2023 Best Cosmetology Schools in North Carolina
Finding the Best Cosmetology School for You
In 2020-2021, 193 degrees and certificates were awarded to cosmetology students who went to a North Carolina college or university. This makes it the #108 most popular major in the state.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Cosmetology Schools in North Carolina ranking. Our analysis looked at 30 schools in North Carolina to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Cosmetology Schools in North Carolina
The following schools top our list of the Best Cosmetology Colleges.
Top 10 Best Cosmetology Schools
Our analysis found Paul Mitchell the School Raleigh to be the best school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a degree in North Carolina. Located in the large city of Raleigh, Paul Mitchell the School Raleigh is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
On average, cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell the School Raleigh take out $16,500 in student loans while working on their degree.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Cosmetology Schools in North Carolina list. Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Chapel Hill.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill take out is $11,667. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $126.
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Elevate Salon Institute - Durham is a great place for cosmetology students. Elevate Salon Institute - Durham is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Durham.
Cosmetology majors at Elevate Salon Institute - Durham take out an average of $10,141 in student loans while working on their egree.
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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Mitchell’s Academy - Raleigh is a great place for cosmetology students. Located in the medium-sized city of Raleigh, Mitchell's Academy is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Cosmetology majors at Mitchell's Academy take out an average of $6,612 in student loans while working on their egree.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pinnacle Institute of Cosmetology. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Cosmetology Schools in North Carolina list. Located in the suburb of Mooresville, Pinnacle Institute of Cosmetology is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Pinnacle Institute of Cosmetology take out is $16,500.
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Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best cosmetology programs. Located in the small city of Greenville, Alexander Paul Institute is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
Cosmetology majors at Alexander Paul Institute take out an average of $9,027 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Mitchell’s Academy - Wilson did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the fringe town of Wilson, Mitchell's Academy is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
Cosmetology majors at Mitchell's Academy take out an average of $6,612 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Empire Beauty School-Pineville landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best cosmetology programs. Empire Beauty School-Pineville is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Charlotte.
After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School-Pineville carry an average student debtload of $14,561. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $73, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #9, Empire Beauty School-West Greensboro did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students. Located in the city of Greensboro, Empire Beauty School-West Greensboro is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-West Greensboro take out an average of $14,506 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $73, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Paul Mitchell the School Fayetteville came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Schools in North Carolina ranking. Paul Mitchell the School Fayetteville is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Fayetteville.
Cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School Fayetteville take out an average of $13,833 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $75, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Request InformationBest Cosmetology Colleges in the Southeast Region
Explore all the Best Cosmetology Schools in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | 0 |
| Arkansas | 1 |
| Alabama | 110 |
| Mississippi | 26 |
More Cosmetology Rankings in North Carolina
Cosmetology Related Rankings by Major
Cosmetology is one of 4 different types of programs to choose from.
Most Popular Majors Related to Cosmetology
| 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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