2023 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate School for You
Cosmetology is the #190 most popular major in California with 196 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 88 schools in California to see which undergraduate certificate 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.
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. 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.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 25 Best California Schools for Affordable Quality for an Award Taking 1 to 4 Years in Cosmetology
Our analysis found Cerritos College to be the best value school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a undergraduate certificate in California. Cerritos College is a large public school located in the large suburb of Norwalk.
Cerritos College undergraduate students pay an average of $1,346 in in-state tuition and fees each year.
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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Citrus College is a great value for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Citrus College is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Glendora.
In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Citrus College are $1,196 per year.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Riverside City College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list. Located in the large city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a public college with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Riverside City College are $1,420 a year. On average, cosmetology graduates from Riverside City College take out $15,743 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
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The excellent undergraduate certificate programs at Los Angeles Trade Technical College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value cosmetology schools in California. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Trade Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $1,238 in in-state tuition and fees each year. Cosmetology majors at Los Angeles Trade Technical College take out an average of $12,193 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
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Out of the 88 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Golden West College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Golden West College are $1,186 a year.
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With a ranking of #6, San Diego City College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego City College is a public school with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at San Diego City College are $1,144 a year. Cosmetology majors at San Diego City College take out an average of $13,037 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
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With a ranking of #7, Academy of Esthetics and Cosmetology did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the suburb of San Fernando, Academy of Esthetics and Cosmetology is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Academy of Esthetics and Cosmetology accumulate an average of around $8,424 in student debt.
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Blake Austin College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the suburb of Vacaville, Blake Austin College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Cosmetology majors at Blake Austin College take out an average of $10,663 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $67, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Alhambra Beauty College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Alhambra Beauty College is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Alhambra.
After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Alhambra Beauty College carry an average student debtload of $8,767.
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Hoss Lee Academy landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the large suburb of Roseville, Hoss Lee Academy is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
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With a ranking of #7, Advance Beauty College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the large suburb of Garden Grove, Advance Beauty College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Advance Beauty College take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $11,025.
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Salon Success Academy - Upland came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California ranking. Salon Success Academy - Upland is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Upland.
After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Salon Success Academy - Upland carry an average student debtload of $12,714. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $46.
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With a ranking of #7, Paul Mitchell the School Fresno did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Paul Mitchell the School Fresno is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Fresno.
This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $43, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Coachella Valley Beauty College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the suburb of La Quinta, CV Beauty College is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from CV Beauty College carry an average student debtload of $6,279.
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J D Academy of Salon and Spa did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. J D Academy of Salon and Spa is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Danville.
After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from J D Academy of Salon and Spa carry an average student debtload of $10,057. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $70.
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With a ranking of #7, ZMS The Academy did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the city of Los Angeles, ZMS The Academy is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at ZMS The Academy take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $11,106.
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The Salon Professional Academy - San Jose came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California ranking. TSPA - San Jose is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of San Jose.
While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at TSPA - San Jose accumulate an average of around $11,502 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #7, Milan Institute-Merced did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Milan Institute-Merced is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Merced.
Cosmetology majors at Milan Institute-Merced take out an average of $11,203 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $41.
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Federico Beauty Institute came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California ranking. Located in the large suburb of Sacramento, Federico Beauty Institute is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
On average, cosmetology graduates from Federico Beauty Institute take out $9,723 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $68, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Asian-American International Beauty College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Asian-American International Beauty College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Westminster.
On average, cosmetology graduates from Asian-American International Beauty College take out $11,543 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
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San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the large city of San Francisco, SFIEC is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from SFIEC carry an average student debtload of $12,708. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $95.
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With a ranking of #7, North Adrian’s College of Beauty Inc did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the medium-sized city of Modesto, North Adrian's College of Beauty is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
On average, cosmetology graduates from North Adrian's College of Beauty take out $12,783 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
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With a ranking of #7, Paul Mitchell the School San Diego did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Paul Mitchell the School San Diego is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego.
Cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School San Diego take out an average of $13,340 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $87.
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Milan Institute of Cosmetology-Fairfield ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in California list. Milan Institute of Cosmetology-Fairfield is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield.
On average, cosmetology graduates from Milan Institute of Cosmetology-Fairfield take out $11,056 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $57, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #7, International College of Cosmetology did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. International College of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Oakland.
On average, cosmetology graduates from International College of Cosmetology take out $8,737 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
Request InformationBest Value Cosmetology Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Best Value Cosmetology Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Washington | 152 |
| Oregon | 11 |
| Hawaii | 20 |
More Cosmetology Rankings in California
Cosmetology Related Majors for Cosmetology
Cosmetology is one of 4 different types of programs to choose from.
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 88 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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