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2024 Best Cosmetology Schools in California

5 Colleges in California
10,294 Cosmetology Degrees Awarded
$16,619 Avg Early-Career Salary
Cosmetology is about average in terms of popularity for degree programs. That is, it ranks #226 out of the 395 majors across the country that we analyze each year. As such, the degree program isn't offered at every college in the United States, but there are schools that do have a program in the field that are top-notch when it comes to quality.

For its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools in California to determine which ones were the best for cosmetology students pursuing a degree. Combined, these schools handed out 10,294 degrees in cosmetology to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Cosmetology School

Best Cosmetology Schools in California The cosmetology program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Cosmetology rankings. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for cosmetology schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

Pick Your Cosmetology Degree Level

Associate Degrees in Cosmetology

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Cosmetology Schools in California list, to help you choose the best school for you. You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to you.

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.

More information on how we come up with our rankings can be found here: College Factual's Data Methodology.

Best Schools for Cosmetology in California

Although we recommend filtering by degree level first, you can view the list below to see which schools give the educational experience for the cosmetology degree levels they offer.

Top California Schools in Cosmetology

1
Cerritos College crest
Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
77 Cosmetology Degrees Awarded
20.8% Growth in Graduates

Cerritos College is one of the best schools in the country for getting a degree in cosmetology. Located in the large suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a public college with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #375 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Cerritos College is a great college overall.

There were roughly 77 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Cerritos College in the most recent data year. Cosmetology degree recipients from Cerritos College receive an earnings boost of approximately $10,119 over the average income of cosmetology graduates.

More information about a degree in cosmetology from Cerritos College

2
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
48 Cosmetology Degrees Awarded
$18,034 Median Starting Salary

Riverside City College is a good option for students pursuing a degree in cosmetology. Riverside City College is a large public college located in the city of Riverside. This college ranks 81st out of 168 colleges for overall quality in the state of California.

There were roughly 48 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Riverside City College in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the cosmetology program make an average of $18,034 for their early career.

More information about a degree in cosmetology from Riverside City College

3
Citrus College crest
Citrus College
Glendora, CA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
134 Cosmetology Degrees Awarded
$17,054 Median Starting Salary

Citrus College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in cosmetology. Citrus College is a moderately-sized public college located in the suburb of Glendora.

There were roughly 134 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Citrus College in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the cosmetology program earn an average of $17,054 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a degree in cosmetology from Citrus College

4
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
59 Cosmetology Degrees Awarded
$18,577 Median Starting Salary

Any student pursuing a degree in cosmetology has to take a look at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a public college with a large student population. This college ranks 136th out of 168 schools for overall quality in the state of California.

There were about 59 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Los Angeles Trade Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, cosmetology degree recipients usually make around $18,577 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in cosmetology from Los Angeles Trade Technical College

5
Golden West College crest
Golden West College
Huntington Beach, CA
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
89 Cosmetology Degrees Awarded
$17,577 Median Starting Salary

Golden West College is a large public college located in the suburb of Huntington Beach. A Best Colleges rank of #189 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Golden West College is a great college overall.

There were roughly 89 cosmetology students who graduated with this degree at Golden West College in the most recent year we have data available. After graduating, cosmetology degree recipients typically make about $17,577 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in cosmetology from Golden West College

Best Cosmetology Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Cosmetology Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Washington 300 152
Oregon 266 11
Hawaii 164 20

View All Rankings >

Cosmetology is one of 4 different types of Personal & Culinary Services programs to choose from.

Cosmetology Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
General Cosmetology/Cosmetologist 3,612
Aesthetician/Esthetician & Skin Care Specialist 3,415
Nail Technician/Specialist & Manicurist 1,761
Barbering/Barber 1,024
Master Aesthetician/Esthetician 172
Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist 147
Other Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts 72
Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, & Nail Instructor 59
Make-Up Artist/Specialist 32

View All Cosmetology Focus Areas >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Culinary Arts 1,378
Other Personal & Culinary Services 68
Funeral & Mortuary Science 65

View All Cosmetology Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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