Basic Cosmetology

Cost of the program. The August 2026 catalog prices Basic Cosmetology at $22,040: $20,805 tuition, $1,110 for books, equipment and supplies, which covers professional tools, textbooks and uniforms, a $100 registration fee that secures your class start and a $25 application fee. All amounts are subject to change.

Federal aid. The catalog names Basic Cosmetology and Teacher as the Institute's Title IV eligible programmes. Those who qualify may receive a Federal Pell Grant, Direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans and Parent PLUS loans, based on the Student Aid Index from the FAFSA; enter school code 026161. Borrowers complete entrance counseling before orientation and sign a master promissory note, and students selected for verification have three to four business days to send documents. Aid is released as you progress, and money beyond your charges, usually from loans, can go toward living expenses. Eligible veterans can use chapter 31 and 33 benefits without late fees while VA payment is pending, and the website lists scholarships, PHEAA and institutional payment plans.

Other charges. Payments are due by your first day unless you have an accepted funding plan. Tuition received after the 5th of the month incurs a $50 late fee, and a returned or reissued check costs $30. Optional books, materials, supplies, equipment or special events may add up to $500, which VA benefits do not cover. Extra instruction after you finish your hours, if the Institute Director agrees, costs $15 an hour paid in advance. Accepted payments are credit card, cash, check, money order, scholarship, Title IV aid where eligible, and Sallie Mae or other private loans.

Cancelling and refunds. If your application is rejected or you cancel within three business days of signing, everything is refunded except the $25 application fee. Cancel after that but before starting and you get back everything except the $25 application and $100 registration fees. Once you start, the Institute keeps those fees, the kit (which becomes yours) and a share of tuition based on hours completed: 10% up to 9.9% of the program, 20% to 19.9%, 30% to 29.9%, 40% to 39.9%, 50% to 49.9%, 60% to 59.9%, and all of it from 60%. Refunds are paid within 45 days, after any return of Title IV funds, and a balance left unpaid 30 days after notice carries a 1.5% monthly late charge unless a payment plan is agreed.

The catalog lists entry-level roles as hair stylist, esthetician, makeup artist, manicurist, sales representative, permanent waving specialist and hair coloring specialist, and in education and other fields as instructor, freelance or manufacturer educator, consultant or trainer, freelance makeup artist and stylist for film, theater, fashion and print.

Licensing. To be licensed in Pennsylvania you complete the required hours and pass the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology written theory and state law examination, providing any required documents, including a criminal history record for every state you lived in during the last five years. The Institute includes a State Board review but does not guarantee that you will pass, and it helps graduates find work through its salon and spa network, career fairs and career days without guaranteeing placement.

Published outcomes. For students scheduled to graduate in 2024, the catalog reports Basic Cosmetology rates to NACCAS of 100% completion, 100% placement and 100% licensure at Queen Village; 89.74%, 93.10% and 93.55% at Neshaminy Mall; and 56.72%, 88% and 96.15% at University City. Across all programmes and campuses, 199 of the 234 students scheduled to finish in 2024 completed (85.04%), with 78% placement and 93.75% licensure.

Three campuses. Queen Village, the original campus opened in 1987 at 315A Bainbridge Street, is an 11,000 square foot historic carriage house with 62 styling stations and an outdoor space for breaks. University City, at 40th and Chestnut Streets, is 12,000 square feet with 72 stations and floor-to-ceiling windows, a block from SEPTA's 40th Street Station, with limited street parking. Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem is 10,000 square feet with 70 stations and four classrooms with interactive whiteboards, and ample mall parking. Every campus has classrooms, shampoo and dispensary areas, a large student salon, practice labs, a retail store and a resource library. A 200-hour Nail Technology course appears in the catalog as awaiting NACCAS approval and is not listed here.

Attendance and dress. You are clocked in and out by an instructor, including for lunch, and must be clocked in by the exact minute school begins. The Institute expects at least 93% attendance; excused absences are limited to a funeral (one day), jury duty or a court subpoena, and 14 consecutive days away ends your enrollment. Students wear the Institute t-shirt with solid black pants or skirts and black closed shoes, with slip-resistant soles strongly recommended; head coverings are not allowed except for documented religious reasons, and phones are used only with an instructor's permission.

Learning. All classes are taught in English. Coursework is delivered through the Pivot Point LAB online platform, which includes the textbook (a hard copy costs extra), with lectures, demonstrations, cooperative learning and student presentations. Students perform hair, skin and nail services for guests in the student salon under instructor supervision, and take part in career fairs and career days. The Institute does not provide housing.

Closures. The 2026 calendar still includes in-service days on September 29 and November 10, Thanksgiving, and December 24 to 26, with an early 2:00 pm dismissal on December 31.