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Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California

2023 Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California

88 Colleges
$17,014 Avg Salary
$10,880 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate 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.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 88 schools in California to see which ones offered the best undergraduate certificate programs 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 Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California

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

Top 15% Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools

Our analysis found San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc to be the best school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a undergraduate certificate in California. Located in the city of San Francisco, SFIEC is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from SFIEC carry an average student debtload of $12,708. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $95.

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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means J D Academy of Salon and Spa is a great place for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. J D Academy of Salon and Spa is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Danville.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from J D Academy of Salon and Spa carry an average student debtload of $10,057. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $70.

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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Lytles Redwood Empire Beauty College Inc is a great place for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the suburb of Santa Rosa, Lytle's Beauty College is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Cosmetology majors at Lytle's Beauty College take out an average of $9,247 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $115.

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#4

Hilltop Beauty School

Daly City, CA

The excellent undergraduate certificate programs at Hilltop Beauty School helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in California. Located in the large suburb of Daly City, Hilltop Beauty School is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Cosmetology majors at Hilltop Beauty School take out an average of $7,219 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Full Cosmetology at Hilltop Beauty School Report

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Paul Mitchell the School Sacramento. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list. Located in the large suburb of Sacramento, Paul Mitchell the School Sacramento is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School Sacramento take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $11,975. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $72.

Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Sacramento Report

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#6

Cinta Aveda Institute

San Francisco, CA

With a ranking of #6, Cinta Aveda Institute did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the large city of San Francisco, Cinta Aveda Institute is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Cinta Aveda Institute carry an average student debtload of $13,781. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $102.

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#7

Hoss Lee Academy

Roseville, CA

With a ranking of #7, Hoss Lee Academy did quite well on this year’s best schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the large suburb of Roseville, Hoss Lee Academy is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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Academy for Salon Professionals did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #8 on the list. Academy for Salon Professionals is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Northridge.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Academy for Salon Professionals take out $10,665 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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The Salon Professional Academy - San Jose landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. TSPA - San Jose is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of San Jose.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at TSPA - San Jose accumulate an average of around $11,502 in student debt.

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#10

Aveda Institute - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

Aveda Institute - Los Angeles landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Aveda Institute - Los Angeles is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Los Angeles.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Aveda Institute - Los Angeles carry an average student debtload of $13,078. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $130.

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International College of Cosmetology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #11 on the list. International College of Cosmetology is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Oakland.

On average, cosmetology graduates from International College of Cosmetology take out $8,737 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

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#12

Paul Mitchell the School East Bay

Pleasant Hill, CA

Paul Mitchell the School East Bay came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California ranking. Paul Mitchell the School East Bay is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School East Bay accumulate an average of around $16,744 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $139, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Santa Monica landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Santa Monica is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Santa Monica accumulate an average of around $14,580 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $53, 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 Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
14 Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy Santa Fe Springs, CA
15 Bellus Academy - Poway Poway, CA
16 Citrus Heights Beauty College Citrus Heights, CA
17 Lu Ross Academy Ventura, CA

Best Cosmetology Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Cosmetology Colleges 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 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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