For seven years, 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 2017, 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 2017 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 eight categories:

• Community Involvement

• Facilities

• Marketing Innovation

• Next Level: Alumni Programs

• Nails

• Placement

• School Culture

• Technology

Two top honorees will be recognized in each category—one individual school location and a chain-school organization—and announced 2017 AACS Annual Convention & Expo.

“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.”

2017 Excellence in Education finalists in each category are listed below:

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Individuallocations:

Fewer than 75 students

• State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI

• The Salon Professional Academy, San Antonio, TX

• Aveda Institute, San Antonio, TX

76-125 students

• DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, West Springfield, MA

• Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy, Albuquerque, NM

• Aveda Fredric's Institute Indiana, Indianapolis

• Aveda Fredric's Institute West Chester, West Chester Township, OH

• Summit Salon Academy, Tampa, FL

More than 126 students

• Eric Fisher Academy, Wichita, KS

• Advance Beauty College, Laguna Hills, CA

• The Temple: A Paul Mitchell Partner School, Frederick, MD

• Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX

Chain schools:

• Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT

• Nurtur Aveda Institutes, Columbus, OH

• Evergreen Beauty College, Everett, WA

FACILITIES

Individuallocations:

Fewer than 75 students

• Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design, Greenville, NC

• State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WA

• Raritan Valley Community College, Branchburg, NJ

76-125 students

• Aveda Institute Nashville, Franklin, TN

• Arrojo Cosmetology School, New York

• Summit Salon Academy, Tampa, FL

More than 126 students

• Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX

• Federico Beauty Institute, Sacramento, CA

• Clary Sage College, Tulsa, OK

Chain schools:

• Tricoci University, Chicago

• Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT

• Nurtur Aveda Institutes, Columbus, OH

MARKETING INNOVATION

Individuallocations:

Fewer than 75 students

• Aveda Institute Madison, Madison, WI

• State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI

• The Salon Professional Academy, San Antonio, TX

76-125 students

• DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, West Springfield, MA

• Cameo College of Essential Beauty, Murray, UT

• Summit Salon Academy, Tampa, FL

More than 126 students

• Eric Fisher Academy, Wichita, KS

• Penrose Academy, Scottsdale, AZ

• The Temple: A Paul Mitchell Partner School, Frederick, MD

• Institute of Beauty and Wellness, Milwaukee

Chain schools:

• Bellus Academy, Poway, CA

• Tricoci University of Beauty Culture, Chicago

• Nurtur Aveda Institutes, Columbus, OH

• Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT

NAILS

Individuallocations:

Fewer than 75 students

• State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI

• Altoona Beauty School, Altoona, PN

76-125 students

• Summit Salon Academy, Tampa, FL

More than 126 students

• Penrose Academy, Scottsdale, AZ

• Advanced Beauty College, Laguna Hills, CA

• Institute of Beauty and Wellness, Milwaukee

Chain schools:

• Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT

• Evergreen Beauty College, Everett, WA

NEXT LEVEL: ALUMNI PROGRAMS

Individuallocations:

Fewer than 75 students

• International Institute of Cosmetology, Plainville, CT

• Aveda Institute Madison, Madison, WI

• Crave Beauty School, Wichita, KS

76-125 students

• Arrojo Cosmetology School, New York

• The Salon Professional Academy, Onalaska, WI

• Innovate Salon Academy South, Plainfield, NJ

• Summit Salon Academy, Tampa, FL

More than 126 students

• Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA

• Institute of Beauty and Wellness, Milwaukee

• Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX

• Aveda Institute Orlando, Winter Park, FL

Chain schools:

• Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT

• Tricoci University of Beauty Culture, Chicago

• MC College Group, Edmonton, Alberta

• Nurtur Aveda Institutes, Columbus, OH

PLACEMENT

Individuallocations:

Fewer than 75 students

• Aveda Institute Madison, Madison, WI

• State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI

76-125 students

• Aveda Institute Nashville, Franklin, TN

• Aveda Institute Des Moines, Des Moines, IA

• Arrojo Cosmetology School, New York

More than 126 students

• Aveda Institute Minneapolis, Minneapolis

• Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA

• Institute of Beauty and Wellness, Milwaukee

• San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology, San Francisco

Chain schools:

• Nurtur Aveda Institutes, Columbus, OH

• Evergreen Beauty College, Everett, WA

• Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT

• Aveda Institute Inspire Greatness, Denver

SCHOOL CULTURE

Individuallocations:

Fewer than 75 students

• Aveda Institute Madison, Madison, WI

• State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI

• Montage Academy, Longmont, CO

76-125 students

• Aveda Institute Nashville, Franklin, TN

• DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, West Springfield, MA

• Arrojo Cosmetology School, New York

• Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy, Albuquerque, NM

More than 126 students

• Eric Fisher Academy, Wichita, KS

• Parisian Beauty Academy, A Paul Mitchell Partner School, Hackensack, NJ

• Aveda Institute Minneapolis, Minneapolis

• San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology, San Francisco

Chain schools:

• Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT

• Nurtur Aveda Institutes, Columbus, OH

• Tricoci University of Beauty Culture, Chicago

• Aveda Institute Inspire Greatness, Denver

TECHNOLOGY

Individuallocations:

Fewer than 75 students

• Aveda Institute Madison, Madison, WI

• Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design, Greenville, NC

76-125 students

• Aveda Institute New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM

• Tenaj Salon Institute, The Villages, FL

More than 126 students

• Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX

• Eric Fisher Academy, Wichita, KS

• Parisian Beauty Academy, A Paul Mitchell Partner School, Hackensack, NJ

• Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA

• Paul Mitchell the School Houston, Houston

Chain schools:

• Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT

• Nurtur Aveda Institutes, Columbus, OH

• Aveda Institute Inspire Greatness, Denver

• Tricoci University of Beauty Culture, Chicago