2026 Rankings

    Best Value Trade Schools

    Schools that deliver strong outcomes at the lowest cost to students. Ranked by graduation rate, tuition, student debt, and financial aid access.

    1526 Schools Ranked50 StatesPowered by IPEDS Data

    Showing 1–25 of 1,526 schools

    #1
    90.4/ 100
    Grad Rate:96%
    Avg Tuition:$1,800
    Avg Loan:$5,007
    Financial Aid:93%
    #2
    90.3/ 100
    Kaizen Beauty Academy

    Pembroke Pines, FL · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:91%
    Avg Tuition:$5,657
    Avg Loan:$2,972
    Financial Aid:100%
    #3
    89.3/ 100
    Medical Solutions Academy

    Danville, VA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:94%
    Avg Tuition:$5,371
    Avg Loan:$5,035
    Financial Aid:100%
    #4
    88.4/ 100
    Grad Rate:97%
    Avg Tuition:$8,258
    Avg Loan:$4,557
    Financial Aid:N/A
    #5
    87.9/ 100
    Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting

    Nashville, TN · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:91%
    Avg Tuition:$8,174
    Avg Loan:$4,043
    Financial Aid:N/A
    #6
    87.0/ 100
    Mahoning County Career and Technical Center

    Canfield, OH · Public Institution

    Grad Rate:83%
    Avg Tuition:$4,939
    Avg Loan:$5,489
    Financial Aid:N/A
    #7
    86.9/ 100
    Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute

    Bethpage, NY · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:92%
    Avg Tuition:$3,495
    Avg Loan:$4,812
    Financial Aid:90%
    #8
    86.3/ 100
    M J Murphy Beauty College of Mount Pleasant

    Mount Pleasant, MI · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:93%
    Avg Tuition:$5,250
    Avg Loan:$5,838
    Financial Aid:100%
    #9
    85.7/ 100
    Brittany Beauty Academy

    Levittown, NY · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:88%
    Avg Tuition:$4,556
    Avg Loan:$5,717
    Financial Aid:100%
    #10
    85.6/ 100
    Moler Hollywood Beauty Academy

    Cincinnati, OH · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:95%
    Avg Tuition:$8,450
    Avg Loan:$4,000
    Financial Aid:100%
    #11
    85.4/ 100
    Urban Barber College

    Concord, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:93%
    Avg Tuition:$3,000
    Avg Loan:$5,488
    Financial Aid:90%
    #12
    85.0/ 100
    Houston Barber School

    Houston, TX · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:88%
    Avg Tuition:$1,500
    Avg Loan:$6,533
    Financial Aid:100%
    #13
    83.9/ 100
    Metro Beauty Academy

    Allentown, PA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:89%
    Avg Tuition:$6,542
    Avg Loan:$5,596
    Financial Aid:100%
    #14
    83.8/ 100
    McAllen Careers Institute

    McAllen, TX · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:84%
    Avg Tuition:$5,875
    Avg Loan:$5,279
    Financial Aid:100%
    #15
    83.0/ 100
    The Hair Academy LLC

    Fayetteville, TN · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:83%
    Avg Tuition:$7,050
    Avg Loan:$4,713
    Financial Aid:100%
    #16
    82.8/ 100
    Shawnee Beauty College

    Shawnee, OK · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:92%
    Avg Tuition:$9,477
    Avg Loan:$3,560
    Financial Aid:100%
    #17
    82.4/ 100
    Xtylo Beauty College

    Phoenix, AZ · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:80%
    Avg Tuition:$7,200
    Avg Loan:$2,002
    Financial Aid:100%
    #18
    82.2/ 100
    Access Careers logo
    Access Careers

    Hempstead, NY · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:92%
    Avg Tuition:$5,478
    Avg Loan:$6,089
    Financial Aid:94%
    #19
    82.0/ 100
    Washington Barber College Inc logo
    Washington Barber College Inc

    Little Rock, AR · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:89%
    Avg Tuition:$8,150
    Avg Loan:$5,158
    Financial Aid:100%
    #20
    81.7/ 100
    ASI Career Institute logo
    ASI Career Institute

    Turnersville, NJ · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:96%
    Avg Tuition:$5,300
    Avg Loan:$5,610
    Financial Aid:88%
    #21
    81.5/ 100
    Boca Beauty Academy logo
    Boca Beauty Academy

    Boca Raton, FL · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:88%
    Avg Tuition:$8,957
    Avg Loan:$4,392
    Financial Aid:99%
    #22
    81.1/ 100
    Redondo Beach Beauty College logo
    Redondo Beach Beauty College

    Torrance, CA · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:93%
    Avg Tuition:$5,100
    Avg Loan:$6,985
    Financial Aid:100%
    #23
    80.9/ 100
    Moler-Pickens Beauty Academy logo
    Moler-Pickens Beauty Academy

    Fairfield, OH · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:91%
    Avg Tuition:$9,208
    Avg Loan:$4,000
    Financial Aid:95%
    #24
    80.0/ 100
    Elite College of Cosmetology logo
    Elite College of Cosmetology

    Lexington, TN · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:79%
    Avg Tuition:$7,594
    Avg Loan:$3,998
    Financial Aid:100%
    #25
    79.7/ 100
    Nuvani Institute logo
    Nuvani Institute

    Eagle Pass, TX · Private Trade School

    Grad Rate:88%
    Avg Tuition:$6,783
    Avg Loan:$5,942
    Financial Aid:95%

    Our Best Value rankings evaluate trade and vocational colleges using four weighted metrics derived from federal IPEDS data: graduation rate, average tuition, average student loan amount, and financial aid accessibility.

    How are these rankings calculated? View Methodology