2023 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate School for You
Cosmetology is the #214 most popular major in Pennsylvania with 60 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Our analysis looked at 42 schools in Pennsylvania 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. 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.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Top 25 Best Pennsylvania Schools for Affordable Quality for an Award Taking 1 to 4 Years in Cosmetology
Our analysis found Laurel Business Institute to be the best value school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a undergraduate certificate in Pennsylvania. Located in the suburb of Uniontown, LBI is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at LBI are $10,970 a year. Cosmetology majors at LBI take out an average of $13,121 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
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Out of the 42 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Penn Commercial Business/Technical School landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the large suburb of Washington, Penn Commercial is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
Penn Commercial undergraduate students pay an average of $12,075 in in-state tuition and fees each year. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $118.
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Out of the 42 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Laurel Technical Institute landed the # 3 spot on the list. LTI - Meadville is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the rural area of MEADVILLE.
LTI - Meadville undergraduate students pay an average of $10,582 in in-state tuition and fees each year.
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Out of the 42 schools in Pennsylvania that were part of this year’s ranking, Laurel Technical Institute landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the rural area of Sharon, LTI Sharon is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LTI Sharon are $11,028 per year.
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The excellent undergraduate certificate programs at Douglas Education Center helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value cosmetology schools in Pennsylvania. Douglas Education Center is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Monessen.
The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Douglas Education Center are $17,950 a year. Cosmetology majors at Douglas Education Center take out an average of $13,225 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
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Altoona Beauty School 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 #6 on the list. Located in the small city of Altoona, Altoona Beauty School Inc is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Altoona Beauty School Inc accumulate an average of around $10,574 in student debt.
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Empire Beauty School-Wyoming Valley ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in the large suburb of Moosic, Empire Beauty School-Wyoming Valley is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
On average, cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School-Wyoming Valley take out $16,093 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $82, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Empire Beauty School-Reading landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the large suburb of Reading, Empire Beauty School-Reading is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
On average, cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School-Reading take out $16,093 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $82, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Empire Beauty School-Cheltenham ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. Empire Beauty School-Cheltenham is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Wyncote.
While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Cheltenham accumulate an average of around $16,093 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $82, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Empire Beauty School-North Hills came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Empire Beauty School-North Hills is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Pittsburgh.
After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School-North Hills carry an average student debtload of $15,432. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $77.
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Empire Beauty School-Lebanon did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. Empire Beauty School-Lebanon is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lebanon.
Cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Lebanon take out an average of $15,432 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 $77.
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Divine Crown Barber & Beauty Academy did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. Divine Crown Barber & Beauty Academy is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Harrisburg.
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With a ranking of #6, South Hills Beauty Academy Inc did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the suburb of Pittsburgh, South Hills Beauty Academy Inc is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from South Hills Beauty Academy Inc carry an average student debtload of $11,294. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $53.
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The Beauty Institute-Ambler ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in the large suburb of Ambler, The Beauty Institute is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from The Beauty Institute carry an average student debtload of $13,800. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $69.
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Empire Beauty School-Shamokin Dam landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the town of Shamokin Dam, Empire Beauty School-Shamokin Dam is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Shamokin Dam accumulate an average of around $15,696 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $74.
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The Salon Professional Academy - Altoona did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. TSPA - Altoona is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Altoona.
After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from TSPA - Altoona carry an average student debtload of $11,103.
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Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Lancaster.
Cosmetology majors at Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork take out an average of $10,587 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.
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Bella Capelli Academy did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Monroeville, Bella Capelli Academy a Paul Mitchell partner school is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Bella Capelli Academy a Paul Mitchell partner school accumulate an average of around $11,453 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $103, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Jean Madeline Aveda Institute landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Jean Madeline Education Center of Cosmetology is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Jean Madeline Education Center of Cosmetology take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $14,029. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $96, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Empire Beauty School-York ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. Empire Beauty School-York is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized suburb of York.
After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Empire Beauty School-York carry an average student debtload of $16,093. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $82, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Premier Barber Institute did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for cosmetology students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. Premier Barber Institute is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Norristown.
The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Premier Barber Institute take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $16,310.
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The Beauty School landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the small suburb of Stroudsburg, The Beauty School is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
On average, cosmetology graduates from The Beauty School take out $14,683 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $56, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Great Lakes Institute of Technology ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in the suburb of Erie, Great Lakes Institute of Technology is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Great Lakes Institute of Technology accumulate an average of around $12,714 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $107, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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With a ranking of #6, Venus Beauty Academy did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the suburb of Sharon Hill, Venus Beauty Academy is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Venus Beauty Academy carry an average student debtload of $10,700.
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The Beauty Institute ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. The Beauty Institute is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Allentown.
After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from The Beauty Institute carry an average student debtload of $13,587. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $42, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania award.
| Rank | College | Location |
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Best Value Cosmetology Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region
Explore all the Best Value Cosmetology Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
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More Cosmetology Rankings in Pennsylvania
Majors Related to Cosmetology
One of 4 majors within the area of study, cosmetology has other similar majors worth exploring.
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 42 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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