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Best Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania

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2023 Best Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania

42 Colleges
$17,196 Avg Salary
$11,958 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology School for You

Cosmetology is the #214 most popular major in Pennsylvania with 60 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

The Best Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 42 schools in Pennsylvania to see which ones offered the best programs for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania

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

Top 10 Best Cosmetology Schools

#1

Bella Capelli Academy

Monroeville, PA

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

On average, cosmetology graduates from Bella Capelli Academy a Paul Mitchell partner school take out $8,028 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $103, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Cosmetology at Bella Capelli Academy Report

Out of the 42 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Bucks County School of Beauty Culture Inc landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the large suburb of Feasterville, Bucks County School of Beauty Culture Inc is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Bucks County School of Beauty Culture Inc carry an average student debtload of $10,409.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Bucks County School of Beauty Culture Inc

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania list. Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lancaster.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork take out $6,986 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Cosmetology at Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Hills Beauty Academy Inc. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in the suburb of Pittsburgh, South Hills Beauty Academy Inc is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Cosmetology majors at South Hills Beauty Academy Inc take out an average of $7,486 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $53.

Read More…

#5

Metro Beauty Academy

Allentown, PA

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Metro Beauty Academy is a great place for cosmetology students. Metro Beauty Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Allentown.

After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Metro Beauty Academy carry an average student debtload of $13,530. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $127.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Metro Beauty Academy

Empire Beauty School-North Hills ranked #6 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania list. Empire Beauty School-North Hills is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Pittsburgh.

Cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-North Hills take out an average of $13,502 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $77.

Read More…

Empire Beauty School-Lebanon did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #7 on the list. Empire Beauty School-Lebanon is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lebanon.

After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School-Lebanon carry an average student debtload of $13,502. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $77.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Lebanon

Fountain of Youth Academy of Cosmetology landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best cosmetology programs. Located in the suburb of Mars, Fountain of Youth Academy of Cosmetology is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Fountain of Youth Academy of Cosmetology take out is $13,583.

Full Cosmetology at Fountain of Youth Academy of Cosmetology Report

Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #9 on the list. Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia.

The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia take out is $13,502. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $77.

Read More…

Empire Beauty School-Harrisburg came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in the large suburb of Harrisburg, Empire Beauty School-Harrisburg is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School-Harrisburg take out $13,502 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $77.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Harrisburg

Best Cosmetology Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region

Explore all the Best Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded

More Cosmetology Rankings in Pennsylvania

One of 4 majors within the area of study, cosmetology has other similar majors worth exploring.

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 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 Tiffany Bumgardner.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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