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Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania

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2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania

61 Colleges
$17,196 Avg Salary
$11,958 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology 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 assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. This report analyzed 61 schools in Pennsylvania to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Cosmetology program at each school on the list.

Check out the cosmetology programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in Pennsylvania.

Our analysis found South Hills Beauty Academy Inc to be the most popular school for cosmetology students who want to pursue a degree in Pennsylvania. Located in the large suburb of Pittsburgh, South Hills Beauty Academy Inc is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Cosmetology majors at South Hills Beauty Academy Inc take out an average of $7,486 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $53.

Read full report on Cosmetology at South Hills Beauty Academy Inc

#2

Jean Madeline Aveda Institute

Philadelphia, PA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Jean Madeline Aveda Institute. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania list. Jean Madeline Education Center of Cosmetology is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Jean Madeline Education Center of Cosmetology take out $12,028 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $96, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Jean Madeline Aveda Institute

#3

Bella Capelli Academy

Monroeville, PA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Bella Capelli Academy. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in the large suburb of Monroeville, Bella Capelli Academy a Paul Mitchell partner school is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from Bella Capelli Academy a Paul Mitchell partner school carry an average student debt load of $8,028. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $103, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Bella Capelli Academy

#4

Metro Beauty Academy

Allentown, PA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Metro Beauty Academy. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania list. Metro Beauty Academy is a small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Allentown.

While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Metro Beauty Academy accumulate an average of around $13,530 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 $127.

Full Cosmetology at Metro Beauty Academy Report

The excellent programs at The Beauty Institute-Ambler helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best cosmetology schools in Pennsylvania. Located in the suburb of Ambler, The Beauty Institute is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

After completing their degree, cosmetology graduates from The Beauty Institute carry an average student debt load of $11,713. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $69.

Read More…

Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lancaster.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork take out $6,986 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Cosmetology at Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork Report

#7

Douglas Education Center

Monessen, PA

Douglas Education Center did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #7 on the list. Douglas Education Center is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Monessen.

While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Douglas Education Center accumulate an average of around $10,934 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $424, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Cosmetology at Douglas Education Center Report

Great Lakes Institute of Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the suburb of Erie, Great Lakes Institute of Technology is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Great Lakes Institute of Technology take out $11,928 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $107, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Great Lakes Institute of Technology

With a ranking of #9, Empire Beauty School-Wyoming Valley did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students. Located in the large suburb of Moosic, Empire Beauty School-Wyoming Valley is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Wyoming Valley take out an average of $13,583 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $82, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School-Wyoming Valley

Empire Beauty School-Harrisburg landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular cosmetology programs. Located in the large suburb of Harrisburg, Empire Beauty School-Harrisburg is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Empire Beauty School-Harrisburg accumulate an average of around $13,502 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $77.

Read More…

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional popular schools for Cosmetology students in the state of Pennsylvania that almost earned our Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in Pennsylvania award.

Rank College Location
11 Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA
12 Penn Commercial Business/Technical School Washington, PA

Best Cosmetology Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region

Explore all the Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded

One of 4 majors within the area of study, cosmetology has other similar majors worth exploring.

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 26 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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