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Best Cosmetology Associate Degree Schools in California

2023 Best Cosmetology Associate Degree Schools in California

6 Colleges
$16,507 Avg Salary
$15,151 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology Associate Degree School for You

Cosmetology is the #190 most popular major in California with 196 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Cosmetology Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 6 schools in California to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school is, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Cosmetology Associate Degree Schools in California

Check out the cosmetology associate degree programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top California Schools for an Associate in Cosmetology

#1

Cerritos College

Norwalk, CA

Our 2023 rankings named Cerritos College the best school in California for cosmetology students working on their associate degree. Cerritos College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Norwalk.

Full Cosmetology at Cerritos College Report

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#2

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Riverside City College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Cosmetology Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a public school with a large student population.

Full Cosmetology at Riverside City College Report

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#3

Citrus College

Glendora, CA

Out of the 6 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Citrus College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Citrus College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Glendora.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Citrus College

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#4

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, CA

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Golden West College is a great place for cosmetology students working on their associate degree. Located in the large suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a public school with a large student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Golden West College

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Los Angeles Trade Technical College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Associate Degree Schools in California list. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the large city of Los Angeles.

Full Cosmetology at Los Angeles Trade Technical College Report

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#6

San Diego City College

San Diego, CA

San Diego City College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego City College is a public school with a large student population.

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Best Cosmetology Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Cosmetology Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 152
Oregon 11
Hawaii 20

Cosmetology is one of 4 different types of programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Culinary Arts 19,806
Funeral & Mortuary Science 2,354
Casino Operations and Services 192
Other Personal & Culinary Services 81

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 6 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 Tiffany Bumgardner.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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