Career Training Path › California › Elite Cosmetology School
Elite Cosmetology School
Palm Desert, California · Private for-profit career school · Training programs available:
Address: 72-840 Hwy 111, Palm Desert, CA 92260 · Phone: (760) 365-8222 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, since lifted — Dec 2024 · Monitoring · National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences; May 2026 · Renewal of Accreditation.
Elite Cosmetology School is a private for-profit trade school in Palm Desert, CA offering esthetician, cosmetology, and barber programs, accredited by NACCAS.
Elite Cosmetology School has an 88.2% completion rate, above the state average of 64.2%; median graduate debt is $8,164 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $17,966, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance at Elite Cosmetology School is $26,471; federal financial aid can be used here, and 66.3% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skincare specialists | $34,650 | $38,770 | $54,110 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $35,360 | $38,660 | $49,030 |
| Barbers | $35,900 | $38,380 | $44,790 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in California (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 | 38 | $14,952 | $16,549 | $8,610 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 23 | $14,952 | $16,549 | $8,610 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 10 | $14,952 | $16,549 | $8,610 |
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
Elite Cosmetology School is a private for-profit trade campus located in Palm Desert, California. It is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, and students here can use federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants. The campus awards credentials most often in esthetician schools (38), cosmetology schools (23), and barber schools (10), reflecting its focus on personal-care trades.
Federal data shows a completion rate of 88.2%, above the state average of 64.2%. Graduates carry a median debt of $8,164, and median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $17,966. Annual cost of attendance is listed at $26,471, and 66.3% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a student body with significant financial need.
This campus, with 115 undergraduate students and 71 trade completers, is set up for students pursuing short, hands-on personal-care programs rather than multi-year associate degrees, which may suit career changers looking for a defined path into esthetics, cosmetology, or barbering. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status directly with the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences and review the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for the most current outcome figures before enrolling, since program length, schedule, and licensing requirements are not detailed in this data.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Elite Cosmetology School offers esthetician schools (38 completers), cosmetology schools (23), and barber schools (10), based on federal program completion data.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, and its status is listed as accredited.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 88.2%, which is above the California state average of 64.2%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt among graduates is $8,164, according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $17,966.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
The annual cost of attendance is listed as $26,471.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Elite Cosmetology School is a private for-profit institution; for-profit schools are still eligible for federal aid here but often carry different cost and outcome profiles than public or non-profit schools, so comparing Scorecard data is worthwhile.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly at (760) 365-8222 or visit its website for schedule 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/?461607.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus's focus on esthetician, cosmetology, and barber programs suggests shorter, hands-on training tracks, which may appeal to adults seeking a defined path into personal-care trades, though specific schedule and format details are not reported here.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Elite Cosmetology School at (760) 365-8222 or through its website, https://eliteschools.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Direct comparisons to other nearby schools are not reported in this data; use the College Scorecard link to compare completion rates, costs, and earnings across similar programs.
Other trade and career schools in Palm Desert, CA
- International School of Beauty IncPalm Desert, CA · 92% completion
- Milan Institute-Palm DesertPalm Desert, CA · 48% completion
- International School of BeautyPalm Desert, CA · state-licensed school
- College of the DesertPalm Desert, CA · 31% completion
- Coachella Valley Beauty CollegeLa Quinta, CA · 83% completion
- American Beauty AcademyBrawley, CA · state-licensed school
- Learning Institute of Southern CaliforniaEl Centro, CA · state-licensed school
- Mayfield CollegeCathedral City, CA · 82% completion
See all trade and career schools in California or search by ZIP code.
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.