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Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in Virginia

2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in Virginia

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

Finding the Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate 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 help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in Virginia ranking. Our analysis looked at 18 schools in Virginia 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.

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

Our analysis found Rudy & Kelly Academy - A Paul Mitchell Partner School to be the most popular school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a undergraduate certificate in Virginia. Rudy & Kelly Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach.

Of the 98 students majoring in cosmetology at Rudy & Kelly Academy, 5% are male and 95% are female.

The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Rudy & Kelly Academy take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $12,525. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $115.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Paul Mitchell the School Mclean. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in Virginia list. Paul Mitchell the School Mclean is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of McLean.

About 94% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 6% are male.

Cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School Mclean take out an average of $11,987 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $94.

Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Mclean Report

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The in-demand undergraduate certificate programs at Paul Mitchell the School Woodbridge helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular cosmetology schools in Virginia. Paul Mitchell the School Woodbridge is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Woodbridge.

About 92% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 8% are male.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell the School Woodbridge carry an average student debt load of $11,987. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $94.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Paul Mitchell the School Roanoke. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in Virginia list. Located in the city of Roanoke, Paul Mitchell the School Roanoke is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Of the 47 students majoring in cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Roanoke, 4% are male and 96% are female.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School Roanoke accumulate an average of around $12,705 in student debt.

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The in-demand undergraduate certificate programs at Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular cosmetology schools in Virginia. Sylvain Melloul Int'l Hair Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Lynchburg.

Women make up 83% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

Cosmetology majors at Sylvain Melloul Int'l Hair Academy take out an average of $8,846 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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Virginia School of Hair Design 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 #6 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Hampton, Virginia School of Hair Design is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Women make up 68% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

Full Cosmetology at Virginia School of Hair Design Report

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Empire Beauty School-Virginia Beach ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in Virginia list. Located in the large city of Virginia Beach, Empire Beauty School-Virginia Beach is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Of the 49 students majoring in cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Virginia Beach, 6% are male and 94% are female.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Virginia Beach accumulate an average of around $12,906 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $81.

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Empire Beauty School-Richmond ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Trade Schools in Virginia list. Empire Beauty School-Richmond is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Richmond.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School-Richmond carry an average student debt load of $11,517. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $80.

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With a ranking of #9, Another Level Barbering and Cosmetology School did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Another Level Barbering and Cosmetology School is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Petersburg.

Women make up 57% of the cosmetology majors at the school.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Another Level Barbering and Cosmetology School accumulate an average of around $10,017 in student debt.

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With a ranking of #10, Empire Beauty School-Midlothian did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Empire Beauty School-Midlothian is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Midlothian.

About 92% of the students majoring in cosmetology at the school are women while 8% are male.

The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Midlothian take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $11,517. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $80.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Midlothian

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Best Cosmetology Colleges in the Southeast Region

Explore all the Most Popular Cosmetology Colleges 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 18 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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