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Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region

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2023 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

69 Colleges
$6,107 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$17,014 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate 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.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 69 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones offered the best value undergraduate certificate 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.

2023 Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Colleges.

Top 25 Best Plains States Region Schools for Affordable Quality for an Award Taking 1 to 4 Years in Cosmetology

#1

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS

Our analysis found Johnson County Community College to be the best value school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a undergraduate certificate in the Plains States Region . JCCC is a large public school located in the city of Overland Park.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at JCCC are $5,352 per year. While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at JCCC accumulate an average of around $10,622 in student debt.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Johnson County Community College

#2

Saint Paul College

Saint Paul, MN

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Saint Paul College is a great value for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Saint Paul College are $6,041 a year. After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Saint Paul College carry an average student debtload of $16,436.

Full Cosmetology at Saint Paul College Report

The excellent undergraduate certificate programs at Lake Area Technical Institute helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value cosmetology schools in the Plains States Region . LATI is a small public school located in the town of Watertown.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at LATI are $6,718 a year.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, LATI also did well on our Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Lake Area Technical Institute

#4

Ridgewater College

Willmar, MN

Out of the 69 schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ridgewater College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the remote town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a public college with a small student population.

Ridgewater College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,914 in tuition and fees each year. Cosmetology majors at Ridgewater College take out an average of $13,022 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

On top of its placing in our value ranking, Ridgewater College also did well on our Best Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.

Full Cosmetology at Ridgewater College Report

The excellent undergraduate certificate programs at Kansas City Kansas Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value cosmetology schools in the Plains States Region . Kansas City Kansas Community College is a small public school located in the medium-sized city of Kansas City.

Kansas City Kansas Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,510 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Kansas City Kansas Community College accumulate an average of around $12,706 in student debt.

Full Cosmetology at Kansas City Kansas Community College Report

#6

E Q School of Hair Design

Council Bluffs, IA

E Q School of Hair Design landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the city of Council Bluffs, EQ School is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at E Q School of Hair Design

House of Heavilin Beauty College-Blue Springs landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. House of Heavilin Beauty College-Blue Springs is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Blue Springs.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at House of Heavilin Beauty College-Blue Springs accumulate an average of around $12,502 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $74, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#6

American Hair Academy

Mt. Pleasant, IA

With a ranking of #6, American Hair Academy did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the town of Mt. Pleasant, American Hair Academy is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Cosmetology at American Hair Academy

#6

Capri College, Davenport

Davenport, IA

Capri College, Davenport landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Capri College, Davenport is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Davenport.

The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Capri College, Davenport take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $11,710. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $67.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Capri College, Davenport

Empire Beauty School-Spring Lake Park 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-Spring Lake Park is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Spring Lake Park.

The average amount in student loans that cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Spring Lake Park take out while working on their Undergraduate Certificate is $16,822. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $73.

Full Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Spring Lake Park Report

Minnesota School of Cosmetology-Woodbury Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Minnesota School of Cosmetology-Woodbury Campus is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of WOODBURY.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Minnesota School of Cosmetology-Woodbury Campus carry an average student debtload of $14,828. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $86, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Cosmetology at Minnesota School of Cosmetology-Woodbury Campus Report

Hays Academy of Hair Design landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Hays Academy of Hair Design is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the remote town of Hays.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Hays Academy of Hair Design take out $12,349 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Hays Academy of Hair Design

#6

Bellus Academy

Manhattan, KS

Bellus 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. Bellus Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the small city of Manhattan.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Bellus Academy carry an average student debtload of $12,844. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $86, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

With a ranking of #6, House of Heavilin Beauty College-Raymore did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. House of Heavilin Beauty College-Raymore is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the rural area of Raymore.

Cosmetology majors at House of Heavilin Beauty College-Raymore take out an average of $12,328 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Full Cosmetology at House of Heavilin Beauty College-Raymore Report

Merrell University of Beauty Arts and Science 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. Merrell University of Beauty Arts and Science is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Jefferson City.

Read More…

With a ranking of #6, Paul Mitchell the School Missouri Columbia 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 Columbia, Paul Mitchell the School Missouri Columbia is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Paul Mitchell the School Missouri Columbia carry an average student debtload of $14,751.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Missouri Columbia

Josef’s School of Hair, Skin & Body, Grand Forks landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the city of Grand Forks, Josef's School of Hair, Skin & Body is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

After completing their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology graduates from Josef's School of Hair, Skin & Body carry an average student debtload of $14,964.

Read More…

Joseph’s College Cosmetology ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Joseph's College Cosmetology is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Lincoln.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Joseph's College Cosmetology take out $13,702 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Joseph’s College Cosmetology

#6

Eric Fisher Academy

Wichita, KS

Eric Fisher 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 city of Wichita, Eric Fisher Academy is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Eric Fisher Academy take out $12,938 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 $78.

Read More…

Missouri College of Cosmetology North landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Missouri College of Cosmetology North is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Springfield.

Cosmetology majors at Missouri College of Cosmetology North take out an average of $12,728 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Read More…

With a ranking of #6, The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. TSPA - Fargo is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Fargo.

Cosmetology majors at TSPA - Fargo take out an average of $16,775 in student loans while working on their Undergraduate Certificate.

Full Cosmetology at The Salon Professional Academy - Fargo Report

#6

Model College of Hair Design

Saint Cloud, MN

With a ranking of #6, Model College of Hair Design did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Model College of Hair Design is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Saint Cloud.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Model College of Hair Design

#6

PCI Academy-Plymouth

Plymouth, MN

PCI Academy-Plymouth ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Cosmetology Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the small city of Plymouth, PCI Academy-Plymouth is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Cosmetology majors at PCI Academy-Plymouth take out an average of $14,515 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 $87.

Read More…

With a ranking of #6, Academy of Salon Professionals did quite well on this year’s best value schools for cosmetology students working on their undergraduate certificate. Academy of Salon Professionals is a small private for-profit school located in the remote town of Sedalia.

While working on their Undergraduate Certificate, cosmetology majors at Academy of Salon Professionals accumulate an average of around $10,561 in student debt.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Academy of Salon Professionals

Paul Mitchell the School Springfield landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value undergraduate certificate cosmetology programs. Located in the midsize city of Springfield, Paul Mitchell the School Springfield is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School Springfield take out an average of $13,367 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 $78.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Springfield

Best Cosmetology Colleges by State

Explore the best cosmetology colleges for a specific state in the Plains States region.

State Degrees Awarded
Minnesota 23
Kansas 51
Iowa 6

Cosmetology is one of 4 different types of programs to choose from.

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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