Esthetics is a Certificate program offered by Jean Madeline Institute in Philadelphia, PA. The program takes 9 to 10 weeks full time to complete, with a total tuition of $6,900.
Program Overview
The Esthetics program is 300 clock hours of skin care training with an emphasis on pure flower and plant essence treatments, preparing students to become licensed estheticians in Pennsylvania. You learn the physiology, analysis and care of skin and a variety of facial and relaxation techniques on live models and guests; full body and facial waxing are core skills, and makeup finishes the program.
Level 1 (90 hours) covers facial manipulations, equipment, plant aromaology, anatomy, histology and state safety requirements. Level 2 (90 hours) applies that knowledge in clinic while you refine skin care and makeup to the Institute's service standards. Level 3 (120 hours) adds client service, time management, self-promotion, goal-setting, merchandising and entrepreneurship. The website lists customized and back facials, body treatments and exfoliation, aromatherapy and skin analysis. Report cards are given at 150 and 300 hours.
What sets this Program apart
The institute’s mission. "The mission of the Jean Madeline Institute is to prepare our students for careers in the fields of cosmetology, esthiology, and nail technology including the development of practical skills necessary for success with business skills, customer service, retailing and communications."
The environment it aims for. "The Jean Madeline Institute is committed to fostering an environment of respect and trust in order to allow students to express their individuality and creativity. We create exceptional experiences through education, wellness and dedication, in our institutes, spas, salons and the beauty industry."
Admission Requirements and Process
Choosing the right beauty school is a big step, and we’re here to make it exciting, clear, and totally achievable. At Jean Madeline Institute, our admissions and financial aid teams are ready to support you from your first question all the way to your first day of class.
General Requirements
- Career Planning SessionHave a career planning session with an Admissions Representative.
- Admissions ApplicationComplete an admissions application.
- High School CompletionProvide valid proof of High School Completion or Higher. This includes a copy of a high school/college diploma, high school/college transcript with a graduation date, or GED. The…
- Government-Issued Photo IDProvide a valid USA Government-Issued Photo ID. This includes a driver’s license, state-issued ID, or passport. Must be a citizen or eligible non-citizen, with documentation.
- Minimum Age 17Must be 17 years of age.
- Foreign Education EvaluationIf you were educated outside of the United States, provide an evaluation of your education only from an accredited evaluation service provider. A foreign high school diploma must…
- Financial Aid MeetingMeet with a financial aid representative, if applicable.
- Enrollment AgreementSign an enrollment agreement with an admissions representative.
Application Process
- 1Admissions InterviewYour interview is a relaxed, one-on-one conversation with a member of our Admissions team, usually conducted during your campus visit. Share your career goals, ask questions about the program and make sure Jean Madeline is the right fit for you.
- 2Complete Application FormContact our Admissions team to complete an admissions application. Tell us a little about yourself, your interests and what excites you about a career in beauty.
- 3Application ReviewWe’ll review your application to ensure you meet program requirements. If everything looks good, we’ll invite you to the next step: enrollment.
- 4Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA)Meet with a financial aid representative, if applicable. Financial aid is available for those who qualify, and our team will help you understand grants, loans, scholarships, and payment plans.FAFSA Code for University City: 026161Fill Out the FAFSA
- 5Enrollment & Financial PlanningAfter acceptance, we’ll guide you through enrollment, discuss tuition, financial aid options and payment plans, and you’ll sign an enrollment agreement with an admissions representative.
- 6Create Your ScheduleOnce you’ve completed your application and connected with an admissions representative, you’re ready to create your schedule and prepare for your first day of class.
Program Schedule
Full time is Tuesday to Friday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, 28 hours a week, at all three campuses: at least 9 weeks at Queen Village and University City and 10 at Neshaminy Mall. Queen Village also offers three-quarter time, Monday to Friday 9:30 am to 2:30 pm (25 hours, at least 12 weeks). University City runs an evening part-time class, Tuesday to Thursday 4:30 to 9:30 pm, which the catalog's schedule page lists at 15 hours a week for at least 20 weeks and its start-date list at 18 hours. The remaining 2026 starts are September 15 (evening) at University City, October 13 at Queen Village and October 20 at Neshaminy Mall. Satisfactory progress requires at least 88% attendance and a 70% grade average, checked at 150 hours; a student who falls short is placed on warning, may appeal within 10 calendar days and continue on probation with an academic plan. The maximum time allowed is 12 weeks full time, 14 three-quarter time or 23 part time (340 scheduled hours).
Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Attending an accredited school means its training has been reviewed against independent standards that protect students.
This school: Jean Madeline Institute is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS), which lists it as Jean Madeline Aveda Institute: Queen Village is the main campus (#048099-00, first accredited in 1989), with Neshaminy Mall (#B48099-01, since 2003) and University City (#B48099-02, since 2007) as additional locations. The next renewal is due in September 2030. The Institute is approved and licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology.
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Reviewed against independent standards
- Recognized by employers and licensing boards
Accreditations
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Cost of the program. The August 2026 catalog prices Esthetics at $8,275: $6,900 tuition, $1,250 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.
Paying for Esthetics. The catalog lists Basic Cosmetology and Teacher as the Institute's Title IV eligible programmes; Esthetics is not one of the programmes the catalog lists as eligible for federal student aid. Students pay by credit card, cash, check, money order, scholarship or a Sallie Mae or other private loan, and the website points to beauty industry scholarships 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.
Curriculum
The course units required by the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology, with their hours, are below: 300 in all. Theory covers skin care treatments and cosmetics, histology of the skin, massage, facials, artificial eyelashes, hair removal, lash and brow tinting and light therapy. Coursework uses the Pivot Point LAB Esthiology Fundamentals platform.
The required courses below are from Jean Madeline Institute's published catalog.
Required Courses
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Theory (Classroom Instruction) | 40 |
| Bacteriology, Decontamination and Infection Control | 100 |
| Facials | 160 |
| Totals | 300 |
Required Courses
| Name |
|---|
| Theory (Classroom Instruction) |
| Bacteriology, Decontamination and Infection Control |
| Facials |
| Totals |
Career Outcomes
Graduates can work as estheticians and makeup artists, and the catalog's education and other fields include freelance makeup artist, consultant or trainer and manufacturer educator.
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 Esthetics rates to NACCAS of 98.53% completion, 64% placement and 96.15% licensure at Queen Village and 97.67%, 70.59% and 89.47% at Neshaminy Mall; University City had no Esthetics data for the period. 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.
What to expect as a Jean Madeline Institute student
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.