2023 Best Value Cosmetology Associate Degree Schools in California
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
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.
The Best Value Cosmetology Associate Degree Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 6 schools in California to see which ones offered the best value associate degree programs for cosmetology students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Best California Schools for Affordable Quality for an Associate in Cosmetology
Our 2023 rankings named Cerritos College the best value school in California for cosmetology students working on their associate degree. Cerritos College is a large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk.
In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cerritos College are $1,346 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Cerritos College also is in the top 20% of our Best Cosmetology Associate Degree Schools in California ranking.
Full Cosmetology at Cerritos College Report
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Riverside City College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in the large city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Riverside City College are $1,420 a year.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Citrus College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Associate Degree Schools in California list. Citrus College is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Glendora.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Citrus College are $1,196 a year.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Golden West College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in the large suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a public school with a large student population.
Golden West College undergraduate students pay an average of $1,186 in in-state tuition and fees each year.
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a great value for cosmetology students working on their associate degree. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Los Angeles.
In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Los Angeles Trade Technical College are $1,238 per year.
Full Cosmetology at Los Angeles Trade Technical College Report
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San Diego City College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in the large city of San Diego, San Diego City College is a public school with a large student population.
San Diego City College undergraduate students pay an average of $1,144 in in-state tuition and fees each year.
Request InformationBest Value Cosmetology Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Best Value Cosmetology Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Washington | 152 |
| Oregon | 11 |
| Hawaii | 20 |
More Cosmetology Rankings in California
Cosmetology Related Majors for Cosmetology
Cosmetology is one of 4 different types of programs to choose from.
Most Popular Related Majors
| 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.
- 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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