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Best Value Cosmetology Schools in Colorado

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2023 Best Value Cosmetology Schools in Colorado

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

19 Colleges
$4,395 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$19,779 Avg Salary

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.

2023 Best Value Cosmetology Schools in Colorado

Check out the cosmetology programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.

Top 10 Best Cosmetology Schools

$4,930 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Pickens Technical College to be the best value school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a degree in Colorado. Pickens Technical College is a 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.

Read More…

#2

Arapahoe Community College

Littleton, CO
$4,080 Average Tuition & Fees

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 large student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Arapahoe Community College are $4,080 per year.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Arapahoe Community College

$4,176 Average Tuition & Fees

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 Colorado list. Located in the town of Trinidad, Trinidad State Junior College is a public college with a small student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Trinidad State Junior College are $4,176 per year.

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#4

IBMC College

Fort Collins, CO
$14,580 Average Tuition & Fees

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 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 Intellitec College - Grand Junction. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in Colorado list. Located in the small city of Grand Junction, Intellitec College - Grand Junction is a private for-profit school 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.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Intellitec College - Grand Junction

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.

Full Cosmetology at Elevate Salon Institute - Westminster Report

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Empire Beauty School-Thornton is a great value for cosmetology students. Located in the large suburb of Thornton, Empire Beauty School-Thornton is a private for-profit college with a fairly 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.

Full Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Thornton Report

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Colorado Springs is a great value for cosmetology students. Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Colorado Springs is a small private for-profit school located in the large 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

Out of the 19 schools in Colorado that were part of this year’s ranking, Empire Beauty School-Littleton landed the # 5 spot on the list. 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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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 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.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Aveda Institute - Denver

Best 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

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.

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