2023 Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Cosmetology School for You
Out of all the majors we analyze each year, cosmetology was ranked #229 in the country. In fact 107,895 degrees and certificates were handed out 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.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This report analyzed 157 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best value 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. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Top 25 Best Great Lakes Region Schools for Affordable Quality in Cosmetology
Our analysis found Chippewa Valley Technical College to be the best value school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a degree in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the city of Eau Claire, CVTC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at CVTC are $6,683 per year. While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at CVTC accumulate an average of around $9,395 in student debt.
CVTC also claimed a spot on our Best Cosmetology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Waukesha County Technical College is a great value for cosmetology students. Located in the large suburb of Pewaukee, WCTC is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCTC are $6,603 per year. On average, cosmetology graduates from WCTC take out $8,100 in student loans while working on their degree.
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The excellent programs at Madison Area Technical College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the city of Madison, Madison College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Madison College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,769 in tuition and fees each year. On average, cosmetology graduates from Madison College take out $8,250 in student loans while working on their degree.
Madison College also claimed a spot on our Best Cosmetology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Mid-State Technical College is a great value for cosmetology students. Located in the rural area of Wisconsin Rapids, Mid-State is a public college with a small student population.
Mid-State undergraduate students pay an average of $6,351 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Mid-State carry an average student debtload of $5,250.
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Out of the 157 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College landed the # 5 spot on the list. WITC is a small public school located in the rural area of Shell Lake.
WITC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,960 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at WITC accumulate an average of around $5,500 in student debt.
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Gateway Technical College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Gateway Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Kenosha.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Gateway Technical College are $6,803 a year. Cosmetology majors at Gateway Technical College take out an average of $9,500 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Oakland Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. Located in the large suburb of Bloomfield Hills, Oakland Community College is a public college with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Oakland Community College are $5,200 a year.
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Fox Valley Technical College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. FVTC is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Appleton.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FVTC are $6,861 per year.
FVTC also claimed a spot on our Best Cosmetology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
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Milwaukee Area Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #9 on the list. MATC is a large public school located in the large city of Milwaukee.
MATC undergraduate students pay an average of $6,908 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from MATC carry an average student debtload of $9,432.
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Schoolcraft College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Schoolcraft College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,574 in tuition and fees each year.
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Lake Land College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. Lake Land College is a small public school located in the town of Mattoon.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Lake Land College are $13,906 per year. While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Lake Land College accumulate an average of around $4,550 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #12, Remington College - Cleveland Campus did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students. Remington College - Cleveland Campus is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Cleveland.
Remington College - Cleveland Campus undergraduate students pay an average of $17,919 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Remington College - Cleveland Campus take out is $14,750. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $48.
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Northern Michigan University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. Northern Michigan University is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Marquette.
Northern Michigan University undergraduate students pay an average of $18,828 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Northern Michigan University accumulate an average of around $9,625 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #14, Vincennes University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students. Located in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Vincennes University undergraduate students pay an average of $15,253 in tuition and fees each year.
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With a ranking of #15, City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students. Located in the city of Chicago, Harry S Truman College is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Harry S Truman College are $14,430 per year. While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Harry S Truman College accumulate an average of around $22,237 in student debt.
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Dorsey College, Roseville ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Roseville, Dorsey College, Roseville is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
Dorsey College, Roseville undergraduate students pay an average of $31,680 in tuition and fees each year. Cosmetology majors at Dorsey College, Roseville take out an average of $16,500 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Professional’s Choice Hair Design Academy ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large suburb of Joliet, Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy take out is $9,805.
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Paul Mitchell the School Columbus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #17 on the list. Paul Mitchell the School Columbus is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Columbus.
On average, cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell the School Columbus take out $14,210 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $97.
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Paul Mitchell the School Chicago landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. Paul Mitchell the School Chicago is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.
Cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School Chicago take out an average of $13,833 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $122.
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Empire Beauty School-Stone Park landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. Empire Beauty School-Stone Park is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Stone Park.
Cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Stone Park take out an average of $14,506 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $73.
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First Class Cosmetology School did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the small city of Beloit, First Class Cosmetology School is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from First Class Cosmetology School carry an average student debtload of $10,194.
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Paul Mitchell the School Grand Rapids landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. Located in the city of Kentwood, Paul Mitchell the School Grand Rapids is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School Grand Rapids take out is $9,833.
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Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture Inc-Brunswick landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. Located in the suburb of Brunswick, Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Inc-Brunswick is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Inc-Brunswick carry an average student debtload of $11,000.
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Twin City Beauty College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the small suburb of Saint Joseph, Twin City Beauty College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
On average, cosmetology graduates from Twin City Beauty College take out $9,500 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $74.
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Hair Professionals Career College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. Hair Professionals Career College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Palos Hills.
Cosmetology majors at Hair Professionals Career College take out an average of $12,446 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Request InformationBest Cosmetology Colleges by State
Explore the best cosmetology colleges for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 6 |
| Ohio | 15 |
| Illinois | 19 |
| Indiana | 8 |
| Wisconsin | 6 |
More Cosmetology Rankings in the Great Lakes Region
Majors Related to Cosmetology
One of 4 majors within the area of study, cosmetology has other similar majors worth exploring.
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 157 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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