Updated at: 02-03-2023 - By: Eden Wise

Overview

As a species, humans have always placed a premium on physical appearance. It’s just who we are. After all, we’re trying to impress potential partners by improving our physical appearance. We also want to demonstrate that we value our health and wellness to others. That feeling of self-assurance that comes from dressing well is another perk that doesn’t get enough attention.

Research also shows that attractive people tend to achieve greater success. In light of this, it’s not surprising that the beauty industry is thriving. Estheticians are a vital component of the cosmetics industry. They are responsible for our professional presentation. They do everything they can to make us more presentable, from giving us facials to waxing our eyebrows.

A career as an esthetician offers a lot of potential benefits. As a bonus, you get to make a good living while making other people feel better about themselves. However, you will need to complete esthetician training first.

Across the United States, you can find dozens of different esthetician schools. This article will teach you how to identify the top choices. Joining these institutions will ensure a prosperous and long professional life.

Top Esthetician Schools In US

Top esthetician schools in us

Ogle School (Texas)

Ogle School (Texas)

When it comes to esthetician programs, the Ogle School is among the best in the United States. From basic makeup techniques to advanced facial treatments, the school’s curriculum has you covered. Teachers at Ogle are active experts in their fields who have been there for a while. They care deeply about passing on their knowledge and assisting their students.

There is a full-time option as well as a part-time option. It takes about 5 months to finish the full-time program, but 10 months to finish it on a part-time basis. There’s a reason why it’s called full time: you’ll be there from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Cosmetology school is a lot like working, except you get paid.

Those who already have a job or significant family responsibilities will find the Monday through Friday, 6 PM to 9:30 PM part-time schedule ideal.

The total cost of attendance for the 12-month full-time program is $13,200, not including additional expenses such as books, supplies, and living costs (estimated at $3,000).

Bellus Academy (California) 

The California-based Bellus Academy is a leading institution in the field of esthetics. It also has a location in Kansas’s Manhattan.

Generally speaking, the course material is top-notch. Not only does it cover such beauty standards as exfoliation and hair removal, but also cutting-edge techniques like microdermabrasion. They are typically only taught at the graduate level.

All of the teachers are experts in their fields. They are extremely invested in your education and will not move on to the next topic until they are certain you have mastered the previous one.

There are three main courses that can be taken here: Esthetics, Esthetics 102, and Esthetics 103.

An education in esthetics is the first step toward a career in the field. The 600 hours required to complete this course will turn you into a skin care pro in about six months.

Note from the editor: If you go to Manhattan, the program will last you a full thousand hours. The reason for this is that California and New York have various licensing requirements.

Makeup artistry and advanced skin care are just two of the topics we’ll be diving into during Esthetics II. Only the Kansas location offers this 300-hour program, so the total time spent on your Esthetics education will be 1,300 hours between Esthetics and Esthetics 102. This course is designed to teach you how to do professional makeup.

Subjects like advanced peel instruction and aromatherapy are covered in depth in Esthetics 103, the graduate level program. This training course lasts 300 hours and is offered exclusively in the California location. A total of 900 hours is all it takes to become an expert esthetician (600 hours for Esthetics plus 300 hours for Esthetics 103).

All of these courses have similar tuition rates of around $17,000 (give or take a few thousand).

Costing a lot, Bellus Academy is well worth it. With the knowledge and experience you gain, you’ll be well-equipped to continue working in this area after graduation.

Aesthetic Science Institute (Utah)

Salt Lake City, Utah is home to the Aesthetic Science Institute. There are two primary tracks to choose from, and a third that culminates in a certification, at this institution.

It takes about 600 hours to finish a standard esthetician program, and it covers everything you need to know to get started in the field. You will acquire an extensive education in the field of esthetics. The skin of your customers can become a canvas for your artistic talents.

This program’s tuition is only $10,600, making it significantly cheaper than the majority of the other options here. Though it’s true that you get what you pay for, in this case, the quality of your education far exceeds the low price tag you’re paying.

The Master Esthetician Program is the other course of study available at the Aesthetic Science Institute. The New York State Education Department and the International Federation of Esthetics and Cosmetology (CIEC) have approved this 12 month course of study. Advanced concepts are covered in this program, including laser consultation, chemistry for esthetics, skin disorders, and even business growth and development.

The price tag on this high-level training course is $21,100. It’s a full-time course that runs for about 11 months and requires your presence Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

Elizabeth Grady Schools

Elizabeth Grady Schools

The Elizabeth Grady School was founded in 1975 to fill a void in the beauty industry, and it continues to be a major player to this day, with an annual graduation rate of nearly 200.

The school’s 600-hour esthetician program provides students with a thorough grounding in all aspects of the beauty industry. Students are able to take advantage of the school’s experiential learning environment.

Students apply what they have learned theoretically as they acquire practical experience. You can learn everything from skincare and waxing to the finer points of makeup application and the science behind your skin’s health and wellness at this comprehensive school. Elizabeth Grady Skills also equips its students with the product knowledge, business operations, and sales skills necessary to run a successful spa.

Make-Up Designory 

Make-Up Designory (MUD) equips its students with the skills necessary to succeed in the entertainment, fashion, or retail industries. The rigorous academic program at MUD creates a stimulating setting for the next generation of beauty industry experts.

Lectures, demonstrations, and laboratory work all contribute to MUD’s goal of educating its students in the scientific method. With an experienced staff ready to impart their knowledge. Makeup University of Design’s curriculum is divided into four distinct categories: fashion, film and television, multimedia, and technique mastery.

MUD is in the geographic and cultural heart of the American cosmetics industry, with campuses in both Los Angeles and New York. Each student has access to either a comprehensive make-up program or individualized courses tailored to their specific learning needs. Classes can be taken at any of MUD’s satellite locations or online.

Bellus Academy 

Bellus Academy serves a diverse student body by offering thorough esthetician programs in a number of locations across the United States, including Manhattan (Kansas) and Poway, Chula Vista, and El Cajon (California).

Bellus, led by experts in the field, offers comprehensive courses on how to care for and improve the appearance of your skin. The school’s proprietary teaching system incorporates visual, verbal, written, and hands-on learning to help students master their craft or art. After completing the program, students will be ready to take the licensing exam required by their state and begin a rewarding career.

Bellus Academy equips aspiring estheticians with the skills they’ll need to succeed in any field, whether that’s working in a salon, spa, medi-spa, or opening their own studio. Bellus Academy is the first American school to become an official partner of CIDESCO, the world’s most prestigious qualification in the field of Esthetics. Students are able to hone their fundamental abilities, acquire practical experience, and prepare for certification with the aid of the school’s resources and trained instructors, who hold the requisite certification.

Paul Mitchell The School 

Paul Mitchell The School 

Artists who are interested in helping others feel better about themselves can learn to be excellent estheticians at the Paul Mitchell School. Students learn to assess each client’s needs and recommend the best course of treatment based on those needs, which is useful knowledge whether they go on to work in a spa, a salon, or a dermatologist’s office. Students graduate fully prepared to meet any demand in the field of skincare, from applying makeup to performing chemical peels, masks, scrubs, and massage.

This education is provided through a three-tiered curriculum. In the foundational stage, students are exposed to the rules and theories of effective skin care and hair removal through demonstrations and hands-on practice. During this phase, students are exposed to not only the skincare industry’s technical procedures, but also business fundamentals and customer service techniques that will help them provide excellent service to their clients.

Merrell University of Beauty Arts & Science

The motto of Merrell University, “Inspire you, to inspire others,” encapsulates the institution’s approach. To Merrell, the cosmetics industry provides a valuable service by boosting people’s self-esteem and confidence. Teaching students the arts and science of cosmetology is a part of this program so that they can go on to get state licenses and find employment in the field.

Since its founding over 30 years ago, Merrell has been successful because of its curriculum that blends theory with real-world application and technological advancement. The classes are built in three stages. In this scenario, students “Learn It” through lectures and visual aids, “Watch It” through live demonstrations by teachers and guest speakers, and “Do It” by providing real services to mannequins and actual clients.

Merrell is a good option for aspiring estheticians because it provides students with a Pivot Point Lab, Salon Fundamentals tools, Mindful Teaching Mannequins, and everything else they need to get started in the field.

Aveda Institute

Since its inception in 1977, the Aveda Institute has trained countless individuals to become successful in the cosmetics and spa industries. Aveda, on the other hand, has a more pressing concern for the environment and human health, as evidenced by the company’s philosophy. The Aveda difference is based on the idea that taking care of the planet is fundamental to looking your best. They base their creations and teachings on this principle.

The curriculum at esthetician colleges is similarly concentrated. In addition to the fundamentals of skincare, facials, body treatments, hair removal, and cosmetic application, students learn about wellness concepts and social and ecological responsibilities. With their newfound understanding of the importance of prioritizing health, students are better prepared to either start their own businesses or succeed in the competitive job markets of the nation’s top spas.

Aveda Institutes are able to produce higher-quality beauty professionals because of the unique way in which they combine business training with health and beauty education.

Universal Career School

If you’re looking for a top-notch school to become an esthetician or cosmetologist, look no further than Universal Career School. The school has been around since 1999, and it offers courses in a variety of beauty-related fields, including Cosmetology, Barbering, Full Specialist, and Skin Care. The school also offers a number of allied health programs, including nursing, home health aide, patient care technician, and nail technology.

And the tuition and acceptance rate are both quite good. All of these are uploaded to the official school website.

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, established in 2010, is also regarded as one of the top institutions of higher learning in the United States for the study of esthetics and cosmetology. Valdosta State University is a Georgia community college.

Unfortunately, the highest level of education offered is an associate’s. Programs, degrees, and certificates are available in 18 different specializations at this school for estheticians.

Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics

Many pioneering estheticians learned their craft at Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics. This means it is highly regarded as one of the best schools for estheticians and cosmetologists in the United States. Founded in 1979 and based out of its current location at 300 Wildwood Avenue in Woburn, Massachusetts. This institution sets the standard for excellence among schools that offer courses in skincare and esthetics. This is why they are experts in spa treatments, skin care, makeup application, waxing, and esthetic procedures.

The Ogle School

Among the many excellent schools for estheticians in the Dallas, Texas area, the Ogle School stands out. Ogle School of Cosmetology was founded in 197 and offers classes and certifications in hair, skin, and nails.

FAQs

Which esthetician certification is the best?

In the United States, the National Certification in Esthetics and Aesthetics (NCEA) is the gold standard. Acquiring the required number of classroom hours to become licensed as an esthetician in your state is much easier if you hold NCEA certification. Every state in the US and several provinces in Canada require estheticians to hold either a basic or master license.

How much does training to become an esthetician cost?

The cost of a two-year associate’s degree in esthetics at a local community college is usually between $4,000. Esthetics courses at community colleges typically last for six months. However, the price of an esthetician schooling that lasts the same length of time (six months) can be anywhere from $6,000 to $12,000.

How many beauty schools are in the US?

There are more than 1,900 beauty and cosmetology schools in the United States. As with any major decision, it’s best to get information from multiple schools before settling on a single program and location.

What do estheticians study?

Learn the art of skin care and enhancement at an esthetician school. Makeup application, facials, waxing, body masks, lash application, and providing advice on how to better one’s skin condition are all things they study.

Conclusion

An education in esthetics can be completed rapidly and provides numerous career opportunities. Perhaps one day your expertise in skin care will be sought out by a famous person. Taking the initiative to enroll in esthetician school is the first step.

Do your homework and make sure an esthetician program is a good fit for you before enrolling. Find the best school for you by thinking about where you want to live, how much you want to pay, and what subjects you want to study.

Think long and hard about whether you really want to go into the beauty industry. Like anything else, there are good and bad days on the job. However, if you take great joy in making other people realize their own inherent attractiveness, then there is no more rewarding profession.

Envision restoring a client’s self-esteem by addressing concerns they had with their skin. That’s an emotion that can’t be bought with cash.

If you’re willing to put in the time and effort, a career as an esthetician can be very satisfying.