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Best Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region

2023 Best Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region

69 Colleges
$19,720 Avg Salary
$11,462 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology School for You

Cosmetology is the #229 most popular major in the country with 107,895 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. 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.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 69 schools in the Plains States Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Cosmetology Colleges.

Top 10 Best Cosmetology Schools

#1

Hastings Beauty School

Hastings, MN

Our 2023 rankings named Hastings Beauty School the best school in the Plains States Region for cosmetology students. Hastings Beauty School is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Hastings.

Cosmetology majors at Hastings Beauty School take out an average of $10,846 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#2

The Hair Academy

Bismarck, ND

The excellent programs at The Hair Academy helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the Plains States Region . The Hair Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Bismarck.

While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at The Hair Academy accumulate an average of around $14,067 in student debt.

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Out of the 69 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo landed the # 3 spot on the list. TSPA - Fargo is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Fargo.

The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at TSPA - Fargo take out is $12,000.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the city of Omaha, Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics accumulate an average of around $9,500 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $72.

Full Cosmetology at Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics Report

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The excellent programs at Minnesota School of Cosmetology-Woodbury Campus helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the Plains States Region . Minnesota School of Cosmetology-Woodbury Campus is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of WOODBURY.

After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Minnesota School of Cosmetology-Woodbury Campus carry an average student debtload of $10,988. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $86, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Paul Mitchell the School St Louis landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best cosmetology programs. Paul Mitchell the School St Louis is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of St. Louis.

While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School St Louis accumulate an average of around $11,000 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $116, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#7

Aveda Institute - Des Moines

West Des Moines, IA

Aveda Institute - Des Moines 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 city of West Des Moines, Aveda Institute - Des Moines is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Aveda Institute - Des Moines carry an average student debtload of $12,083. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $100.

Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Des Moines Report

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#8

Aveda Institute - Minneapolis

Minneapolis, MN

Aveda Institute - Minneapolis landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best cosmetology programs. Aveda Institute - Minneapolis is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis.

After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Aveda Institute - Minneapolis carry an average student debtload of $10,194. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $102, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Minneapolis Report

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#9

PCI Academy-Plymouth

Plymouth, MN

PCI Academy-Plymouth came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the small city of Plymouth, PCI Academy-Plymouth is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Cosmetology majors at PCI Academy-Plymouth take out an average of $12,000 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $87.

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#10

Nova Academy of Cosmetology

Rochester, MN

Nova Academy of Cosmetology came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the city of Rochester, Nova Academy of Cosmetology is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Nova Academy of Cosmetology take out is $10,200. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $88, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region award.

Rank College Location
11 Stewart School Sioux Falls, SD
12 Mitsu Sato Hair Academy Overland Park, KS
13 Paul Mitchell the School Overland Park Overland Park, KS

Best Cosmetology Colleges by State

Explore the best cosmetology colleges for a specific state in the Plains States region.

State Degrees Awarded
Minnesota 23
Kansas 51
Iowa 6

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 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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