The role of aesthetic education in higher vocational colleges has garnered increasing attention, as it not only enriches students’ campus cultural life but also enhances their innovative and practical capabilities. Higher vocational colleges should provide diversified aesthetic education platforms and encourage students to participate in artistic
activities and social practices, thereby achieving the organic integration of knowledge, skills, emotions, and values. This study investigates and analyzes the current status of aesthetic education curriculum implementation in Chinese higher vocational colleges, examines students’ perceptions, interests, and demands for such courses, identifies existing challenges, and proposes targeted solutions. The findings reveal that most students perceive aesthetic education as crucial for personal growth. However, issues such as homogeneous course formats and tedious teaching content persist. This research aims to provide insights for improving the quality of aesthetic education curricula in higher vocational institutions.