Esthetics is a Diploma program offered by Stewart School in Sioux Falls, SD. The program takes 600 clock hours, 22 weeks to complete, with a total tuition of $8,150.
Program Overview
Esthetics, 600 hours. Stewart School's Esthetics course trains students in all aspects of skin care and makeup through classroom training and practical experience in a clinical setting, in about 22 weeks. It prepares students for entry-level work as skin care specialists, makeup consultants, estheticians, salon or spa employees or owners, manufacturer representatives or product sales consultants.
Two terms. Term I (300 hours) covers theory, demonstrations, practical classroom work and introductory clinical application; Term II (300 hours) moves to advanced skin treatments, practical application and the supervised clinic.
What students learn. Students learn to assess a client's skin care needs and practise sugaring hair removal, microdermabrasion, lash extensions and airbrush makeup, using professional products and facial machines, along with the business education needed to build a clientele.
What sets this Program apart
- A three-day trial period. Esthetics students begin with a short trial period to confirm the career and the school are the right fit.
- Small classes. Esthetics classes are limited to ten students.
- Advanced services. The course includes microdermabrasion, lash extensions, sugaring and airbrush makeup application on real clients in the student salon.
- An ACCSC School of Excellence. ACCSC has recognized Stewart School as a School of Excellence at every renewal since 2014, including 2019 and 2025.
Admission Requirements and Process
Stewart School's Admissions Representative is excited to assist you on your enrollment journey. If you aren't ready to enroll just yet, you can still visit our school: fill out the Request Information Form and one of our Admissions representatives will reach out to schedule a time for you to visit and discuss our programs.
General Requirements
- Campus VisitA prospective student must participate in a campus visit.
- Enrollment Application and FeeComplete and submit, preferably no later than 60 days prior to class start, the Stewart School Enrollment Application with the required $50.00 application fee.
- High School Diploma or GEDSubmit a copy of high school diploma or official final high school transcript with graduation date, or GED Certificate with date of completion.
- State-Issued Photo IDSubmit a copy of a current State Issued Photo ID.
- Home School GraduatesHome school graduates must provide a diploma and transcript (showing date of completion), a certificate from the State DOE or local school district approving Alternative…
- English-Language DocumentsAll documents submitted must be in English. Foreign language documents must be translated by a recognized/reputable agency and verify the equivalent of a US High School Diploma or…
- Class Deposit FeeAfter receiving acceptance notification, submit the $100.00 class deposit fee no later than 30 days prior to class start.
- Background CheckThe school reserves the right to confirm any information submitted or complete a background check on any applicant. A criminal record/felony could restrict your ability to gain…
- Trial PeriodApplicants are allowed a short trial period of enrollment (8 scheduled days for Cosmetology, 3 for Esthetics & Massage Therapy and 2 for Nail Technology). Full acceptance is…
Application Process
- 1Request Information and VisitFill out the Request Information Form and an Admissions representative will reach out to schedule a time for you to visit the school and discuss our programs.
- 2Apply and Pay the Application FeePay the $50 application fee and complete the enrollment application, preferably no later than 60 days prior to class start.
- 3Submit Required DocumentsTurn in a copy of your high school diploma, official final transcript or GED certificate, and a copy of a current state-issued photo ID.
- 4Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA)Stewart School offers Federal Aid Programs including Pell Grants, Direct Stafford Loans and Direct PLUS Loans for those who qualify. You will need an FSA ID for the student and parent (if applicable) to sign the FAFSA.FAFSA Code for Sioux Falls: 010138Fill Out the FAFSA
- 5Acceptance and Class DepositOnce all requirements are met, Stewart School will send a formal notice of acceptance. After receiving acceptance, submit the $100 class deposit no later than 30 days prior to class start; the Admissions Rep will work with you on an available start date.
- 6Complete the Trial PeriodFull acceptance is determined after successfully completing the trial period (8 days for Cosmetology, 3 for Esthetics and Massage Therapy, 2 for Nail Technology).
Program Schedule
Freshman training. Esthetics freshman training lasts four weeks, Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30.
Advanced training and clinic. After freshman training, hours are Monday 9 to 3 on a one-on, two-off rotation, Tuesday 8:30 to 5, and Wednesday through Friday 8:30 to 4:30.
Starts and attendance. Esthetics is offered once a year, and a class may be cancelled or delayed if fewer than six students enroll. During freshman training an esthetics student may miss no more than ten hours, and no more than 20% of scheduled advanced class hours in a term.
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
When you attend an accredited institution, you attend a school that has been independently evaluated for educational quality.
Stewart School is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and licensed by the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission.
- 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 Sioux Falls Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (600 hours) | $8,150 |
| Books/equipment | $1,661.02 |
| Sales tax | $102.98 |
| Total program cost (valid through June 30, 2027) | $9,914 |
Fees outside the total. A $50 application fee is due with the Enrollment Application and a $100 class deposit is due at least 30 days before class starts; financial aid does not cover either. Tuition paid by credit card carries a 2% service charge.
Financial aid. Stewart School offers Federal Pell Grants, Direct Stafford Loans and Direct PLUS Loans to students who qualify in its Cosmetology, Esthetics and Massage Therapy programs; students complete the FAFSA using school code 010138. Financial aid may not cover the total program cost.
Paying over time. Tuition is due one week before class starts. With Time Pay, 50% of the total is due one week before class starts and 25% each at the one-quarter and halfway points of the scheduled hours; students may combine payment methods.
Cancellation and refunds. An applicant who is not accepted receives a full refund, including the application fee, and an applicant who withdraws by midnight of the third business day after orientation, signing the enrollment agreement, making a first payment or touring the school receives all money paid. Cancelling later but within the trial period refunds everything except the $50 application fee and $100 class deposit. After that, based on scheduled hours, the school keeps 20% of tuition from 3.51% of the program, 30% from 5%, 40% from 10%, 45% from 15%, 60% from 25%, and all tuition from 60%. Refunds are mailed within 30 days.
Other costs. For budgeting, the school's 2026-27 cost of attendance estimates a $120 licensure expense for esthetics, plus monthly living costs.
Curriculum
Three courses, 600 hours. A 112-hour freshman course, an 82-hour advanced course of demonstration and lecture, and 406 hours of applied practice in the clinic make up the program, shown below.
Grading and progress. Written grades weight chapter tests at 80% and homework at 20%, and practical skills are scored four times in each area on a 100-point scale. Grades run from Superior (94-100%) through Above Average (87-93%), Average (80-86%) and Below Average (75-79%); below 75% is failing. At each evaluation period, at 300 and 600 hours, students need an overall 75% grade average and 80% attendance of scheduled hours.
Graduation. Graduates complete their contracted hours and all class assignments, including job search, pass senior written and practical testing at 75% or higher, pass every advancement level, complete an exit interview and meet their financial obligations, and then receive a Stewart School diploma. Graduates then take the South Dakota State Board exam at their own expense to be licensed.
The required courses below are from Stewart School's published catalog.
Required Courses
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Freshman Course | 112 |
| Advanced Course [includes Demonstration and Lecture] | 82 |
| Applied Practice Instruction | 406 |
| Totals | 600 |
Required Courses
| Name |
|---|
| Freshman Course |
| Advanced Course [includes Demonstration and Lecture] |
| Applied Practice Instruction |
| Totals |
Career Outcomes
Careers. Graduates are prepared for entry-level work as skin care specialists, makeup consultants, estheticians, salon or spa employees or owners, manufacturer representatives and product sales consultants.
Placement assistance. Stewart School works with area salons to help students find employment: salon managers present to the student body every month, a job board is kept for students, and employment is discussed at evaluations, mentoring sessions and one-on-one with the Student Services Coordinator as graduation nears. The school does not guarantee placement.
Working in another state. Stewart School meets South Dakota's licensing requirements but either does not meet, or does not know whether it meets, any other state's, including Minnesota and Iowa, so students planning to work elsewhere should expect additional steps or training.
What to expect as a Stewart School student
The campus. Stewart School has trained students in Sioux Falls since 1959. It sits at 604 N. West Avenue in a park-like setting next to Covell Lake, in a 15,799-square-foot, two-story building with a two-story open clinic floor, classrooms at the north end and a central student break room and lockers; no stairs are needed to reach the student areas.
Instructors. Esthetics is taught by licensed senior cosmetology instructors; in South Dakota a cosmetologist is licensed to perform every service an esthetician may perform.
Student benefits. Students may earn free personal services within their scope of practice once a month, receive 30% off services and full-price retail products, and use high-speed internet at school. The kit includes an iPad with Milady CIMA, and classrooms use laptops, projectors, iPads and Chromebooks alongside a library of books, periodicals and DVDs.
Professional standards. Students wear black professional attire and black shoes, with the issued smock whenever they are scheduled in the clinic, and may be sent home without the kit items a class needs.