| Type | Campus-based beauty schools; Be Aveda (Florida) also runs a part-time hybrid cosmetology track |
|---|---|
| Schools | 50 open in 27 states (aveda.edu locator, October 2026); none announced |
| Ownership | Independently owned and operated; Aveda, an Estée Lauder brand, does not run them. The largest group, Aveda Arts & Sciences Institutes, has 18 schools |
| Programs | Cosmetology at 49 schools and esthiology at 47; instructor training, nails, massage therapy and barbering at some |
| Program length | Cosmetology 1,000–1,835 clock hours, set by state rules; nails from 200 hours |
| Accreditation | Mostly NACCAS, school by school; Fort Myers, FL names ACCSC and Wilmington, NC names COE. Accreditor actions at several schools |
| Federal aid | Pell Grants and federal loans at every operator checked; each operator has its own FAFSA codes |
| Founded | Aveda brand 1978; first Aveda Institute in Minneapolis (dated 1977 or 1982) |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
Who runs the Aveda Institutes
The 50 Aveda Institutes are separate schools that carry the name of Aveda, the hair-care brand Horst Rechelbacher founded in Minnesota in 1978 and The Estée Lauder Companies has owned since 1997. Aveda’s school site states that “the Aveda Institutes listed on this site are independently owned and operated by parties unaffiliated with Aveda Corporation.” Each school or group has its own owner, accreditation, federal aid code, prices and results.
Seven groups run most of the schools:
- Aveda Arts & Sciences Institutes: 18 schools in 10 states, owned by Neill Corporation, a Louisiana company and Aveda distributor. Its subsidiary bought the Minneapolis and New York institutes from Aveda in 2019, and it bought Seattle’s Gary Manuel Aveda Institute in 2021.
- Be Aveda Institutes: six schools in Florida. Five are run by TSP Institute, Inc. of St. Petersburg; Fort Myers has its own state licence and FAFSA code.
- Nurtur Aveda Institutes: six schools in Iowa, Indiana, North Carolina and Ohio.
- Inspire Greatness Aveda Institutes: five schools in Arizona, Colorado and Utah, starting with Denver in 2000.
- The Institute of Beauty and Wellness: Chicago, Madison and Milwaukee.
- Aveda Institute Portland (Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA) and Brown Aveda Institute (Strongsville and Mentor, OH).
The other eight schools (San Francisco, Bel Air MD, Augusta ME, Billings MT, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Niles OH and Williston VT) each have their own owner. The network says its schools graduate “over 9,000” students a year. The first Aveda Institute opened in Minneapolis; aveda.edu dates it to 1977, while the Minneapolis school’s page says 1982.
Programs across the 50 schools
Which programs a school teaches, and for how many hours, depends on its owner and its state’s licensing rules. Counts come from each school’s own pages (October 2026) and leave out programs a school says are not enrolling. Figures are the totals each school published unless noted.
| Program | Schools | Clock hours (examples) | Prepares for | Sample total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology | 49 (all but Hammond, LA) | 1,000 (NY, VT, CA; TX and VA also 1,500); 1,200 (FL; also 1,500); 1,250 (UT); 1,500 (most states); 1,550 (MN, IA); 1,600 (NM, NV, WA, WI); 1,835 (OR) | State cosmetology licence | $18,975 (1,000 hours, Dallas or Austin, TX) to $27,263 (1,500 hours, West Chester, OH), October 2026 |
| Esthiology / esthetics | 47 | 600 (NY, FL, AZ, NC); 750 (TX, LA, WA); 1,000 (Hoover, AL); 1,100 advanced practice (Minneapolis); 1,200 master (Provo, UT) | State esthetician licence | $12,200 (Brooklyn, NY) to $17,300 (Hoover, AL); about $28,950 for Minneapolis’s 1,100 hours |
| Instructor training | 21 | 150 (Milwaukee) to 1,000 (Carmel, IN) | State instructor licence | – |
| Nails / manicuring | 14 | 200 (ME) to 600 (Las Vegas) | State nail technician or manicurist licence | $4,665 (West Chester, OH); $4,750 (Fort Myers, FL, Oct 2025 catalog) |
| Massage therapy | 12 | 600 (FL, MN, UT) to 750 (IA, WI) | MBLEx and state massage licence | $12,550 (Fort Myers, FL, Oct 2025 catalog) |
| Barbering | 11 | 750 (VT) to 1,500 (Denver; Carmel, IN) | State barber licence | $24,662.57 (Carmel, IN, 1,500 hours) |
A few programs are found at only one or two schools: CIDESCO training at San Francisco, 1,000-hour Ayurveda esthetics at Milwaukee, Spanish-language cosmetology at Fort Myers, a blow-dry stylist program at Bel Air, MD, and a free 300-hour advanced cosmetology program at West Chester, OH. Five Florida schools sell short Advanced Education certificates in lashes, hair extensions and makeup; these certificates do not lead to a state licence.
What the main programs cover
Cosmetology
Aveda schools pair an online curriculum with clinic-floor work, so students cut, colour and style for paying guests during the program. There are no network-wide levels; each owner adds its own material. Aveda Arts & Sciences lists state board preparation and social-media branding among its topics. Nurtur builds in Make Up Designory Level I, ProsperU business training and financial-skills modules. Be Aveda includes a tablet in the kit and added Sassoon cutting from 30 March 2026. Most Aveda Arts & Sciences schools run three- or four-day weeks of about 30 hours.
Esthiology
Aveda describes its esthiology as combining “Ayurvedic knowledge with modern science”. Programs lead to a state esthetician licence and are usually 600 or 750 hours. Some states and schools go further: Hoover, AL teaches 1,000 hours, Minneapolis an 1,100-hour advanced practice program (its 600-hour version is not currently offered), Provo a 1,200-hour master esthiology program, and Milwaukee a separate 1,000-hour Ayurveda esthetics course. Be Aveda schools in Florida also combine skincare and massage in a 900-hour spa program.
Massage therapy
Massage is taught at 12 schools and prepares students for the MBLEx exam. Aveda says the coursework covers anatomy, physiology, pathology, reflexology and “aromaology”, along with Swedish and deep-tissue massage and Aveda’s own spa methods. Minneapolis runs its 600-hour program 30 hours a week, Monday to Thursday, and Be Aveda’s runs about nine months on three days a week. Aveda Arts & Sciences requires massage students to be 18. Milwaukee’s program is 750 hours.
Barbering
Barbering is offered at 11 schools, with hours set by state: 750 in Vermont, 900 in Florida, 1,000 at San Francisco and Madison, 1,100 in Montana and 1,500 at Denver and Carmel, IN. Madison’s 1,000 hours split into 288 theory and 712 practical hours and include an externship in barbershops or salons. Florida schools also teach a 1,500-hour cosmetology and barbering program, and Maine an 800-hour barber hair stylist program.
Nails and instructor training
Nail programs run from 200 hours in Maine to 600 at Las Vegas; Nurtur’s two Ohio schools teach 300-hour nails and Brown and Casal advanced manicuring, and Fort Myers is the only Florida school with nails. Instructor programs are offered at 21 schools, from 150 hours at Milwaukee and 350 at Tucson to 800 for cosmetology instructors at Chapel Hill and Wilmington, NC and 1,000 at Carmel, IN. Tucson’s December 2024 catalog listed $500 tuition for its instructor program.
Cost and paying for it
Each school sets its own prices. Totals below were listed on school pages in October 2026, for starts from October to December 2026 unless noted:
- Dallas, TX: cosmetology $23,625 (1,500 hours) or $18,975 (1,000 hours); esthiology $14,925 (750 hours), for the 16 November start. Austin lists $22,125 for 1,500-hour cosmetology.
- Brooklyn, NY: cosmetology $22,600 (1,000 hours); esthiology $12,200 (600 hours).
- Minneapolis, MN: cosmetology tuition $22,300 plus a $3,250 kit and $100 in fees (1,550 hours); esthiology/advanced practice tuition $25,300 plus a $3,550 kit and $100 in fees (1,100 hours).
- Seattle, WA: cosmetology $24,600 (1,600 hours); esthetics $14,800 (750 hours).
- West Chester (Cincinnati), OH: cosmetology $27,263 (1,500 hours); nails $4,665 (300 hours). West Des Moines, IA: cosmetology $26,594 including sales tax.
- Fort Myers, FL (catalog of 31 October 2025): cosmetology $19,550 (1,200 hours); barbering and cosmetology $23,125 (1,500); skincare $12,300 (600); massage $12,550 (600); nails $4,750 (240).
Niche listed a net price of $21,887 a year for Aveda Arts Seattle (checked October 2026). Students apply for Pell Grants and Direct Loans through the FAFSA using their school’s own code; for example 014847 for Minneapolis and 041494 for Seattle. Aveda Arts & Sciences also points students to Sallie Mae career training loans and offers an interest-free payment plan if the balance is paid before graduation; Nurtur offers in-house financing.
Scholarships are set by each group. Aveda Arts & Sciences offers a Second Chance Scholarship of up to $2,000 for cosmetology and $1,000 for esthetics, with several awards per start except in August and September. Be Aveda advertised a “$1,000 Fall Scholarship” without published terms. Inspire Greatness says it is “not currently offering in-house scholarships”, though Tucson’s catalog gives a $1,000 or $500 credit toward a second program. For veterans, Fort Myers says it is approved for veterans’ education benefits, Tucson is approved by Arizona’s State Approving Agency and Nurtur Columbus lists veterans’ benefits; check with your school.
Admissions and schedule
Every school checked requires a high school diploma or GED. Be Aveda admits students from age 16; Inspire Greatness needs a parent’s signature for applicants under 18. Inspire Greatness applicants take a tour, pay a $50 application fee, write a 500-word letter of intent and pay a $150 registration fee on enrolment. Aveda Arts & Sciences charges a $50 application fee (plus a $50 enrolment fee at Minneapolis), and Fort Myers $50 to apply and $100 to register.
Classes start often: Aveda Arts & Sciences listed starts on 13 October, 16–17 November and 8 December 2026. Many schools run short full-time weeks. Dallas meets Monday to Thursday, 9 to 5:30; Atlanta Monday to Wednesday, 9 to 8; Hoover Wednesday to Saturday; Brooklyn 22.5 hours a week; Seattle 27 hours. Be Aveda’s 1,200-hour cosmetology takes 40 weeks full-time or 60 part-time, and it offers a part-time hybrid track with theory done remotely. Nurtur Indianapolis (Carmel) has a night-school option.
Accreditation and results
Most Aveda Institutes are accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS), each separately. Fort Myers’ October 2025 catalog names ACCSC and says the school is applying to NACCAS, and Wilmington, NC is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education. Many of these schools publish NACCAS graduation, placement and licensure rates. Rates published for calendar year 2024 unless noted (no cohort sizes given):
| School | Graduation | Placement | Licensure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoover (Birmingham), AL | 83.7% | – | 100% pass rate |
| Atlanta, GA | – | 83.9% | 93.9% |
| West Des Moines, IA | 95.04% | 86.14% | 92.19% |
| Metairie (New Orleans), LA, cosmetology | 84.8% | 76.7% | – |
| Minneapolis, MN, cosmetology | 85.7% | 77.8% | 94% |
| Brooklyn, NY, cosmetology | – | 78.6% | 100% |
| Denver, CO | 96% | 73% | 100% |
| Provo, UT | 86% | 84% | 94% |
| Arizona schools combined | 95% | 79% | 91% |
| Be Aveda Orlando, South Florida and Brandon (year not stated) | 73.68% | 67.82% | 87.50% |
| Be Aveda Jacksonville and Tampa Bay (year not stated) | 74.87% | 72.17% | 98.64% |
Seattle, Dallas and Austin reported state-board pass rates of 98.8%, 100% and 96.7% for 2024. The Inspire Greatness figures (Denver, Provo, Arizona) come from the group’s outcome sheets as we read them in October 2026.
Accreditor and state actions at individual schools
As of October 2026:
- Cinta Aveda Institute, San Francisco: NACCAS placed the school on probation and low-outcomes monitoring on 18 Sep 2023. California’s Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) affirmed a $4,502 citation on 17 May 2024 over records and reporting, and filed an accusation on 25 Apr 2025, amended on 30 Apr 2026, seeking revocation or suspension. The accusation alleges, among other things, enrolment in an unapproved 1,000-hour cosmetology course, late refunds and inadequate supervision. The school says NACCAS notified it on 11 Aug 2025 that it had acted to withdraw its accreditation over placement verification for its 2021 annual report, and that it remains accredited while it appeals. We could not confirm the outcome of either matter.
- Aveda Institute Portland, OR and its Vancouver, WA campus: placed on NACCAS financial monitoring on 12 Dec 2024. We could not confirm the current status.
- Aveda Institute New Mexico, Albuquerque: NACCAS show-cause order on 18 Sep 2023 for failing to answer a letter of inquiry. We could not confirm how it was resolved.
NACCAS action lists we checked for other months of 2024–2026 showed no other current Aveda school.
Closures, moves and schools that left the network
Be Aveda’s Tallahassee, FL school closed in June 2024, and Cinta Aveda’s San Jose, CA campus closed in July 2026 (the school gives 3 July, California’s BPPE 5 July), with its students moved to San Francisco. Aveda Arts New York moved from SoHo to DUMBO, Brooklyn, by May 2025, and the Baton Rouge, Seattle and Madison schools have also moved. Fort Myers, formerly Sunstate Academy, joined Be Aveda in 2022.
Several schools that older listings, including ours, showed as Aveda Institutes have left the network and trade under other names:
- Douglas J Institute (Ann Arbor, East Lansing, Grand Rapids and Royal Oak, MI; Knoxville, TN) announced on 20 Aug 2025 that it was moving on from its exclusive Aveda partnership.
- Nathan Layne Institute (Boise and Twin Falls, ID): the former Aveda Institute Idaho site says its schools “are now Nathan Layne Institute”.
- Jean Madeline Institute (Philadelphia and Bensalem, PA) and Rizzieri School (Voorhees, NJ) now brand themselves without Aveda and are not on Aveda’s locator.
None of these is listed on aveda.edu, and we have no evidence that any of them closed.
Housing and career help
No Aveda school we checked provides housing. Be Aveda says it does “not offer housing” but gives students apartment guides and helps them find roommates. Career help varies by owner. Be Aveda has a career centre with job listings and free placement help, and says it does not guarantee placement. Tucson’s catalog describes industry days, résumé review and self-promotion training, also without a placement guarantee. Madison’s barbering program includes an externship. Be Aveda points to Aveda’s network of about 6,900 salons as a source of jobs; that is a count of salons, not of placements.
Before you enroll
- The Aveda name does not mean Aveda or Estée Lauder runs the school. Check the school’s own catalog, total cost, outcome rates and accreditation; figures from one Aveda school say little about another.
- Programs differ from school to school. Atlanta, Baton Rouge and Covington teach no esthiology, Hammond teaches no cosmetology, and only 12 schools teach massage and 11 barbering. Some Florida programs were not enrolling at certain schools in 2026.
- Hours follow the school’s state, from 1,000 for cosmetology in New York and Texas to 1,835 in Oregon. If you may work in another state, check that state’s hour requirement before you choose a program.
- San Francisco faces a NACCAS withdrawal decision under appeal and a California accusation; Portland and Vancouver were placed on NACCAS financial monitoring in 2024; Albuquerque received a show-cause order in 2023. Fort Myers’ October 2025 catalog names ACCSC, not NACCAS. Ask about current status.
- Schools in Michigan, Idaho, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Knoxville, TN that older listings call Aveda Institutes have left the network. Confirm a school appears on aveda.edu/locations before applying.
What students say
No review platform we checked has 25 or more student reviews for any Aveda Institute (October 2026): the Niche pages we found hold between 7 and 22 reviews each, and we found no Trustpilot or GradReports pages. With so few reviews, we do not give a rating or summarise them.
Sources
Checked October 2026: Aveda Institutes locator · Why Aveda · Aveda Arts & Sciences campuses · Be Aveda catalog (Jan 2026) · Estée Lauder FY2026 10-K · Cinta Aveda consumer information · BPPE accusation (Apr 2025) · NACCAS financial monitoring list (Dec 2024, via BPPE)
Programs & Courses
Hair
- Cosmetology
- Hair Design / Hairstyling / Hair Designer (some schools)
- Advanced Cosmetology (Ohio)
- Barbering
- Cosmetology and Barbering (Florida)
- Blow Dry Stylist (Maryland)
- Spanish-language Cosmetology (Fort Myers)
Skin
- Esthiology / Esthetics / Skincare
- Advanced or Master Esthiology (some schools)
- Ayurveda Esthetics (Milwaukee)
- CIDESCO (San Francisco)
- Skincare and Massage spa program (Florida)
- Advanced Education certificates: lashes, hair extensions, makeup (Florida)
Nails
- Nail Technician / Manicuring
Massage
- Massage Therapy
Teaching
- Cosmetology and Esthetics Instructor
Campus Locations
Hoover, AL 3200 Galleria Circle, Hoover, AL 35244
Avondale, AZ 775 N 114th Ave, Avondale, AZ 85323
Tempe, AZ 8475 S Emerald Dr, Ste 101, 104, Tempe, AZ 85284
Tucson, AZ 145 S 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
San Francisco, CA 305 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Denver, CO 801 Kalamath St, Denver, CO 80204
Brandon, FL 1516 W Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511
Clearwater, FL 28272 US Hwy 19 N, Clearwater, FL 33761
Davie, FL 4186 South University Drive, Davie, FL 33328
Fort Myers, FL 2040 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33907
Jacksonville, FL 10601 San Jose Blvd, Suite 7, Jacksonville, FL 32257
Winter Park, FL 495 N Semoran Blvd, Suite 6, Winter Park, FL 32792
Atlanta, GA 1745 Peachtree St NE, Ste A, Atlanta, GA 30309
West Des Moines, IA 6905 Mills Civic Pkwy, #120, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Chicago, IL 2828 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657
Carmel, IN 2208 E 116th St, Carmel, IN 46032
Baton Rouge, LA 2881 Westfork Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70816
Covington, LA 1355 Polders Lane, Covington, LA 70433
Hammond, LA 104 E Thomas St, Hammond, LA 70401
Lafayette, LA 2922 Johnston St, Lafayette, LA 70503
Metairie, LA 3330 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Suite A, Metairie, LA 70002
Bel Air, MD 227 Archer St, Bel Air, MD 21014
Augusta, ME 43 Bridge St, Augusta, ME 04330
Minneapolis, MN 400 Central Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Billings, MT 901 24th St W, Billings, MT 59102
Chapel Hill, NC 201 S Estes Dr, University Place 200-B, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Charlotte, NC 1520 South Blvd, Suite 150, Charlotte, NC 28203
Wilmington, NC 3500 Oleander Dr, Ste 1111, Wilmington, NC 28403
Albuquerque, NM 1816 Central Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Las Vegas, NV 4856 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Brooklyn, NY 21 Pearl St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
West Chester, OH 7664 Voice of America Centre Dr, West Chester, OH 45069
Strongsville, OH 17901 Southpark Center, Strongsville, OH 44136
Columbus, OH 889 Bethel Rd, Columbus, OH 43214
Mentor, OH 8816 Mentor Ave, Mentor, OH 44060
Niles, OH 5555 Youngstown-Warren Rd, Unit 606, Niles, OH 44446
Portland, OR 325 NW 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
Franklin, TN 1765 Galleria Blvd, Franklin, TN 37067
Austin, TX 6001 Middle Fiskville Rd, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78752
Corpus Christi, TX 1110 Ayers St, Corpus Christi, TX 78404
Dallas, TX 8188 Park Lane, Suite C-150, Dallas, TX 75231
Shenandoah, TX 19241 David Memorial Dr, Ste 100, Shenandoah, TX 77385
San Antonio, TX 21003 Encino Commons, San Antonio, TX 78259
Provo, UT 210 N University Ave, Provo, UT 84601
Arlington, VA 671 N Glebe Rd, Suite 1280, Arlington, VA 22203
Williston, VT 400 Cornerstone Dr, Suite 220, Williston, VT 05495
Seattle, WA 802 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122
Vancouver, WA 6615 NE Fourth Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98661
Madison, WI 7021 Tree Lane, Madison, WI 53717
Milwaukee, WI 327 E St Paul Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202