2026 Rankings

    Best Trade Schools in Michigan

    Data-driven rankings of 86 trade colleges in Michigan based on graduation rates, student outcomes, and affordability. No paid placements.

    86 Schools RankedPowered by IPEDS Data

    Showing 1–25 of 86 schools

    #1
    74.1/ 100
    West Michigan College of Barbering and Beauty

    Kalamazoo, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:100%
    Student-Faculty:7:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$9,112
    Financial Aid:100%
    #2
    68.7/ 100
    M J Murphy Beauty College of Mount Pleasant

    Mount Pleasant, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:93%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$5,250
    Financial Aid:100%
    #3
    68.5/ 100
    Michigan Career and Technical Institute

    Plainwell, MI · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:81%
    Student-Faculty:5:1
    Programs:11
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:100%
    #4
    65.7/ 100
    U.S. Truck Driver Training School

    Sterling Heights, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:97%
    Student-Faculty:1:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$5,188
    Financial Aid:5%
    #5
    65.6/ 100
    L'esprit Academy

    Canton, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:82%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$8,775
    Financial Aid:57%
    #6
    65.1/ 100
    Carnegie Institute

    Troy, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:90%
    Student-Faculty:2:1
    Programs:7
    Avg Tuition:N/A
    Financial Aid:67%
    #7
    64.0/ 100
    Paul Mitchell the School-Great Lakes

    Port Huron, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:82%
    Student-Faculty:7:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$5,600
    Financial Aid:83%
    #8
    63.9/ 100
    Brighton Institute of Cosmetology

    Brighton, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:95%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$3,243
    Financial Aid:17%
    #9
    62.8/ 100
    Michigan College of Beauty-Monroe

    Monroe, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:74%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$6,942
    Financial Aid:100%
    #10
    62.0/ 100
    French Academy of Cosmetology

    Spring Lake, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:97%
    Student-Faculty:8:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$11,262
    Financial Aid:38%
    #11
    61.2/ 100
    School of Missionary Aviation Technology

    Ionia, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:98%
    Student-Faculty:4:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$67,000
    Financial Aid:67%
    #11
    61.2/ 100
    Ross Medical Education Center-New Baltimore

    New Baltimore, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:84%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$15,402
    Financial Aid:82%
    #13
    59.3/ 100
    David Pressley School of Cosmetology

    Royal Oak, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:81%
    Student-Faculty:13:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$8,325
    Financial Aid:93%
    #14
    58.7/ 100
    The Salon Professional Academy of Holland

    Holland, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:83%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$8,097
    Financial Aid:46%
    #15
    56.6/ 100
    Douglas J Aveda Institute

    East Lansing, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:67%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:5
    Avg Tuition:$15,058
    Financial Aid:90%
    #15
    56.6/ 100
    Bayshire Academy of Beauty Craft Inc

    Bay City, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:77%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$7,117
    Financial Aid:74%
    #17
    54.7/ 100
    Paul Mitchell the School-Michigan

    Sterling Heights, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:72%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$13,994
    Financial Aid:80%
    #18
    53.8/ 100
    Elevate Salon Institute logo
    Elevate Salon Institute

    Royal Oak, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:78%
    Student-Faculty:12:1
    Programs:5
    Avg Tuition:$11,490
    Financial Aid:29%
    #19
    52.9/ 100
    Michigan College of Beauty-Troy logo
    Michigan College of Beauty-Troy

    Troy, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:71%
    Student-Faculty:10:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$11,633
    Financial Aid:73%
    #20
    52.7/ 100
    Ross Medical Education Center-Brighton logo
    Ross Medical Education Center-Brighton

    Brighton, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:71%
    Student-Faculty:6:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$8,826
    Financial Aid:60%
    #21
    51.4/ 100
    Metro Detroit Barber College logo
    Metro Detroit Barber College

    Detroit, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:77%
    Student-Faculty:15:1
    Programs:2
    Avg Tuition:$1,822
    Financial Aid:93%
    #21
    51.4/ 100
    Marketti Academy of Cosmetology logo
    Marketti Academy of Cosmetology

    Waterford, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:73%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$6,895
    Financial Aid:19%
    #23
    51.2/ 100
    Protege Academy logo
    Protege Academy

    East Lansing, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:67%
    Student-Faculty:9:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$9,280
    Financial Aid:88%
    #24
    51.0/ 100
    Hillsdale Beauty College logo
    Hillsdale Beauty College

    Hillsdale, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:63%
    Student-Faculty:3:1
    Programs:3
    Avg Tuition:$11,260
    Financial Aid:77%
    #25
    50.6/ 100
    P&A Scholars Beauty School logo
    P&A Scholars Beauty School

    Detroit, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:74%
    Student-Faculty:22:1
    Programs:4
    Avg Tuition:$8,750
    Financial Aid:100%

    Our rankings evaluate trade and vocational colleges using six weighted metrics derived from federal IPEDS data: graduation rate, student-faculty ratio, program breadth, institutional scale, financial accessibility, and affordability. Schools must meet minimum eligibility requirements to be ranked.

    How are these rankings calculated? View Methodology