Most Popular Beauty Schools in Boston, MA Metro Area

WRITTEN BY Beauty Schools Directory Editorial Staff | EDITED BY Sarah Mattie | UPDATED ON 03/29/2024

Boston, MA Most Popular Beauty Schools

527 students enrolled

Jupiter Beauty Academy is committed to helping prospective cosmetologists pass the state board exam, obtain licensure, and work as beauty professionals.

The beauty school has cosmetology, nail technology, esthetics, massage therapy, and eyelash extension certification programs. The 1,000-hour cosmetology program, in particular, has an extensive curriculum covering topics in manicuring (including 12.5 hours of instruction in artificial nail techniques), hair removal, facials, skin care, and hair styling, cutting, and coloring.

Coursework also involves wig instruction, shampooing, scalp treatments, sanitation and hygiene procedures, and best salon business practices. Students learn through oral, written, and practical tests to be sufficiently prepared for the state licensing exams.

Former students praise the academy's teaching staff for their expert knowledge and friendly demeanor in online reviews. "They are caring and nurturing and help you do your absolute best. I was super prepared for and confident when leaving to begin my career," a former student explains in a Google review.

#2: Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics and Massage Therapy — Medford

413 students enrolled

The Elizabeth Grady School of Esthetics opened its doors in 1975 and is credited with separating esthetics and cosmetology education in Massachusetts. The "Grady Bill" set a precedent in the United States in establishing esthetics as a separate field, and other states soon followed. The school offers programs in esthetics and massage therapy.

Its hybrid esthetics program takes 600 hours to complete and on three different schedules:

Full time: Monday through Friday, 9am to 4.30pm
Three-quarter time: Monday through Thursday, 9.30am-2.30pm
Part-time: Mondays and Tuesdays, 6:30-9:30pm, and Saturdays, 9am-3:30pm

The program covers a wide range of skincare, makeup, massage, and hair removal techniques.

"I absolutely adored my school, and I learned so much," says one review on Indeed. "A great school with a welcoming environment that really prepares you to be a successful esthetician," says another. "The instructors are very understanding and helpful."

#3: Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy — Worcester

358 students enrolled

#4: New England Hair Academy — Malden

294 students enrolled

New England Hair Academy is a leading private beauty school offering cosmetology, barbering, and manicuring training. Students can complete the school's 1,000-hour cosmetology program in just seven months, and day and evening classes are available to fit any student's schedule.

The well-rounded curriculum involves basic cosmetology instruction along with foundational business and ethics training. Classes are a mix of theoretical and hands-on instruction with a strong emphasis on career preparation. Students hone their skills in the school's full-service salon and gain the professional traits needed to succeed in the beauty industry. Your connection to the school doesn't end when you graduate, however. The school also offers alumni job placement assistance to help them get interviews with top salons.

"[Ne]w england hair academy did exactly what they promised me when i signed up, which was to get the hours and education needed to go on to the state board exam. i am now a licensed cosmetologist working on newbury street, and i will always say one of the best decisions i ever made was going to school here. i loved the staff, especially ms. nagat!!" says a 2020 graduate of the school in a Google review.

#5: Spa Tech Institute — Plymouth

285 students enrolled

#6: Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics — Woburn

245 students enrolled

#7: Spa Tech Institute — Westborough

243 students enrolled

#8: Rob Roy Academy — Worcester

204 students enrolled

#9: Empire Beauty School — Malden

130 students enrolled

#10: Massachusetts School of Barbering — Quincy

89 students enrolled

#10: Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute — Lowell

89 students enrolled

#12: Alexander Academy — Lunenburg

77 students enrolled

#13: Electrology Institute of NE — Tewksbury

72 students enrolled

More Boston-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.

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