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Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in North Carolina

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2023 Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in North Carolina

73 Colleges
$16,451 Avg Salary
$13,152 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Cosmetology School for You

In 2020-2021, 193 degrees and certificates were awarded to cosmetology students who went to a North Carolina college or university. This makes it the #108 most popular major in the state.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in North Carolina to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 73 schools in North Carolina to see which programs were the most popular 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 North Carolina.

#1

Health and Style Institute

High Point, NC

Our 2023 rankings named Health and Style Institute the most popular school in North Carolina for cosmetology students. Located in the large city of High Point, Health and Style Institute is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Cosmetology majors at Health and Style Institute take out an average of $13,084 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $81.

Full Cosmetology at Health and Style Institute Report

#2

Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC

Out of the 73 schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill landed the # 2 spot on the list. Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the small city of Chapel Hill.

While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Aveda Institute - Chapel Hill accumulate an average of around $11,667 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 $126.

Read More…

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Paul Mitchell the School Gastonia. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in North Carolina list. Located in the city of Gastonia, Paul Mitchell the School Gastonia is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School Gastonia take out an average of $16,500 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $96, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Gastonia

#4

Leons Beauty School Inc

Greensboro, NC

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Leons Beauty School Inc is a great place for cosmetology students. Leons Beauty School Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Greensboro.

While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Leons Beauty School Inc accumulate an average of around $8,799 in student debt.

Full Cosmetology at Leons Beauty School Inc Report

#5

Cape Fear Community College

Wilmington, NC

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Cape Fear Community College is a great place for cosmetology students. Located in the medium-sized city of Wilmington, CFCC is a public school with a large student population.

While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at CFCC accumulate an average of around $8,375 in student debt.

Read More…

Paul Mitchell the School Raleigh landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular cosmetology programs. Located in the large city of Raleigh, Paul Mitchell the School Raleigh is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School Raleigh take out an average of $16,500 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Raleigh Report

Elevate Salon Institute - Durham ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in North Carolina list. Elevate Salon Institute - Durham is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Durham.

On average, cosmetology graduates from Elevate Salon Institute - Durham take out $10,141 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Cosmetology at Elevate Salon Institute - Durham Report

Cleveland Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for cosmetology students. It came in at #8 on the list. Cleveland Community College is a small public school located in the fringe town of Shelby.

Full Cosmetology at Cleveland Community College Report

With a ranking of #9, Paul Mitchell the School Fayetteville did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for cosmetology students. Paul Mitchell the School Fayetteville is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Fayetteville.

Cosmetology majors at Paul Mitchell the School Fayetteville take out an average of $13,833 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $75, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell the School Fayetteville Report

Wake Technical Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Cosmetology Schools in North Carolina list. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a public college with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, cosmetology majors at Wake Technical Community College accumulate an average of around $11,703 in student debt.

Read full report on Cosmetology at Wake Technical Community College

Additional Noteworthy Schools

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

Rank College Location
11 Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Salisbury, NC
12 Central Carolina Community College Sanford, NC
13 Winston Salem Barber School Winston-Salem, NC
14 Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville, NC

Best Cosmetology Colleges in the Southeast Region

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

State Degrees Awarded
South Carolina 0
Arkansas 1
Alabama 110
Mississippi 26

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 25 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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