Manicuring is a Diploma program offered by M J Murphy Beauty College of Mount Pleasant in Mount Pleasant, MI. The program takes 20 weeks full time to complete, with a total tuition of $6,000.
Program Overview
The objective of the Manicurist Course is to prepare the student for a successful and rewarding career as a licensed manicurist. Through 600 clock hours of theory and practical training, the student should gain the knowledge, skills and ability to pass the state licensing exam, protect the health and safety of the consumer, solve the consumer’s nail problems, and keep abreast of changing techniques.
Michigan licenses a manicurist who is at least 17, of good moral character, holds a high school diploma or GED, has completed a course of not less than 600 hours in a licensed school of cosmetology, and passes the State Board of Cosmetology’s examination.
The mission of M.J. Murphy Beauty College is to prepare cosmetology professionals for a state license and a rewarding career in cosmetology, manicuring or instructing.
What sets this Program apart
- A complete nail kit. The equipment list includes an OPI professional nail kit and OPI pedicure kit, a state board acrylic kit, a UV curing lamp, an e-file, a nail dust collector, a professional hard gel kit and two practice hands.
- Artificial nails in depth. Sculpture nail supplies are issued as a kit or from bulk supply, and artificial nails are the largest block of the published curriculum.
- Ready for the state exam. Pre-state finals are passed at 80%, above the 70% the state testing company requires.
- Frequent starts. Manicuring has its own calendar, with four start dates in 2026 and four in 2027.
Admission Requirements and Process
Our admissions staff is ready to assist you and answer any questions you might have regarding our colleges. We provide individual financial planning for your tuition needs, and we participate in a number of financial aid programs to provide you with as many options as possible.
General Requirements
- Minimum Age 17Cosmetology and Manicuring applicants must be 17 years old.
- High School Diploma or GEDHigh school graduation diploma, high school transcript showing graduation date, or General Education Development (GED) certificate. For home-schooled enrollees, a state-issued…
- Picture IDProvide a picture I.D.
Application Process
- 1Contact AdmissionsOur admissions staff is ready to assist you and answer any questions you might have. Call (989) 772-2339 to get started.
- 2Plan Your TuitionThe school provides individual financial planning for your tuition needs, including registration fee, down payment and monthly payment plan options.
- 3Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA)Financial Aid is available to qualified applicants. Title IV funds include grants and loans; a prospective student may complete the FAFSA to apply for Title IV.FAFSA Code for Mount Pleasant: 013218Fill Out the FAFSA
- 4Sign the Enrollment AgreementSign the enrollment agreement and pay the $200.00 registration fee. The enrollment agreement, if accepted by the school, states all the conditions of enrollment.
- 5Start ClassBegin on one of the scheduled class start dates. Cosmetology and Instructor classes start in January, April, June, September and November; Manicuring has its own published start dates.
Program Schedule
600 clock hours: 20 weeks full time or 31 weeks part time. The maximum time allowed at satisfactory progress is 30 weeks (900 hours) full time.
Full-time classes are 35 hours a week and part-time classes 21 hours a week. Junior-level students attend Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; senior-level students attend Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday hours are required. A full-time student can average 30 hours a week and still finish by the contract end date.
If a student has not completed the hours by the contract end date, the remaining hours are charged at $10.00 an hour. A leave of absence extends the contract by the calendar days of the leave.
Manicuring starts on its own calendar: March 16, June 8, August 31 and November 30 in 2026, and February 22, May 17, August 9 and November 1 in 2027.
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
When you attend an accredited institution, you attend a school that has been independently evaluated for educational quality.
This program: M.J. Murphy Beauty College is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). It is licensed by the Michigan State Board of Cosmetology, and state licensure is not the same thing as accreditation.
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
Student Demographics
These are demographics for all students at the Mount Pleasant Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $6,000 |
| Registration fee (non-refundable) | $200 |
| Equipment and text | $1,500 |
| Total balance | $7,700 |
The equipment and text figure is the cost when purchased from the school, and the kit is paid before tuition. Students have the option of buying the kit items from a local beauty supply store.
Payment plan. $200 at registration, a $1,000 down payment, then 7 monthly payments of $928.57. The federal aid payment period for Manicuring is 300 clock hours.
Paying for school. Payment may be made by cash, money order, check, or Title IV funds including Pell Grants and loans; apply at fafsa.gov using federal school code 013218. Students on a payment plan pay each month on or before the 1st and may not return to class until that payment is made. The registration fee is non-refundable; a student who cancels within three business days of signing receives all money back.
Curriculum
No course table is loaded for Manicuring, because the college’s own table does not add up to the course. Its Manicure/Nail Tech curriculum lists sanitation and patron protection, anatomy and disorders, manicuring and pedicuring techniques, artistic principles, chemistry and OSHA, artificial nails and unassigned hours, but its printed total is 400 hours. The course, its tuition table, its time limits and Michigan’s licensing minimum are all 600 hours.
Career Outcomes
The Manicuring course prepares students for the Michigan manicurist license. The catalog lists manicurist among the careers the college trains for, alongside cosmetologist, platform artist, make-up artist and instructor.
For its 2023 annual report to NACCAS the college published a graduation rate of 80 percent, a placement rate of 88 percent and a licensure rate of 100 percent. These are school-wide figures.
The college assists graduates’ job search with resumes, appearance guidelines and posted openings, but does not guarantee employment.
What to expect as a M J Murphy Beauty College of Mount Pleasant student
The college occupies all of a two-story building in downtown Mount Pleasant: junior and senior classrooms, the clinic floor, a facial room, a manicure and pedicure area, a reception area, a student lounge and a financial aid office. All courses are taught in English.
The uniform is black scrubs, fitted when you sign your contract; two sets and a smock are ordered on the first day, and students wear all black until they arrive. Shoes are black professional closed-in low heels, crepe soles or black tennis shoes. Students clock in each morning by 8:37 and clock out for lunch and breaks, and free time between patrons is used for study or mannequin practice.
Unit tests must be passed at 85% or better, with two retakes allowed, and the junior and senior pre-state finals at 80%, above the 70% the state testing company requires, so students are ready for the state written exam. Academic, career and individual referral advising are provided, and the college posts job openings on the student bulletin board and group chat, although it does not guarantee employment.
To graduate, a student completes the course hours and all minimum practical applications (MPAs), passes every unit test and the written and practical pre-state finals, and pays tuition in full or makes arrangements with the business office. Graduates receive a diploma in the course completed.