For six years running, MODERN SALON Media has worked with the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) to develop MODERN SALON’sExcellence in Educationprogram. The purpose is to help the professional beauty school community gather, share and celebrate examples of great salon education experiences and beauty career development happening across the country.

In 2016, the crop of cosmetology schools entering the program brought plenty of benchmarks, measurable results and innovation into their application process.

“School pride and powerful results were very evident this year,” says MODERN SALON Editorial Director Michele Musgrove. “We are so impressed with the variety of top schools in the U.S. that entered MODERN SALON’s 2016 Excellence in Education program. We have chosen a select few that we believe show leadership and best practices that other schools can use to learn and grow.”

Finalists were determined based on key criteria in each category and grouped according to school size or whether or not they entered as a multi-unit school or single location.

Schools could enter one or more of seven categories:

• Community Involvement

• Facilities

• Marketing Innovation

• Next Level: Alumni Programs

• Placement

• School Culture

• Technology

Two top honorees will be recognized in each category—one individual school location and a multi-location school organization—and announced Saturday, November 5, 2016, at the AACS Annual Convention & Expo in Orlando, Florida.

“On behalf of the entire professional beauty industry, we express gratitude that there are so many professional cosmetology schools continuing to do amazing and valuable work to shape the future of beauty," says MODERN SALON Publisher Steve Reiss. "The purpose of Excellence in Education is to make sure more of these great schools get the attention they deserve.”

2016 Excellence in Education finalists in each category are listed below:

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Individuallocations:

Fewer than 75 students

• Crave Beauty Academy, Ballwin, MO

• The Salon Professional Academy, Appleton, WI

• The Salon Professional Academy, Fargo, ND

• State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI

76-125 students

• Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX

• Summit Salon Academy, Tampa, FL

• DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, West Springfield, MA

• Toni&Guy, Albuquerque, NM

More than 126 students

• Ogle School: Hair, Skin, Nails, Stafford, TX

• Michigan Barber School, Detroit

• Paul Mitchell the School Chicago

• Penrose Academy, Scottsdale, AZ

Multi-unit schools (complete organization):

• Douglas J. Aveda Institute, East Lansing, MI

• Evergreen Beauty College, Evergreen, WA

• MC College, Edmonton, AB

• Capri College, Dubuque, IA

• Phagans Cosmetology Colleges, Bend, OR

FACILITIES

Individuallocations:

Fewer than 75 students

• Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design, Greenville, NC

• The Salon Professional Academy, Altoona, PA

• Pure Aesthetics, Tucson, AZ

76-125 students

• Aveda Institute Nashville, Franklin, TN

• Summit Salon Academy, Tampa, FL

• Blake Austin College/Beauty Academy, Vacaville, CA

• Aveda Institute Madison, Madison, OH

More than 126 students

• The Beauty Institute/Schwarzkopf Professional, Philadelphia

• Federico Beauty Institute, Sacramento, CA

• Northwest College School of Beauty, Tualatin, OR

Multi-unit schools (complete organization):

• Keune Academy by 124, Lawrenceville, GA

• Tricoci University of Beauty Culture, Oak Brook, IL

• Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy, Costa Mesa, CA

MARKETING INNOVATION

Individuallocations:

Fewer than 75 students

• The Salon Professional Academy, Georgetown, TX

• Pure Aesthetics, Tucson, AZ

76-125 students

• Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX

• Summit Salon Academy, Tampa, FL

• DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, West Springfield, MA

• Blake Austin College/Beauty Academy, Vacaville, CA

• Aveda Institute Madison, Madison, WI

More than 126 students

• Paul Mitchell the School San Diego

• Eric Fisher Acacemy, Wichita, KS

• Clary Sage College, Tulsa, OK

• Cameo College of Essential Beauty, Murray, UT

• Penrose Academy, Scottsdale, AZ

Multi-unit schools (complete organization):

• Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT

• Tricoci University of Beauty Culture, Oak Brook, IL

• Bellus Academy, Poway, CA

• Aveda Institutes South, Hammond, LA

• Ogle School, Arlington, TX

NEXT LEVEL: ALUMNI PROGRAMS

Individuallocations:

Fewer than 75 students

• State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI

76-125 students

• Aveda Institute Des Moines, Des Moines, IA

• Arrojo Cosmetology School, New York

• Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX

More than 126 students

• Paul Mitchell the School Pasadena, Pasadena, CA

• Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA

• The Institute of Beauty and Wellness, Milwaukee

Multi-unit schools (complete organization):

• Evergreen Beauty College, Everett, WA

• Tricoci University of Beauty College, Oak Brook, IL

• Bellus Academy, Poway, CA

PLACEMENT

Individuallocations:

Fewer than 75 students

• Crave Beauty Academy, Ballwin, MO

76-125 students

• Stewart School, Sioux Falls, SD

• Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX

• Crave Beauty Academy, Wichita, KS

• Aveda Institute Madison, Madison, WI

More than 126 students

• The Eric Fisher Academy, Wichita, KS

• Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA

• The Institute of Beauty and Wellness, Milwaukee

Multi-unit schools (complete organization):

• The Studio Academy of Beauty, Chandler, AZ

• Bellus Academy, Poway, CA

• Nurtur Aveda Institutes, Columbus, OH

SCHOOL CULTURE

Individuallocations:

Fewer than 75 students

• Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design, Greenville, NC

76-125 students

• Aveda Institute Madison, Madison, WI

• Aveda Institute Nashville, Franklin, TN

• Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX

• DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, West Springfield, MA

• The Salon Professional Academy, Evansville, IN

• Toni&Guy Albuquerque, Alburquerque, NM

More than 126 students

• Aveda Institute Orlando, Winter Park, FL

• Eric Fisher Academy Wichita, KS

• Taylor Andrews, West Jordan, UT

Multi-unit schools (complete organization):

• Aveda Institute Birmingham, Hoover, AL

• Aveda Institute CO/AZ/UT, Denver

• Capri College, Dubuque, IA

• Nurtur Aveda Institutes, Columbus, OH

• Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT

• Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy, Costa Mesa, CA

TECHNOLOGY

Individuallocations:

Fewer than 75 students

• Crave Beauty Academy, Ballwin, MO

• State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI

76-125 students

• Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX

• Crave Beauty Academy, Wichita, KS

More than 126 students

• Clary Sage College, Tulsa, OK

• Cameo College of Essential Beauty, Murray, UT

• Michigan Barber School, Detroit

• Penrose Academy, Scottsdale, AZ

Multi-unit schools (complete organization):

• MC College, Edmonton, AB

• Paul Mitchell the School Dallas, Carrolton, TX

• Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy, Costa Mesa, CA