2023 Best Value Cosmetology Schools in Colorado
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Cosmetology School for You
Cosmetology is the #206 most popular major in Colorado with 15 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best 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.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Cosmetology Schools in Colorado ranking. This report analyzed 19 schools in Colorado 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.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. 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.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 10 Best Cosmetology Schools
Our 2023 rankings named Pickens Technical College the best value school in Colorado for cosmetology students. Pickens Technical College is a fairly small public school located in the large city of Aurora.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Pickens Technical College are $4,930 a year. After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Pickens Technical College carry an average student debtload of $9,347.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Arapahoe Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Schools in Colorado list. Located in the large suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Arapahoe Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,080 in in-state tuition and fees each year.
Full Cosmetology at Arapahoe Community College Report
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Trinidad State Junior College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in Colorado list. Located in the remote town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Trinidad State Junior College are $4,176 a year.
Full Cosmetology at Trinidad State Junior College Report
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Out of the 19 schools in Colorado that were part of this year’s ranking, IBMC College landed the # 4 spot on the list. IBMC is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Fort Collins.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at IBMC are $14,580 a 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.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Aveda Institute - Denver. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in Colorado list. Aveda Institute - Denver is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Denver.
While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Aveda Institute - Denver accumulate an average of around $12,000 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $80, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Denver Report
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Elevate Salon Institute - Westminster is a great value for cosmetology students. Elevate Salon Institute - Westminster is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Westminster.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Elevate Salon Institute - Westminster take out is $14,250.
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Out of the 19 schools in Colorado that were part of this year’s ranking, Empire Beauty School-Thornton landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Thornton, Empire Beauty School-Thornton is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School-Thornton carry an average student debtload of $14,477. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $65.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Colorado Springs. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in Colorado list. Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Colorado Springs is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs.
Cosmetology majors at Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Colorado Springs take out an average of $14,167 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full Cosmetology at Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Colorado Springs Report
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Empire Beauty School-Littleton is a great value for cosmetology students. Located in the large suburb of Littleton, Empire Beauty School-Littleton is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
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.
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The excellent programs at Intellitec College - Grand Junction helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in Colorado. Located in the small city of Grand Junction, Intellitec College - Grand Junction is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
On average, cosmetology graduates from Intellitec College - Grand Junction take out $15,835 in student loans while working on their degree.
Request InformationBest Value Cosmetology Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region
Explore all the Best Value Cosmetology Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Utah | 21 |
| Wyoming | 22 |
More Cosmetology Rankings in Colorado
Cosmetology Related Majors for Cosmetology
Cosmetology is one of 4 different types of programs to choose from.
Majors Similar 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 19 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.