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Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in North Carolina

2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in North Carolina

72 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 ranked 4th in North Carolina. In fact, 2,549 were awarded in the state in 2021-2022.

With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best 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 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 North Carolina ranking. Our analysis looked at 72 schools in North Carolina to see which undergraduate certificate programs were the most popular 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

Health and Style Institute

Greensboro, NC

Our 2023 rankings named Health and Style Institute the most popular school in North Carolina for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Health and Style Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Greensboro.

About 99% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 1% are male.

Cosmetology majors at Health and Style Institute take out an average of $9,115 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 $98.

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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Paul Mitchell the School Gastonia is a great place for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the small city of Gastonia, Paul Mitchell the School Gastonia is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

About 97% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 3% are male.

For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $123.

Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Gastonia Report

#3

Leons Beauty School Inc

Greensboro, NC

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Leons Beauty School Inc. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in North Carolina list. Leons Beauty School Inc is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Greensboro.

Women make up 97% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

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The in-demand undergraduate certificate programs at Paul Mitchell the School Raleigh helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular cosmetology schools in North Carolina. Located in the large city of Raleigh, Paul Mitchell the School Raleigh is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Of the 74 students majoring in cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Raleigh, 3% are male and 97% are female.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell the School Raleigh take out $12,565 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Paul Mitchell the School Fayetteville. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in North Carolina list. Paul Mitchell the School Fayetteville is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Fayetteville.

About 95% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 5% are male.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School Fayetteville accumulate an average of around $11,997 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $93.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Fayetteville

#6

Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC

Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Chapel Hill.

About 95% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 5% are male.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill take out $9,150 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $146.

Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill Report

#7

Winston Salem Barber School

Winston-Salem, NC

Winston Salem Barber School ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in North Carolina list. Located in the midsize city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem Barber School is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Of the 76 students majoring in cosmetology at Winston Salem Barber School, 89% are male and 11% are female.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Winston Salem Barber School

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in North Carolina ranking. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Salisbury.

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

Of the 38 students majoring in cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-West Greensboro, 8% are male and 92% are female.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School-West Greensboro take out $12,906 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $81.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-West Greensboro

With a ranking of #10, Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the small city of Greenville, Alexander Paul Institute is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Cosmetology at Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design Report

Additional Noteworthy Schools

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

Rank College Location
11 Empire Beauty School-Pineville Charlotte, NC
11 Empire Beauty School-Charlotte Charlotte, NC
13 Cape Fear Community College Wilmington, NC
14 Empire Beauty School-Concord Concord, NC

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
Florida 10,801
West Virginia 377
Louisiana 3,726
Virginia 1,085
Alabama 821
Kentucky 1,003
Tennessee 2,270
Mississippi 872

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

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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