2023 Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Cosmetology School for You
Cosmetology is the #229 most popular major in the country with 107,895 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right 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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This report analyzed 69 schools in the Plains States 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.
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. 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.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 25 Best Plains States Region Schools for Affordable Quality in Cosmetology
Our 2023 rankings named Saint Paul College the best value school in the Plains States Region for cosmetology students. Located in the large city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Saint Paul College are $6,041 per year. While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Saint Paul College accumulate an average of around $13,098 in student debt.
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The excellent programs at Johnson County Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the Plains States Region . JCCC is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Overland Park.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at JCCC are $5,352 per year. While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at JCCC accumulate an average of around $5,546 in student debt.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Ridgewater College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a public school with a small student population.
Ridgewater College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,914 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Ridgewater College accumulate an average of around $9,500 in student debt.
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Out of the 69 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Lake Area Technical Institute landed the # 4 spot on the list. LATI is a small public school located in the remote town of Watertown.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LATI are $6,718 per year. Cosmetology majors at LATI take out an average of $12,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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The excellent programs at Kansas City Kansas Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in the Plains States Region . Kansas City Kansas Community College is a small public school located in the city of Kansas City.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Kansas City Kansas Community College are $6,510 per year. Cosmetology majors at Kansas City Kansas Community College take out an average of $8,786 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Wisconsin Academy a Paul Mitchell Partner Group-PMTS Lincoln ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the city of Lincoln, Wisconsin Academy is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Cosmetology majors at Wisconsin Academy take out an average of $15,044 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the city of Omaha, Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Capitol School of Hairstyling and Esthetics accumulate an average of around $9,500 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $72.
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The Hair Academy did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #6 on the list. The Hair Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Bismarck.
While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at The Hair Academy accumulate an average of around $14,067 in student debt.
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PCI Academy-Ames did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #6 on the list. PCI Academy-Ames is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Ames.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at PCI Academy-Ames take out is $12,000. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $87.
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Nova Academy of Cosmetology 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 midsize city of Rochester, Nova Academy of Cosmetology is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Nova Academy of Cosmetology take out is $10,200. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $88, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Neosho Beauty College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. Located in the town of Neosho, Neosho Beauty College is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Neosho Beauty College take out is $9,071.
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Empire Beauty School-Bloomington ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region list. Empire Beauty School-Bloomington is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of Bloomington.
While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Bloomington accumulate an average of around $14,194 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.
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With a ranking of #6, Paul Mitchell the School Springfield did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students. Located in the medium-sized city of Springfield, Paul Mitchell the School Springfield is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School Springfield take out is $9,833. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $78.
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House of Heavilin Beauty College-Raymore did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #6 on the list. House of Heavilin Beauty College-Raymore is a small private for-profit school located in the rural area of Raymore.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at House of Heavilin Beauty College-Raymore take out is $10,121.
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Merrell University of Beauty Arts and Science came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Merrell University of Beauty Arts and Science is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Jefferson City.
After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Merrell University of Beauty Arts and Science carry an average student debtload of $10,725.
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Paul Mitchell the School Overland Park landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value cosmetology programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Overland Park, Paul Mitchell the School Overland Park is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell the School Overland Park carry an average student debtload of $14,689. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $98.
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Capri College, Dubuque did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #6 on the list. Capri College, Dubuque is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Dubuque.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Capri College, Dubuque take out is $10,940. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $67.
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Hastings Beauty School came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Hastings Beauty School is a small private for-profit school located in the town of Hastings.
Cosmetology majors at Hastings Beauty School take out an average of $10,846 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #6, La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students. LaJames College is a small private for-profit school located in the remote town of Mason City.
Cosmetology majors at LaJames College take out an average of $8,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #6, Paul Mitchell the School St Louis did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students. Paul Mitchell the School St Louis is a small private for-profit school located in the city of St. Louis.
While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School St Louis accumulate an average of around $11,000 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $116, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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House of Heavilin Beauty College-Blue Springs did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #6 on the list. House of Heavilin Beauty College-Blue Springs is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Blue Springs.
After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from House of Heavilin Beauty College-Blue Springs carry an average student debtload of $8,917. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $74, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #6, La James International College-Cedar Falls did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students. Located in the small city of Cedar Falls, La James International College-Cedar Falls is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
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Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #6 on the list. Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the town of Spirit Lake.
While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake accumulate an average of around $12,000 in student debt.
Full Cosmetology at Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake Report
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With a ranking of #6, Paul Mitchell the School Missouri Columbia did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students. Located in the midsize city of Columbia, Paul Mitchell the School Missouri Columbia is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School Missouri Columbia accumulate an average of around $11,000 in student debt.
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The Salon Professional Academy came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. TSPA - Cedar Falls is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Cedar Falls.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at TSPA - Cedar Falls take out is $12,062.
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Request InformationBest Cosmetology Colleges by State
Explore the best cosmetology schools for a specific state in the Plains States region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | 23 |
| Kansas | 51 |
| Iowa | 6 |
More Cosmetology Rankings in the Plains States Region
Cosmetology Related Majors for Cosmetology
Cosmetology is one of 4 different types of programs to choose from.
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 69 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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