Beauty Schools with the Best Graduation Rates in Phoenix, AZ Metro Area

WRITTEN BY Kathleen Curtis | EDITED BY Antony Whitton | UPDATED ON 06/11/2024

For potential beauty school students, graduation rates are crucial when evaluating potential programs. Graduation rates offer a reasonable measure of a school's ability to educate and prepare students for their careers.

A high graduation rate can indicate that a school offers effective training, support, and resources. You should factor this data in when searching for your future beauty program. Here are the Phoenix metro area beauty schools with the highest graduation rates.

Beauty Schools with the Best Graduation Rates in Phoenix, AZ Metro Badge

Phoenix, AZ Beauty Schools with the Best Graduation Rates

#1: Penrose Academy — Scottsdale

94% grad rate

This academy is not only one of the city's best beauty schools but tops the list for graduation rates at 94%. Known for its roster of experienced instructors and excellent curriculum, Penrose graduates are uniquely prepared to start their beauty careers.

Penrose particularly emphasizes experiential learning, industry best practices, and personalized mentorship. This standout school's commitment to student success reflects its dedication to training the next generation of Arizona beauty professionals.

#2: International Barber College — Chandler

85% grad rate

At International Barber College in Chandler, they make their aim clear: to prepare their students with the foundational knowledge and skills to earn their state barbering license. And, what comes with pragmatic professional training and emphasis on growth in the field, is an 85% graduation rate. This ranks it among the best in the state.

This school is also accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, further pointing to an effective barbering curriculum. In addition to hands-on barber training, other programs include barber instructor and barber/cosmetologist crossover programs.

Google reviewer Antonio says, "I was a student at International Barber College, with experience of attending another school previously. And this program is by far the best all around. The instructors care about their students and will work with you to achieve the skill set needed to reach the success you want to obtain."

#3: Aveda Institute Phoenix — Tempe

81% grad rate

With campuses across the United States, Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute is synonymous with quality training. And, while reputation can go a long way, the school's Tempe campus boasts an 81% graduation rate.

At Aveda's Tempe campus, students can access cosmetology and esthetics programs. Both professional pathways lean heavily on hands-on training while promoting an inclusive curriculum open to students of varying learning styles.

#4: Xtylo Beauty College — Phoenix

78% grad rate

Showcasing a 78% graduation rate, Xtylo offers programs for prospective cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, nail technicians, and future beauty school teachers.

In addition to a broad spectrum of programs, Xtylo keeps it inclusive by offering every training pathway in English and Spanish. Xtylo Beauty and Barber College is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences.

Graduate Esmeralda says, "I was a student, and it was the best 12 months ever. Honestly loved the environment. The instructors really made the effort to teach me everything I can. The practice was amazing. This school even offers financial aid, which was very beneficial, and I loved it!"

#5: The Studio Academy of Beauty — Chandler

77% grad rate

Established in 2006, The Studio Academy of Beauty's Chandler campus offers multiple training programs and boasts a 77% graduation rate. Students can choose between cosmetology, esthetics, and hairstyling programs at this location.

At The Studio Academy of Beauty, students learn from a team of experienced beauty professionals, covering everything they need to know to pass Arizona's state licensing exams and start their own businesses. The school also offers multiple class schedules to ensure maximum flexibility.

#6: Paul Mitchell The School Phoenix — Phoenix

74% grad rate

#7: Avalon Institute — Mesa

63% grad rate

#8: Empire Beauty School — Chandler

52% grad rate

More Phoenix-Area Beauty School Rankings

Methodology and Editor’s Notes

We compared educational institutions from the Beauty Schools Directory database of beauty programs across the U.S. Those analyzed for these rankings were educational institutions that:

Report into the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)—predominantly institutions with programmatic accreditation
Had 50 or more students over the course of 12 months as of 2022
Were not a vocational/technical high school, community college, or postsecondary school that mainly offered programs outside of beauty training. We also excluded institutions offering massage therapy programs exclusively. These types of institutions were omitted for various reasons that make key data points difficult or irrelevant to compare apples to apples. We intended to compare standalone beauty schools or schools that mainly train beauty students.
For this ranking, “graduation rate within 150% of normal completion time of the program” was chosen as the variable, because beauty education caters to many nontraditional postsecondary students who often have life reasons that interfere with graduation within 100% of normal completion time. Institutions with such a graduation rate of less than 50% were omitted from the ranking.

Data was sourced from 2022, the latest available as of publication date.