2023 Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Rocky Mountains 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.
Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. 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.
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 Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 60 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region to see which programs offered the best value experiences for cosmetology students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. 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.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Top 25 Best Rocky Mountains Region Schools for Affordable Quality in Cosmetology
Our 2023 rankings named Pickens Technical College the best value school in the Rocky Mountains Region for cosmetology students. Located in the large city of Aurora, Pickens Technical College is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Pickens Technical College are $8,830 a year. After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Pickens Technical College carry an average student debtload of $9,347.
Full Cosmetology at Pickens Technical College Report
Request Information
Out of the 60 schools in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, IBMC College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the city of Fort Collins, IBMC is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at IBMC are $14,580 per year. On average, cosmetology graduates from IBMC take out $10,457 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $53.
Read full report on Cosmetology at IBMC College
Request Information
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Trinidad State Junior College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Trinidad State Junior College is a small public school located in the town of Trinidad.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Trinidad State Junior College are $6,631 a year.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Trinidad State Junior College
Request Information
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Arapahoe Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Arapahoe Community College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Littleton.
Arapahoe Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $15,502 in tuition and fees each year.
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Idaho State University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in the city of Pocatello, ISU is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at ISU are $25,326 per year. Cosmetology majors at ISU take out an average of $8,695 in student loans while working on their egree.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Idaho State University
Request Information
With a ranking of #6, Aveda Institute - Provo did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students. Aveda Institute - Provo is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Provo.
On average, cosmetology graduates from Aveda Institute - Provo take out $10,216 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Provo Report
Request Information
Paul Mitchell the School Twin Falls ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in the town of Twin Falls, Paul Mitchell the School Twin Falls is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School Twin Falls accumulate an average of around $14,750 in student debt.
Request Information
Skinworks School of Advanced Skincare did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #6 on the list. Skinworks School & Spa of Advanced Skincare is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Salt Lake City.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Skinworks School & Spa of Advanced Skincare take out is $7,667.
Full Cosmetology at Skinworks School of Advanced Skincare Report
Request Information
American Beauty Academy landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. Located in the large suburb of Payson, American Beauty Academy is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
On average, cosmetology graduates from American Beauty Academy take out $9,500 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Cosmetology at American Beauty Academy Report
Request Information
Mr Leon’s School of Hair Design-Lewiston did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the small city of Lewiston, Mr Leon's School of Hair Design-Lewiston is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Cosmetology majors at Mr Leon's School of Hair Design-Lewiston take out an average of $15,500 in student loans while working on their egree.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Mr Leon’s School of Hair Design-Lewiston
Request Information
With a ranking of #6, Paul Mitchell the School Rexburg did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students. Located in the town of Rexburg, Paul Mitchell the School Rexburg is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell the School Rexburg carry an average student debtload of $12,000.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Rexburg
Request Information
Empire Beauty School-Littleton ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Empire Beauty School-Littleton is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Littleton.
Cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Littleton take out an average of $10,667 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $41, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Littleton
Request Information
The Salon Professional Academy ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. TSPA - Nampa is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the midsize suburb of Nampa.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at TSPA - Nampa take out is $12,000.
Request Information
Paul Mitchell the School Logan landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. Located in the small city of Logan, Paul Mitchell the School Logan is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell the School Logan carry an average student debtload of $10,556.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Logan
Request Information
Emily Griffith Technical College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in the large city of Denver, Emily Griffith is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Emily Griffith carry an average student debtload of $10,954.
Request Information
Paul Mitchell the School Boise ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Paul Mitchell the School Boise is a small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Boise.
While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School Boise accumulate an average of around $12,000 in student debt.
Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Boise Report
Request Information
Ogden-Weber Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #6 on the list. Ogden-Weber Tech College is a small public school located in the city of Ogden.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Ogden-Weber Tech College take out is $7,581.
Full Cosmetology at Ogden-Weber Technical College Report
Request Information
Elevate Salon Institute - Westminster did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Elevate Salon Institute - Westminster is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Elevate Salon Institute - Westminster take out is $14,250.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Elevate Salon Institute - Westminster
Request Information
Xenon International Academy-Denver ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Located in the city of Aurora, Xenon International School of Hair Design is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Xenon International School of Hair Design carry an average student debtload of $12,000.
Read full report on Cosmetology at Xenon International Academy-Denver
Request Information
Butte Academy of Beauty Culture ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Butte Academy of Beauty is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Butte.
Cosmetology majors at Butte Academy of Beauty take out an average of $9,500 in student loans while working on their egree.
Request Information
Evans Hairstyling College-Rexburg came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Evans Hairstyling College-Rexburg is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg.
While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Evans Hairstyling College-Rexburg accumulate an average of around $9,294 in student debt.
Request Information
With a ranking of #6, American Beauty Academy - West Valley Campus did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students. American Beauty Academy - West Valley Campus is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of West Valley City.
Cosmetology majors at American Beauty Academy - West Valley Campus take out an average of $9,500 in student loans while working on their egree.
Request Information
Medspa Academies came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. National Institute of Medical Aesthetics is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of South Jordan.
After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from National Institute of Medical Aesthetics carry an average student debtload of $12,125.
Request Information
With a ranking of #6, The Barber School did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students. The Barber School is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Midvale.
Cosmetology majors at The Barber School take out an average of $7,200 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full Cosmetology at The Barber School Report
Request Information
Academy of Cosmetology came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in the remote town of Bozeman, Academy of Cosmetology is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Academy of Cosmetology carry an average student debtload of $7,607.
Full Cosmetology at Academy of Cosmetology Report
Request InformationBest Cosmetology Colleges by State
Explore the best cosmetology schools for a specific state in the Rocky Mountains region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Colorado | 15 |
| Utah | 21 |
| Wyoming | 22 |
More Cosmetology Rankings in the Rocky Mountains Region
Majors Related to Cosmetology
One of 4 majors within the area of study, cosmetology has other similar majors worth exploring.
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 60 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.