

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Empire Beauty School-Wyoming Valley. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in the suburb of Moosic, Empire Beauty School-Wyoming Valley is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Wyoming Valley accumulate an average of around $11,517 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $80, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Wyoming Valley

#5

Metro Beauty Academy

Allentown, PA

The in-demand undergraduate certificate programs at Metro Beauty Academy helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular cosmetology schools in Pennsylvania. Metro Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Allentown.

The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Metro Beauty Academy take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $10,408. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $78, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Cosmetology at Metro Beauty Academy Report

Empire Beauty School-Harrisburg came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in the large suburb of Harrisburg, Empire Beauty School-Harrisburg is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

About 98% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 2% are male.

Cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Harrisburg take out an average of $11,307 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $77.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Harrisburg

Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia.

About 93% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 7% are male.

Cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia take out an average of $11,307 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $77.

Read More…

With a ranking of #8, Empire Beauty School-Reading did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the suburb of Reading, Empire Beauty School-Reading is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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

The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Reading take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $11,517. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $80, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Reading

#9

Barber School of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

Barber School of Pittsburgh landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the large city of Pittsburgh, Barber School of Pittsburgh is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Women make up 25% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

Cosmetology majors at Barber School of Pittsburgh take out an average of $11,404 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Barber School of Pittsburgh

Empire Beauty School-Springfield ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in Pennsylvania list. Empire Beauty School-Springfield is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Springfield.

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

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Springfield accumulate an average of around $11,904 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $80, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Springfield

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional popular schools for Cosmetology students in the state of Pennsylvania that almost earned our Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in Pennsylvania award.

Rank College Location
11 Empire Beauty School-Cheltenham Wyncote, PA
11 Great Lakes Institute of Technology Erie, PA

Best Cosmetology Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region

Explore all the Most Popular Cosmetology Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
New York 5,055
New Jersey 2,419
Maryland 1,103
Delaware 343
District of Columbia 160

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

Majors Similar to Cosmetology

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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