Find Trade Colleges

Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools

2023 Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools

773 Colleges

Finding the Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate School for You

In 2021-2022, 149,352 personal & culinary services students received their degrees and certificates, making the major the #2 most popular in the country.

Today's trade school students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. This report analyzed 773 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best basic certificate programs for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Schools in the United States

The colleges and universities below are the best for personal & culinary services majors pursuing a basic certificate.

Top 25 Top Trade Schools for an Award Taking Less Than 1 Year in Personal & Culinary Services

Our 2023 rankings named Institute of Culinary Education - Los Angeles the best school in the United States for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Located in the medium-sized city of Pasadena, Institute of Culinary Education - Los Angeles is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Institute of Culinary Education - Los Angeles

Request Information

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Institute of Culinary Education. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Institute of Culinary Education is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of New York.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Institute of Culinary Education

Request Information

The excellent basic certificate programs at University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best personal & culinary services schools in the United States. University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Chicago.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology Report

Request Information

The excellent basic certificate programs at San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best personal & culinary services schools in the United States. SFIEC is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco.

Read More…

Request Information

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Gary Manuel Aveda Institute is a great place for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. GMAI is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Seattle.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Gary Manuel Aveda Institute Report

Request Information

New York Institute of Beauty did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for personal & culinary services students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the suburb of Islandia, New York Institute of Beauty is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read More…

Request Information

Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate personal & culinary services programs. Located in the city of New York, Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read More…

Request Information

Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for personal & culinary services students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #8 on the list. Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Ashland.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics Report

Request Information

J D Academy of Salon and Spa landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best basic certificate personal & culinary services programs. Located in the suburb of Danville, J D Academy of Salon and Spa is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at J D Academy of Salon and Spa

Request Information

With a ranking of #10, Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett did quite well on this year’s best schools for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Located in the city of Everett, Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Evergreen Beauty and Barber College-Everett Report

Request Information

The Institute of Beauty and Wellness did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for personal & culinary services students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the city of Milwaukee, The Institute of Beauty and Wellness is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at The Institute of Beauty and Wellness Report

Request Information

With a ranking of #12, Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy did quite well on this year’s best schools for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Located in the city of Reston, DSI Academy is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read More…

Request Information

With a ranking of #13, Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics did quite well on this year’s best schools for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Woburn.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics

Request Information

Academy for Salon Professionals came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Northridge, Academy for Salon Professionals is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Academy for Salon Professionals Report

Request Information

Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy ranked #15 on this year’s Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the suburb of Medford, Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy

Request Information
#16

O'Briens Aveda Institute

Williston, VT

O’Briens Aveda Institute did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for personal & culinary services students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in the suburb of Williston, O'Briens Aveda Institute is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read More…

Request Information

Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for personal & culinary services students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the large city of New York, Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics Report

Request Information

The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo ranked #19 on this year’s Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the city of Fargo, TSPA - Fargo is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo

Request Information

New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools ranking. New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa is a small private for-profit school located in the city of white plains.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at New York School of Esthetics & Day Spa Report

Request Information

Aesthetic Science Institute ranked #21 on this year’s Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Latham, Aesthetic Science Institute is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Aesthetic Science Institute

Request Information
#22

Avenue Five Institute

Austin, TX

Avenue Five Institute did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for personal & culinary services students to get a basic certificate. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in the large city of Austin, Avenue Five Institute is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Personal & Culinary Services at Avenue Five Institute Report

Request Information
#23

Universal Spa Training Academy

Downers Grove, IL

With a ranking of #23, Universal Spa Training Academy did quite well on this year’s best schools for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Located in the suburb of Downers Grove, Universal Spa Training Academy is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Universal Spa Training Academy

Request Information

Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics ranked #24 on this year’s Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools list. Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Omaha.

Read More…

Request Information

With a ranking of #25, Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus did quite well on this year’s best schools for personal & culinary services students working on their basic certificate. Located in the city of Austin, Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Personal & Culinary Services at Avenue Five Institute - South Austin Campus

Request Information

Rest of the Top 50 Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools

#26

Spa Tech Institute-Westboro

Westborough, MA
#28

Medspa Academies

South Jordan, UT
#34

PCI Academy-Plymouth

Plymouth, MN
#35

Studio Academy of Beauty

Chandler, AZ
#39

Penrose Academy

Scottsdale, AZ
#40

Arizona Culinary Institute

Scottsdale, AZ
#41

G Skin & Beauty Institute

Schaumburg, IL
#42

Aveda Institute - Minneapolis

Minneapolis, MN
#43

Aveda Institute - Des Moines

West Des Moines, IA
#46

Aveda Institute Las Vegas

Las Vegas, NV
#47

Avi Career Training

Great Falls, VA
#48

Hoss Lee Academy

Roseville, CA
#49

Aveda Institute - New York

New York, NY

Additional Award Winners

This list represents the rest of the schools awarded a Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 773 different United States personal & culinary services schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
51 School Removed
52 Aveda Fredric’s Institute - Cincinnati West Chester, OH
53 PCI Academy-Ames Ames, IA
54 School Removed
55 Xenon International Academy-Omaha Omaha, NE
56 Aveda Institute Portland - Vancouver Campus Vancouver, WA
57 Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute Levittown, NY
58 Skin Science Institute Sandy, UT
59 Gould’s Academy Memphis, TN
60 The Chrysm Insitute of Esthetics Virginia Beach, VA
61 Stewart School Sioux Falls, SD
62 Cinta Aveda Institute San Francisco, CA
63 Lytles Redwood Empire Beauty College Inc Santa Rosa, CA
64 Aveda Institute - Tucson Tucson, AZ
65 Aveda Institute - Phoenix Tempe, AZ
66 Christine Valmy International School for Esthetics, Skin Care & Makeup New York, NY
67 Paul Mitchell the School Austin Austin, TX
68 The Salon Professional Academy - Onalaska Onalaska, WI
69 G Skin & Beauty Institute Oakbrook, IL
70 Cameo College of Essential Beauty Murray, UT
71 Nova Academy of Cosmetology Rochester, MN
72 Capilo School of Hair Design Augusta, ME
73 Aveda Institute - Portland Portland, OR
74 Florida Academy Fort Myers, FL
75 Christine Valmy International School of Esthetics & Cosmetology Pine Brook, NJ
76 Elevate Salon Institute - Westminster Westminster, CO
77 The Salon Professional Academy - San Jose San Jose, CA
78 Aveda Institute - Boise Boise, ID
79 ,
80 Academy of Massage and Bodywork Bear, DE
81 Black Hills Beauty College Rapid City, SD
82 Mandalyn Academy American Fork, UT
83 Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
84 Jupiter Beauty Academy Boston, MA
85 Elevate Salon Institute - Durham Durham, NC
86 School Removed
87 Estelle Skin Care and Spa Institute Skokie, IL
88 Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
89 Tint School of Makeup and Cosmetology-Irving Irving, TX
90 Aveda Institute - Columbus Columbus, OH
91 Capri College, Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids, IA
92 Pure Aesthetics Tucson, AZ
93 Arrojo Cosmetology School New York, NY
94 Josef’s School of Hair, Skin & Body-Fargo Fargo, ND
95 Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Libertyville Libertyville, IL
96 Summit Salon Academy - Tacoma Tacoma, WA
97 The Salon Professional Academy - Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO
98 Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder Boulder, CO
99 Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Elgin Elgin, IL
100 Acaydia School of Aesthetics Provo, UT
101 Bucks County School of Beauty Culture Inc Feasterville, PA
102 Summit Salon Academy - Tampa Tampa, FL
103 L’esprit Academy Canton, MI
104 The Salon Professional Academy - Tonawanda Tonawanda, NY
105 La James International College-Davenport Davenport, IA
106 American Institute of Beauty Largo, FL
107 Hilltop Beauty School Daly City, CA
108 Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy Santa Fe Springs, CA
109 Paul Mitchell the School Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO
110 EINE Inc Tewksbury, MA
111 Josef’s School of Hair, Skin & Body, Grand Forks Grand Forks, ND
112 El Centro College Dallas, TX
113 Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts & Sciences-Summerlin Las Vegas, NV
114 Cosmetology & Spa Academy Crystal Lake, IL
115 Shear Ego International School of Hair Design Rochester, NY

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools award.

Rank College Location
116 The Salon Professional Academy - Lewisville Lewisville, TX
117 New England Hair Academy Malden, MA
118 La James International College-Cedar Falls Cedar Falls, IA
119 Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork Lancaster, PA
120 Barber & Beauty Institute of New York Hempstead, NY
121 Michaels School of Hair Design and Esthetics - A Paul Mitchell Partner School Bedford, NH
122 Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI
123 The Salon Professional Academy - Evansville Evansville, IN
124 Innovate Salon Academy - Ewing Ewing, NJ
125 Boca Beauty Academy Boca Raton, FL
126 South Hills Beauty Academy Inc Pittsburgh, PA
127 Metro Technology Centers Oklahoma City, OK
128 DuVall’s School of Cosmetology Bedford, TX
129 Saint Paul College Saint Paul, MN
130 Cosmo Beauty Academy Sacramento, CA
131 Brown Aveda Institute - Strongsville Strongsville, OH
132 Capri College, Dubuque Dubuque, IA
133 Douglas J Aveda Institute East Lansing, MI
134 Davis Technical College Kaysville, UT
135 Innovate Salon Academy South Plainfield, NJ
136 Paul Mitchell the School Denver Lakewood, CO
137 The Salon Professional Academy - Appleton Appleton, WI
138 International Beauty Education Center Airway Heights, WA
139 Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Bridgeview Bridgeview, IL
140 Aveda Institute - Tallahassee Tallahassee, FL
141 Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Glendale Heights Glendale Heights, IL
142 Capri Institute of Hair Design, Paramus Paramus, NJ
143 Northwest College School of Beauty - Medford Medford, OR
144 Blake Austin College Vacaville, CA
145 Fountain of Youth Academy of Cosmetology Bellevue, PA
146 Summit Salon Academy - Perrysburg Perrysburg, OH
147 Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NW Chicago, IL
148 Empire Beauty School-Hooksett Hooksett, NH
149 Texas College of Cosmetology-Lubbock Lubbock, TX
150 Branford Academy of Hair and Cosmetology Branford, CT
151 Capri Cosmetology Learning Centers Nanuet, NY
152 Brown Aveda Institute - Mentor Mentor, OH
153 Paul Mitchell the School North Haven North Haven, CT
154 Metro Beauty Academy Allentown, PA

Personal & Culinary Services by Region

View the Best Personal & Culinary Services Basic Certificate Trade Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

Personal & Culinary Services Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Cosmetology 124,611
Culinary Arts 22,075
Funeral & Mortuary Science 2,186
Casino Operations and Services 385
Other Personal & Culinary Services 95

Majors Similar to Personal & Culinary Services

Related Major Annual Graduates
Mechanic & Repair Technologies 105,741
Precision Production 55,411
Construction Trades 40,802
Transportation & Materials Moving 33,306

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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 U.S. Army Europe Images.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Find Trade Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited trade schools across the U.S.