The Best Cosmetology Schools of 2023-2024: Private Not-For-Profit

Studying cosmetology is a hugely popular education route for American students to embark upon. Find out the best cosmetology schools in the US that are private, not-for-profit colleges.

The Best Cosmetology Schools of 2023-2024: Private Not-For-Profit
Maayan Nemanov

Pursuing a degree in cosmetology is a very popular educational and, eventually, professional route for Americans to take. In the United States, there are hundreds upon hundreds of schools for cosmetology.

However, the type of school for cosmetology can vary significantly. Meaning, for example, there are more than 500 cosmetology schools that are private, for-profit colleges, such as the Academy of Beauty Professionals that have branches across the country. But these for-profit cosmetology schools are private business organizations. Another type of school for cosmetology is a public institution, which are colleges that have public funding from different levels of government, namely state governments; this type of school includes everything from big state colleges like the University of Michigan, down to 2-year community colleges.

Lastly, there are private, not-for-profit, cosmetology schools. Private, not-for-profit colleges cover all the schools that are privately funded, but technically charitable organizations — and, therefore, not for-profit businesses — and these kinds of schools include all those different liberal arts colleges that dot the US, including Ivy League colleges.

For our study here, BrokeScholar is focusing on identifying the best cosmetology schools that are private, not-for-profit colleges. Evaluating the best cosmetology schools that are private, not-for-profit is much more manageable, since there are only about 20 institutions that fall under this category. Sourcing data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), we constructed a list of the best cosmetology schools in the US for the academic year 2023-2024. (See the methodology section for more details).

Read on to find out the best cosmetology schools in America.

Best Cosmetology Schools of 2023-2024: Private Not-For-Profit

We analyzed all the cosmetology schools that are private, not-for-profit colleges, in terms of their graduation rates, the type and number of degrees awarded per academic year in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General (terminology comes from the NCES), and estimated annual cost of tuition and required fees. 

When it comes to the best cosmetology schools in the US, most of the degrees awarded in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General tend to be less than bachelor's degrees. The majority of degrees awarded by the best cosmetology schools are 1 to less-than-2 year certificates in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General. However, some of the best cosmetology schools do awarded associate degrees in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General, which is the highest level degree conferred by private, not-for-profit colleges with cosmetology programs.

So, let’s take a deeper look at the best cosmetology schools in the US:

Career School of NY

Type: < 2-year, Private not-for-profit

Graduation rate: 79%

Tuition and required fees: $12,345

The Career School of NY is located in Staten Island, New York, and offers two levels of degrees: (1) less than one year certificate; and (2) 1one but less than two years certificate. With an undergraduate student population and total student population of 61 students, the Career School of NY awarded a high proportion of degrees in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General: 18 one year but less than two years certificates, in one academic year. Along with its affordable cost of attendance and the fact that it boasts the highest graduation rate in the study, at 79%, the Career School of NY ranks No. 1 among the best cosmetology schools in the US.

Clary Sage College

Type: < 2-year, Private not-for-profit

Graduation rate: 75%

Tuition and required fees: $11,819

Far away from the Career School of NY, the next best cosmetology school to make our list is Clary Sage College, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Several factors help make this college one of the best cosmetology schools in the US, most notably its exceptionally high graduation rate of 75% as well as its comparatively affordable cost of tuition and required fees: An estimated $11,819 per academic year. Like the Career School of NY, Clary Sage College offers two levels of degrees: (1) less than one year certificate; and (2) one but less than two years certificate, for those studying Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General.

However, Clary Sage College awarded almost double the number of degrees in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General that Career School of NY awarded in one academic year: 34 one year but less than two years certificates versus 18 awarded by the Career School of NY. Now, considering that Clary Sage College’s undergraduate population of 418 is vastly larger than that of the Career School of NY, the proportion of degrees awarded in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General compared to the undergraduate population is 8.1% versus 29.5%. However, this discrepancy is balanced by the fact that Clary Sage College offers a more diverse range of academic programs than the Career School of NY. Hence, Clary Sage College ranks as the second best cosmetology school in the US.

Aveda Institute-Fort Myers

Type: < 2-year, Private not-for-profit

Graduation rate: 63%

Tuition and required fees: $18,350

The Aveda Institute Fort Myers is, not surprisingly, located in Fort Myers and ranks as one of the best cosmetology schools in Florida. Like the Career School Of NY, Aveda Institute Fort Myers awards two levels of degrees: (1) less than 1 year certificate; and (2) 1 but less than 2 years certificate, for majoring in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General. Though with tuition and required fees coming to an estimated $18,350 per academic year, this cosmetology school is more expensive than the Career School of NY.

However, Aveda Institute Fort Myers has a solid graduation rate of 63% and awarded significantly more degrees in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General: 70 one year but less than two years certificates, in one academic year, compared to 18 for the Career School of NY. All these factors help make Aveda Institute Fort Myers one of the best cosmetology schools that’s a private, not-for-profit college.

Remington College-Houston Southeast Campus

Type: < 2-year, Private not-for-profit

Graduation rate: 61%

Tuition and required fees: $18,841

Remington College is the umbrella organization and common name used by 16 campuses of a group of private colleges spread across the US. Remington College schools offer degree and diploma programs that vary from campus to campus. These programs are in career fields that include business, information technology, criminal justice, electronics, graphic arts, beauty, and health sciences, among others.

Zeroing in on what’s called Remington College-Houston Southeast Campus by the NCES but Remington College - League City (North Houston Satellite) by its own website, the number of degrees awarded in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General is very impressive. This college only has an undergraduate population of 99 and yet it awarded 7 associate degrees in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General in a single academic year. Seven degrees in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General might not sound like a lot, but considering they were associate’s level degrees (the highest level offered for Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General studies) and considering that it was 7 degrees out of a total of 99 students, the proportion of cosmetology majors is higher-than-average. Although its estimated annual cost of tuition and fees is in excess of $18,800, Remington College - League City (North Houston Satellite) has a very solid graduation rate of 61%, which is better than more than half the colleges analyzed in our study of the best cosmetology schools in the US. All of these factors also make Remington College - League City (North Houston Satellite) one of the best cosmetology schools in Texas.

Brillare Beauty Institute

Type: < 2-year, Private not-for-profit

Graduation rate: 60%

Tuition and required fees: $16,500

Located in Cleveland, Tennessee, Brillare Beauty Institute rounds out our list of the best cosmetology schools in the US. Out of all the cosmetology schools that are private, not-for-profit colleges, Brillare Beauty Institute is the last one to have a graduation rate of 60% or higher. Not only is its 60% graduation rate better than the majority of cosmetology schools in our study, it’s much better than the 49% average graduation rate of all cosmetology schools evaluated in the study.

The approximate annual cost of tuition and required fees, $16,500, is a little above the average ($16,130) but cheaper than the median cost of the whole study ($17,560). Thus, in terms of its academic credentials and cost, Brillare Beauty Institute scores very well among the best cosmetology schools in the US. Additionally, out of a total student body of 214 undergraduate students, Brillare Beauty Institute awarded 19 one year but less than two years certificates in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General, in one academic year; that proportion of cosmetology degrees to undergraduate students equals about 8.9%, which is a comparatively high rate of cosmetology degrees. All these component factors propel Brillare Beauty Institute to rank among the best cosmetology schools that are private, not-for-profit colleges in America.

The Bottom Line on the Best Cosmetology Schools in the US

When it comes to assessing the best cosmetology schools, which type of institution — public versus private, not-for-profit institution versus private, for-profit institution — is a significant factor. It’s also a significant factor for those Americans who want to pursue studies in cosmetology: Which type of institution is best?

The answer to this question is largely in the eye of the beholder. As previously mentioned, there are over 500 for-profit colleges that either focus on or offer degrees in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General. And, there are approximately 420 public colleges that either focus on or offer degrees in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General. Both of these types of institutions have far more cosmetology schools than private, not-for-profit institutions. 

However, a major caveat about for-profit schools is that only accredited institutions can receive federal grants and funding. Thus, students at for-profit schools often have to take out more student loans and owe more money in the long term. What’s more, most scholarships you'll find in BrokeScholar’s library won't permit you to use their awards towards tuition at for-profit colleges. This is one of the main reasons why we focused on private, not-for-profit colleges in our study of the best cosmetology schools, because potential students still have a chance of using a scholarship towards their education in cosmetology.

Methodology

In order to identify the best cosmetology schools in the US that are private, not-for-profit colleges, we analyzed 21 colleges and universities that fit the following criteria:

  • Are private, not-for-profit institutions

  • Offer a degree in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General, on any degree level ranging from 12-week to less than one year certificates to doctoral degrees

These 21 colleges and universities were sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), as was data on their respective undergraduate populations; undergraduate graduation rates; approximate costs of tuition and required fees; the type and number of degrees awarded per academic year in Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General; and the proportion of these degrees to the undergraduate population.

Andrew DePietro

Author: Andrew DePietro

Senior Researcher, and Content Strategist

Andrew DePietro is a finance writer covering topics such as entrepreneurship, investing, real estate and college for BrokeScholar, Forbes, CreditKarma, and more.