Aesthetics

Day: all campuses, 35 hours a week with a one-hour lunch: Monday theory from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, a daily 8:30 to 9:30 am theory hour, and supervised clinic Tuesday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, for seven theory hours a week. The course can be completed in 18 weeks, and students are allowed five months. The financial aid flyer also mentions a 20-hour part-time schedule.

Boot Camp attendance. An aesthetics student who misses two days (16 hours) in the first two weeks is dropped and may re-enroll at the next start.

Starts. 2026 classes begin January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2, July 7, August 4, September 1, October 6, November 3 and December 1.

Cost of the program. The catalog's fee schedule, headed "2025 Charges" and matching the January 2026 financial aid flyer, prices Aesthetics at $6,600 tuition, a $1,505 kit, $500 books, a $170 registration fee and a $20 permit, for an $8,795 total. The catalog's introduction says Aesthetics is offered at Rogers, Fort Smith and Siloam Springs, while its program section, the website and NACCAS list all five campuses.

Paying for school. The $170 registration fee and $20 permit fee are paid when you sign, with the balance paid before your start or through an approved plan by cash, check, money order, credit card or outside loan programs; the financial aid flyer adds in-house financing and monthly payment plans for cash-paying students. Enrollment agreements include 20% extra time for make-up; after the contract end date, remaining hours cost $15 each ($120 a day), within a 150% maximum, and students who finish on time receive a $78 scholarship. Withdrawing costs a $150 fee, and re-entering after more than 30 days a $170 fee.

Federal aid. The school takes part in Title IV programs: Pell Grants, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and Parent PLUS Loans, and VA education benefits are accepted (hybrid classes are not available to VA students). The catalog lists FAFSA school codes by campus: Fayetteville E02161, Fort Smith E40413, Rogers E01654, Siloam Springs E01766 and Springdale 016596. Springdale's code differs from the institution's federal OPEID (02341700), so confirm your campus's code with the financial aid office before filing. The catalog's cost of attendance ranges are Cosmetology $31,346 to $37,846, Aesthetics $12,500 to $14,500, Manicure $13,400 to $15,900 and Instructor $10,500 to $12,500.

Cancelling and refunds. Cancel in writing within three business days of signing for a full refund, even after classes start; cancel later but before starting and everything except the $170 registration fee is refunded. After you start, the school keeps a share of tuition based on scheduled time: 20% up to 4.9%, 30% to 9.9%, 40% to 14.9%, 45% to 24.9%, 70% to 49.9%, and all of it from 50%. The $150 withdrawal fee applies, kits and books are non-refundable once issued, refunds are paid within 45 days, and a student absent 14 consecutive calendar days is withdrawn.

Licensing. Graduates receive a diploma after completing the hours, an 81% average and the final exams. Arkansas licensure requires passing the practical exam (75%) and the written exam with state law (70%); exam fees are $78 each.

Finding work. The school keeps placement information, trains students in professional appearance, resume writing, goal setting and job referrals, and contacts salon owners where graduates want to work, though placement is not guaranteed. The catalog describes pay ranging from minimum wage plus commission to flat commissions of about 50%, sometimes 60%, with tips as a second source of income, and advises against booth rental until you are established.

Published outcomes. The catalog's 2023 rates report that 87% of students scheduled to graduate finished within 150% of their scheduled time, 77% of graduates found jobs in the field and 89% of cosmetology exam takers passed. For Aesthetics by campus it lists Rogers 95% graduation, 50% placement and 75% licensure; Fayetteville 0% graduation, 0% placement and 0% licensure; Siloam Springs 77% graduation, 33% placement and 67% licensure; Springdale 0% graduation, 0% placement and 0% licensure; Fort Smith 100% graduation, 81% placement and 91% licensure. Some campuses show 0% rows, printed as they appear, which may reflect programs with no graduates that year.

The campuses. Career Academy of Hair Design has been in continuous operation for more than 30 years and today teaches at five Northwest and western Arkansas campuses: Springdale (346 East Robinson Avenue), Rogers (2100 West Hudson Road), Fayetteville (4310 West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard), Fort Smith (1000 Phoenix Avenue) and Siloam Springs (821 South Mount Olive Street). Each has a large clinic, several classrooms, a facial room, a manicure room, a dispensary and a break room, and the classrooms have styling chairs, dryers, large-screen TVs and a library; the business office is at Rogers. Instructors complete at least 12 hours of continuing education a year. Students moving to the area can get advice on finding housing.

Daily life. Students wear CAHD scrubs with a lanyard name tag, scan in and out on the Genesis time clock, and take a one-hour lunch between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. Phones are for school use only on the clinic floor and in class, food and drink stay in the break area, clients are booked through the school, and a student who refuses a client ticket is sent home for 24 hours. An advisory report sends a student home for the day; two can bring a week's suspension and three can end enrollment. The school no longer offers leaves of absence (since February 19, 2019), and students may switch campuses or programs only after finishing their current payment period.

Closures. In 2026 the school closes January 1 and 2, May 25, July 3 and 4, September 7, November 25 to 27 and December 24 and 25, and announces weather closings on Facebook and local television. The catalog notes long periods of standing and some exposure to hot wax, solvents and acrylic liquids.