Career Training Path › Arkansas › Academy of Salon and Spa
Academy of Salon and Spa
Fort Smith, Arkansas · Private for-profit career school
Address: 311 S 16th St, Fort Smith, AR 72901 · Phone: (479) 782-5059 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Academy of Salon and Spa is a private for-profit trade school in Fort Smith, AR offering esthetician and cosmetology programs, accredited by NACCAS.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Academy of Salon and Spa has an 80.5% completion rate versus a 57.3% state average, with median graduate debt of $4,833 and median earnings of $16,941 ten years after entry.
Annual cost of attendance at Academy of Salon and Spa is $18,683, federal financial aid is accepted, and 66.4% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skincare specialists | $23,580 | $36,520 | $39,890 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $23,920 | $28,830 | $33,730 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Arkansas (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 35 | $13,288 | $16,416 | $6,333 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 12 | $13,288 | $16,416 | $6,333 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 2 | $13,288 | $16,416 | $6,333 |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Academy of Salon and Spa is a private for-profit trade school located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, a small city setting. It is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, and students here can use federal financial aid (Title IV) to help pay for their education. The campus's main offerings are esthetician programs (35 completers) and cosmetology programs (14 completers), reflecting its focus on beauty and personal care trades.
According to federal data, 80.5% of students complete their program here, compared with a state average of 57.3%, putting this campus above the state average for completion. Graduates carry a median debt of $4,833, and median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $16,941. Annual cost of attendance is listed at $18,683, and 66.4% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a substantial share of the student body qualifies for need-based aid.
This campus may suit students drawn to hands-on beauty-industry training rather than a multi-year associate degree path, given its concentration in esthetician and cosmetology programs; program lengths themselves are not detailed in this data, so prospective students should confirm schedules directly with the school. Anyone considering enrollment should verify current accreditation status and review the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for the most up-to-date completion, debt, and earnings figures before applying.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Academy of Salon and Spa offers esthetician programs (35 completers) and cosmetology programs (14 completers), totaling 3 program offerings.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, with a current status of Accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, and 66.4% of its students receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 80.5%, which is above the Arkansas state average of 57.3%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $4,833, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $16,941.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The annual cost of attendance is $18,683.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a private for-profit school, which can affect tuition pricing and financial aid options compared to public institutions.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly at (479) 782-5059 or via its website for details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation with the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences and review official outcome data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?107293.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data shows a high completion rate and hands-on beauty programs, which may appeal to career changers, though specific adult-learner services are not reported in federal data.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements are not reported in federal data; contact the school directly to learn about state licensing for esthetics or cosmetology.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Academy of Salon and Spa at (479) 782-5059 or through its website at https://www.academysalonspa.com/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with nearby schools is not reported for this campus in federal data; check the College Scorecard to compare similar institutions.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.